Award-winning children’s author
As an Australian best-selling children’s author – I write stories for children to share with their grown-ups.
My award-winning children’s picture books and short stories connect with many.
I’m the CBCA 2022 Winner of Children’s Book of the Year – Early Childhood, the winner of the 2023 Aust Speech Pathology Book of the Year 5-8 yo’s for Jetty Jumping.
And I wrote the Notabled 2024 Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood for In the Rockpool. which is the hero face of Australian Picture Books for the 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
This was followed by the Notabled 2025 Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood for Amid the Sand Dunes.
I am a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellow and I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Media, and Post-Graduate in Crisis Communications, which means I am very good at sniffing out stories and am quite calm during re-writes!
My notebooks are overflowing with new characters, and exciting settings and smudged with story-fuelling Cherry Ripes.
Summer is my favourite state of being, beaches are my happy place and books are my forever friends. I write from my house with towering book piles, tucked in amongst the sand dunes of Bunurong Country on the the Mornington Peninsula.
My love of words has joined forces with my love of children’s books.
I joyfully write children’s books and there are the robust makings of a YA novel currently taking shape too.
Jetty Jumping, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville, and published by Hardie Grant, was released in January 2021. It won the 2022 CBCA Children’s Picture Book of the year – Early Childhood. Thanks for loving it Australia!
Sunday Skating and In the Rockpool, were again illustrated by the most talented Hannah Sommerville and published by Hardie Grant.
In the Rockpool was awarded the 2024 CBCA Notable Picture book of the Year – Early Childhood. It’s follow-up Amid the Sand Dunes has been Notabled in the 2025 CBCA Picture Book of year celebrations.
I have several more books on the way between 2024 – 2026!
I have appeared in several anthologies and collections, I’m the winner of the 2020 Hal Porter Short Story Award, 2023 Mulga Bill Writing Award and Highly Commended for 2024 Mulga Bill Writing Award
I write books for children, and books for grown-ups to love too. There’s a few other stories floating in the book-osphere waiting to land as well.
Wag your tail with me to launch my new Dogs with Jobs book
I can’t wait to celebrate heroic hounds with friends in Frankston City Libraries Come join us on Wed 5 November 2025 at 10:30am for all the tail wagging fun as I celebrate the library launch of Dogs with Jobs, illustrated by Julia Murray (published by Hardie Grant...
Cover reveal: Audrey Skips
Melbourne's beloved Skipping Girl turns 90 in 2026, and she deserves a picture book party to celebrate. AUDREY SKIPS is a reimagined trubute to a treasured icon of Melbourne, the Skipping Girl, otherwise known as Little Audrey. Bright and shiny Audrey...
New book news
It's not every day you sign 5 picture book contracts. Today, I'm celebrating some super news! I've got 5 new picture books coming readers way with Hardie Grant Children's Publishing. There'll be more news to share soon on the incredible illustrators I'll be working...
Cover reveal: Castle Crashing
Australia - as we hunker down for winter, may our cover reveal have you dreaming of summer by the beach! CASTLE CRASHING brings our favourite summer crew of kids back together with a new story celebrating friendship, frustration, forgiveness and self-discovery....
I’m Victoria’s inaugural Library ambassador
Victoria’s inaugural Public Libraries ambassador reporting for duty! It’s an absolute honour to share and celebrate the vital value of libraries for our state. On May 19th, 2025, the Minister for Local Government, Hon Nick Staikos MP, officially announced me as the...
Story sharing at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, UAE
International festival fun Sharjah Children's Reading Festival In May 2025, I accepted an invitation by the Sharjah Book Authority to attend the 16th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival. This is part of an ongoing commitment to making books accessible and...
Cover reveal: Dogs with Jobs
Dogs with Jobs cover reveal Wag your tails for new book news! Julia Murray and Andrea Rowe are thrilled to share the cover of our first non-fiction picture book together, Dogs with Jobs. For hundreds of years, dogs with jobs have helped humanity and the environment,...
Amid the Sand Dunes receives a 2025 CBCA Notable
Well, I can honestly say, the thrill of stickering your book never gets old! The CBCA Notables are a long-listing for the Book of the year. As we celebrate 80 years of our beloved Children's Book Council of Australia this year, it’s an absolute thrill to celebrate...
Jetty Jumping reaches a record sales milestone
Dear readers, and booksellers, and educators, and librarians thank you! Thank you!!! Over 30,000 copies of our book have been sold. That's is absolutely incredible. I remember when I was happy to learn of my FIRST reprint!! Hannah Sommerville and I are...
Proud to be a Big Summer Read ambassador
This library kid is thrilled to have grown up to become a library ambassador. The Big Summer Read is here, and I am super-dooper chuffed to be one of its 12 ambassadors. This free program challenges kids to read all summer long, running from December 1 to January...
Amid the Sand Dunes officially launched for little readers
Amid the Sand Dunes is launched for little reader story times and book love Illustrator Hannah Sommerville and I whooshed, whizzed, cooeed & rolled through our AMID THE SAND DUNES storytime launch with a bunch of beaut kids - and we were joined by the first...
Amid the Sand Dunes book launch
We are all set for a sandy story time this summer this a brand new book! Come come join the Book Launch fun for our brand new picture book, Amid the Sand Dunes. Illustrator Extraordinaire Hannah Sommerville and I have teamed up once again, along with our publishing...
Proud to be a Books in Homes Role Model
Not every family has access to books. Not every home can afford to purchase new stories for young readers. That's why Books In Homes is such a valued foundation for Australia, and I am delighted to be a supporting them. Books in Homes® is a charitable...
Proud to be a Readings Books affiliate author
There are bookstores ... and then there are book selling institutions that feel like home. Readings has always been one of those places for me. A bookstore that genuinely adores books, and has reader's experiences front of mind. A bookstore that champions storytellers...
Hannah Sommerville and Andrea Rowe together at Bendigo Writers Festival
Bendigo - we're headed your way! Hannah Sommerville and I are hitting the road together and headed to a festival. For the FIRST time ever! We can't wait to be a part of the fabulous Creative Kids fun at Bendigo Writers Festival this August as Hannah...
In the news, and up for chats
Interviews, podcasts, brain picks and natters There's nothing better than getting back behind the microphone (I did start out in radio after all) and sharing why picture books resonate, what techniques I apply as a write, and tips for others venturing into...
Amid the Sand Dunes cover reveal
AMID THE SAND DUNES cover reveal So very excited to share the vibrant cover of our new board book AMID THE SAND DUNES We’re back! And this time we’re wandering the sand dunes. Hannah Sommerville and I are thrilled to share the cover of our next picture book together,...
Send your kids packing (to writers camp with me!)
If you've got children in your life who love to create stories, and are keen to explore creative processes, then I'd love to help them. Send them packing to Portsea Children's Camp in the September school holidays for two fun-filled days with like-minded new...
In the Rockpool swims into Bologna Children’s Book Fair
I'm never going to get to represent Australia in the Olympics, but this feels pretty close to it for me (minus the tracksuits and excessive sweating!) Hannah Sommerville and I are thrilled to share that In the Rockpool has been selected as the hero book for the...
Little Hare Prize winner announced for a new picture book
I'm all kinds of swirling-twirling thrilled to share this news. Beyond excited for this joyful news. Tess Moh has been announced as the winning illustrator for the Little Hare Prize, and together we’re making The Everyday Tutu a truly gorgeous book with Hardie Grant...