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.
In 2024 I have been awarded the May Gibbs Literature Trust fellowship for Creative Time. More writing ahead!
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.
We have several more 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.
I’m a May Gibbs Fellow
It’s an honour to share that I have been awarded a 2024 May Gibbs Childrens Literature Trust Fellowship. The May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust promotes the creation of contemporary Australian children’s literature in the belief that children’s books, written and...
An author’s guide to surviving and thriving in Children’s Book Week
Children's Book Week is upon us! It's more than just costumes, it's a time of literacy connection, bringing books into a front row seat and inspiring young readers with writing, reading and author connections. In August every year authors and illustrators across...
2023 Children’s Book Week Costume inspo
On the countdown for 2023 Children's Book Week and stuck for ideas? Children's Book Week costume crisis? Roll this way my friends ... I have some wheelie good suggestions for my picture book Sunday Skating, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville. All you'll need...
Reading and Rolling into 2023 Children’s Book Week
Well hey, there Children's Book Council of Australia Children's Book Week ... you're starting early for me with a huge month of reading and rolling, workshopping, and skating story times ahead! Looking forward to all the book-loving fun! Stap on your helmet, step into...
Skating through our Sydney book tour
Hannah Sommerville and I roll into Sydney for our Sunday Skating book launch tour Armed with whizz fizz showbags and new signing pens, Hannah Sommerville and I skated through the suburbs of Sydney with our new book Sunday Skating and happy hearts. Biggest...
Sunday Skating released in the UK and Europe
Sunday Skating has rolled into UK and Europe! Hannah Sommerville and I hope UK and European readers love rolling with us. Sunday Skating is a story is all about self-doubt, courage, the power of friendship and kids on rollerblades, rollerskates and skateboards! You...
Sunday Skating Teachers Notes and Activity Resources
With Sunday Skating rolling into schools and libraries, Hardie Grant has released the Teachers Notes to help educators and home school communities incorporate the picture book with related activities, discussion topics, and notes. Teachers’ Notes help teachers/carers...
Published in new anthology Teacher, Teacher
l'm thrilled to share I have an essay featuring in a new anthology honouring teachers. Teacher, Teacher is an inspiring, powerful and relatable anthology with stories from well-known contributors about what makes an exceptional teacher. The power of an exceptional...
New Andrea Rowe / Hannah Sommerville book out in November 2023
We’ve sent another book off to print this week. Hannah Sommerville and I are so excited to be back together again, and we can’t wait to share our next book when it’s released later this year! We hope you love exploring a special part of our shoreline with us! Our...
Jetty Jumping shortlisted for Australian Speech Pathologist awards
Last week during the release of our new book, Sunday Skating, Hannah Sommerville and I were thrilled to learn that our previous book, Jetty Jumping, was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia 20th Annual Book of the Year awards. For two decades, this...
Read and Roll Road Trip for Sunday Skating
I am rolling right along with the release of Sunday Skating roll and visiting bookstores and libraries, and even skate centres for story times and signings. While there's quite a hefty list of wheelie fun visits with bookstores (34 and counting!) ... there are also...
Celebrate our new book Sunday Skating. Colour and win!
As Sunday Skating rolls right out into bookstores today, join us in celebrating this special milestone. Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Hannah Sommerville and I invite you to colour and win super skate prizes. All you need to do is download the colouring sheet,...
Readings Monthly cover – a pinch me moment
This is kind of a big moment in my story stratosphere My latest picture book Sunday Skating launches this week with the incredibly talented illustrator extraordinaire Hannah Sommerville. This month, it’s on the cover of Readings Monthly, produced by one of our...
National Simultaneous Story Time
Sloth selfies and storytime We were the fittest bunch of storytime readers at Rosebud library that you ever did see! Thanks to all who joined us for Australian Library and Information Association National Simultaneous Story Time at Mornington Peninsula...
When the writing’s on the wall
When your local bookstore asks you to write a few words …. And then they put it on their wall!!! Thank you to Sorrento's Antipodes Bookshop & Gallery for such an honour
Sunday Skating is all set to launch
Rolling out a new book Get your skates on and come join the Book Launch fun as we roll out our brand new picture book, Sunday Skating. Illustrator Extraordinaire Hannah Sommerville and I have teamed up once again, along with our publishing crew at Hardie Grant...
Tuning into story secrets as a podcast guest
Podcasts are a super way to learn about authors' writing style, motivations, and blockages, and to take inspiration for your own writing life as well. They're also a great way to share the news when there's a new book out and learn what to watch out for in the...
Cover Girl moment
Senior Mag cover girl - better late then never! I am currently contemplating my new career as a cover girl at 53! Thanks, Go55s for the lovely chat … I loved reflecting on the picture book writing journey so far. And much thanks to the wonderful Sarah Halfpenny for...
The stories we shared at Sorrento Writers Festival
A swell time at Sorrento Writers Festival When book worlds comes to your patch of the coastline. A whole lot of fun is had. So many incredible authors unpacking country crime, kids books, memoir and writing journey’s, hijacked histories, short stories, poetry, writing...
Writer in the Window during Drift Festival
Between the lines - writing from a bookstore window "Hey! Come sit with me and share your story, I’ll whip it up into a microfiction tale. I’m the WRITER IN THE WINDOW at Antipodes Bookshop & Gallery during Drift Arts Festival There are so many super...