Gabrielle Wang
Gabrielle Wang is an author and illustrator born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. Her maternal great grandfather came to Victoria in 1853 during the Gold Rush. Her father is from Shanghai. Gabrielle’s stories are a diverse blend of eastern and western culture with a touch of fantasy. She has written more than twenty books for young readers, many of them shortlisted for awards, from the Prime Minister’s Award and Queensland Premier’s Award to children’s choice awards such as the Yabba and Koala as well as CBCA Notables. Two of Gabrielle’s books won the Aurealis Award – The Garden of Empress Cassia and A Ghost in My Suitcase which was also adapted to the stage by Barking Gecko Theatre in 2018. Her latest middle grade novel is Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon which was Shortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, 2023 Queensland Literary Awards, 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and was a Notable in the CBCA Book Awards. Gabrielle is the current Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador and was the Australian Children’s Laureate in 2022 and 2023.
Meet the Speaker
Where were you born?
I was born in Melbourne and am fourth generation Chinese Australian. In my twenties I decided to go in search of my ‘roots’ as I did not grow up speaking Chinese and knew little about the culture. I lived in Taiwan for five years where I studied Chinese language and brush painting and then moved to Mainland China for two years where I continued my painting studies.
What other jobs have you had?
I was a graphic designer in Melbourne. When I moved overseas, I taught English as a second language. Back in Australia I lectured in Chinese at RMIT for nine years before becoming a full time author.
What themes are recurring in your work?
As I am Chinese Australian, my work is greatly influenced by my experiences growing up between two cultures. Recurring themes are – friendship, family, finding your place in the world, fitting in, and the healing power of art. My stories are often set in the real world but have a touch of fantasy and the supernatural.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about creating understanding between cultures. Reading fiction allows children to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Speaker Type
Audience
Locations
Sessions
Chinese Painting Workshop
In this workshop, students learn the philosophy behind Chinese brush painting. They learn how to paint chicks with just a few...
A Little Dash of Magic
In this session I talk about where ideas come from, the background to my books, and discuss the writing process as a whole....
History Alive
This session is centred on my YA novel Little Paradise, which is based on my mother’s life during World War Two. I talk about...
Have you booked this speaker before?
Please fill out an evaluation form to share your feedback on the session.