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Skye is the author of YA fantasy books such as the Chasing the Valley trilogy and The Hush. She is an enthusiastic speaker who offers a variety of talks and writing workshops designed to spark students’ imaginations. Skye is the author of YA fantasy books such as the Chasing the Valley trilogy and The Hush.
Quite a few – especially when I was a student! Over the years, I’ve worked as a salesperson, a Teacher’s Aide, an English tutor and in various other odd jobs. I also worked in a cinema, which mostly involved making popcorn and then vacuuming it up again when customers inevitably used it to decorate the carpet.
I wrote Chasing the Valley while I was studying Human Rights Law at uni, so quite a few real-world issues influenced the story. Beneath the layers of magic and fantasy, the books deal with issues such as conflict, conscription, tyranny, rebellion and death. They also highlight the power of friendship, courage and sacrifice in the face of such adversity.
As my books are YA, they also deal with the idea of growing up and coming of age. My fantasy characters’ ability to control their magic often serves as a symbolic parallel for inner growth and emotional maturation.
Nothing means more to me than receiving emails and feedback from readers. It means so much to hear that my books are bringing enjoyment to people.
So far, Chasing the Valley has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Germany. The trilogy is also due to come out in Brazil and China. It’s lots of fun to see my work in different languages!
Having been raised in a family of teachers, I’m passionate about promoting a love of reading, imagination and creativity amongst students. It’s such a thrill to share my enthusiasm for books with the next generation.
I’ve spoken at events such as the Melbourne Writers Festival (VIC) and Voices on the Coast (QLD). I’ve also been lucky enough to appear on ABC3 a couple of times, so you may have seen me getting a bucket of green slime dumped on my head!
You can find free Teachers’ Resources for my books here: www.skyemelki-wegner.com/teachers
They include information about the books’ themes, characters and literary devices, with activities suitable for the Australian Curriculum.
We were very pleased with Sky Melki-Wegner’s visit on Wednesday. She was very well prepared for both the talks to the big groups and the workshop. In all the sessions, Skye conveyed many valuable ideas about creative writing to the students. Her presentation style was bright, enthusiastic and entertaining and the students were fully engaged.
Her talk was excellently prepared and the students all got something out of it to take home.
The students absolutely adored it. Skye was well organised, thoroughly engaging and had material perfectly targeted and packaged for a teenage audience. The students peppered her with questions after the presentation and these were insightful; a reflection on the depth of Skye’s impact.
A great experience. Will aim to book Skye again some day.