Kirsty Murray

Author

Kirsty Murray is a multi award-winning author of fourteen books whose dynamic and inspiring presentations are guaranteed to send young people away itching to read more widely and to believe that they too can share their stories with the world.

Kirsty will tour schools in South Australia in August 2012

Where were you born?

I was born in Melbourne, into a big, arty, chaotic family. There were seven kids and I was the middle child of the tribe. When I was a teenager, we moved to Canada where I finished my high school education.

What other jobs have you had?

I tried lots of other jobs before I realised that writing was the one thing I simply had to do. I worked in offices and restaurants, galleries, bookshops and universities. I was a partner in a graphic arts business and at one stage I worked for a doll’s house designer. I also was very busy being a mother and a stepmother to six children.

What themes are recurring in your work?

When I was growing up, there wasn’t a lot of Australian historical fiction for young readers and I imagined that most good stories came from England and America. All my work explores Australian history and experiences. I am fascinated by the concept of the child in time and deeply moved by the resilience of young characters in the face of incredible challenges.

Haven’t I seen you before?

I’ve been a speaker at festivals all around Australia and in the UK, China, India and Indonesia. I’ve judged numerous literary prizes and spoken at countless events promoting reading and writing. I have been a writer-in-residence at the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre and at many schools and institutions around Australia. I have also been an Asialink Literature Resident at the University of Madras in south India.