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 an Ardoch Writer in Resident
Student story telling and literacy love Super thrilled to share that I'm partnering with Ardoch as a schools-based 2023 Writer in Resident I go way back with them from my corporate communications days so it's lovely to connect again. Ardoch is a children’s education...
Teen Zine making workshop
The Zine people have spoken! I'm bringing back my popular TeenZine workshops for teens Come write and design your own zine with me. Thanks to Mornington Peninsula Shire for their Creative Economy Grant support, I'm hosting a free Teen zine-making workshop for...
Mulga Bill Writing Award winning short story
Australian short story win A little bit chuffed to share that I've been awarded 2nd prize in the Mulga Bill Writing Award coordinated by Eaglehawk Library. I've been a huge fan of the works produced from this award, and of course, its namesake Mulga Bill, who was the...
New book contract signed
Another saltwater and sandy book contract signed A tiny bit thrilled to sign my next contract for a tiny book about rockpools with Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing. Hannah Sommerville and I are back together again to share our seaside love. This one is close to my...
I’m an Author Penpal
Grade 5 Little Me is beside herself! Letters in the post form a real live author. The funny thing is that the author is me! I am super excited to be a part of the new Author Pen Pal program initiated by authors Kate Foster and Dee White. That means I'll be sharing...
There’s words in them thar hills of Mansfield
Mansfield Readers and Writers Festival The magic of the first ever Mansfield Readers & Writers was … well, I’m lost for words. Odd for a writer! But this inaugural celebration of stories in the high country was a literary event to savour. So many incredible...
Sunday Skating cover reveal
Sunday Skating cover reveal So thrilled to share the stunning cover of our new picture book SUNDAY SKATING You might recognise this crew - our jetty jumpers are back to share a story of self-doubt, courage, friendship and wonderful wheels! I can’t wait for you to...
Can you help me with my picture book writing?
The three big questions I am often asked are 'Do you have any writing tips?' or 'How can I get published?' or 'Could you please read my manuscript?" Can I help you? Yes, and no. I'm flattered that you've thought to ask me, especially when there are so many...
2023 Book Week bookings open
BOOK WEEK AND EDUCATION WEEK REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN Educators, Librarians, and Community and Event Programmers ... I still have a few author talks, workshops and story time spots left for 2023's Children's Book Council of Australia Book Week (19 - 25 August with...
Author & Illustrator meet-up (finally)
We two! At last! The most talented Hannah Sommerville and I are finally in the one place, together. Between us we’ve wrangled: two states across Australia two years of lockdowns life and all the other flotsam and jetsam But this weekend my friends, this weekend we...
Festive wishes and here’s cheers to 2022
Seas and Greetings ... that's a wrap on 2022 Whoa, what a year that just was! It's been quite an incredible ride. Returning to life after 2 years of rolling COVID lockdowns, supporting a VCE Yr 12 child, reassembling my business after pandemic interruptions ... and...
Writing life and helpful advice
How I make it work for me (and my community) "How do you do it all?' is a question I am often asked about my copywriting, author and community life. Well, I love being helpful and over the last year or so I have shared a few chats and insights into creating my...
More, more, more book store visits and signings
Celebrating 25, 000 print copies of Jetty Jumping with bookstore visits With the 25,000th print run of Jetty Jumping just dropping, I’ve been leaping into city book signings again lately. There’s fresh stock unboxed and good to go across Melbourne and outer suburbs....
Surprise visit to the Wakakirri winners
When an award-winning author meets awards-winning performers! Today I paid a surprise visit to the Wakakirri Storytelling award-winning performers whose sensational reimagining of Jetty Jumping Hannah Sommerville and I spied on YouTube. We thought they deserved some...
Wakakirri win for Jetty Jumping and the kids of Cooma North
Congratulations Cooma North Public School! Cooma North Public School just made the most incredible splash on the national stage, and into our hearts! These talented students have just won the Wakakirri National Story Award for their interpretation of JETTY...
On the airwaves
Airwave chats with up and coming radio hosts I loved my chat with Gaby and Reka on Primary Perspectives which airs on 94.1FM 3WBC. The girls asked me questions about the journey of Jetty Jumping and what Hannah Sommerville and I are collaborating on next. There...
Podcast chats
Talking books and writing on guest podcast chats The November dance card has been full with several podcast chats. I loved chatting about the secret to a good fish taco, and my writing process with Ken on Reading with a Chance of Tacos. I tackled the 'Why I write'...
New book news for 2024
Announcing my next picture book contract Sometimes a city’s sweetheart needs a story of her own. Thrilled to share that I’ve signed a new children’s picture book contract with MidnightSun Publishing to bring the reimagined story of Melbourne’s Skipping Girl to young...
You’ve got (fan) mail!
Impeccable penmanship and adorable artwork Impeccable penmanship award goes to the students of St Thomas More's Catholic School Brighton-Le-Sands. (And they also get a Commendation for Tear Jerker Correpondance. These lovely letters in today’s post made me happy...
ABC story time for Jetty Jumping
Well, that's a pretty special story time Bellywhacks and bombies at bedtime with Emma Memma (Yellow Wiggle) reading Jetty Jumping on the ABC Kids Listen app.My children's picture book is now leaping into bedtime stories with Australian families. It debuted this week...