Meet the Authors
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Deborah trained as a teacher before becoming writer/producer of a national children’s TV show. Since then, she’s become an internationally published and awarded author of 30 books. Deb has been presenting in schools and festivals for over 20 years and loves getting kids excited about books, reading and writing.
Kathryn Apel writes poetry, verse novels, poetry and picture books. She has achieved acclaim as a verse novelist, dealing with emotive issues such as bullying, sibling rivalry, self-doubt, and the intricate balance of friendship.
Charlie Archbold is a YA and children’s author. Her debut novel Mallee Boys won the unpublished manuscript award at the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. In 2018 Mallee Boys was recognised as a CBCA Honour Book.
Charlotte is an Adelaide-based writer who worked as a civil engineer and physics teacher before rediscovering her love for children’s literature. Charlotte loves sharing her passion for science, creativity and stories with children of all ages.
Ashleigh Barton is a children's author and copywriter. Ashleigh's work includes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade and has been recognised on the CBCA Notables list in 2021 and 2023 and the Shortlist in 2022.
Jess has written the Tales of Mr Walker series about a dog who comes to live in the fanciest hotel in town. Jess has also written the Little Paws series and the Keeper of the Crystals series; and is co-author of the hugely successful Bindi Wildlife Adventure series, the Kaboom Kid series and the RSPCA Animal Tales series.
Ian Boyd is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a committee member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, SA Branch. Inspired by his role with the Children’s Book Council, he has developed a passion for the role of literacy in the complex learning area of sustainability.
Janeen Brian is an award-winning, children’s author and poet with over 110 books published in both trade and educational publishing. She enjoys writing picture books, junior fiction, poetry and novels.
Mark Carthew is an award winning Australian children’s author, poet, musician and educator well known for his books and series celebrating music, movement, drama, humour and wordplay.
Adam's first book, Wesley Booth, Super Sleuth was published by Scholastic in 2016. He has more up and coming titles and was recently the winner of the Text Prize for Children's Literature for The Extremely Weird Thing that Happened in Huggabie Falls.
Bethany Clark is a writer and editor who after many years working behind the scenes in the publishing industry found herself as the chief manager of snacks for a small child. Her subsequent picture books published by Affirm Press explore the joys and challenges of child development and emotional intelligence for small children
Danielle Clode is a zoologist who writes about killer whales, dinosaurs, bushfires and megafauna. Her third children’s book on prehistoric animals, From Dinosaurs to Diprotodons, was published by Museum Victoria in August 2018.
Phil Cummings is an award winning author of over seventy books for children (from picture books to novels) in a career that has spanned thirty years. His work has been published in Australia, New Zealand, U.S, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, U.K. and throughout Europe. He is a registered teacher and has been a Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador since its inception in 2004. Phil was also named National Literacy Champion in 2006.
Aleesah Darlison is an internationally published, award-winning Australian author of over 65 books for children. She is known for her books that champion the cause of animals and the environment and for her stories that empower children.
Mike has written many award-winning books since his first picture book Dial-a-Croc was published in Australia and overseas in 1991. He has also received the Federal Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy, which recognised his work as an educator and a writer over an extended period of time.
Dr Helen Edwards is an Adelaide-based children’s author who weaves diverse stories of nature, magic and history. Helen’s debut middle-grade novel, The Rebels of Mount Buffalo was published in October 2023, by the award-winning Riveted Press. In June 2024, it was shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards.
Mick Elliott is an author, illustrator, TV producer, scriptwriter, animator, reading ambassador, public speaker and mischief maker. In 2016, Hachette Australia published his hugely popular series THE TURNERS, a comedic fantasy for upper primary readers about a reluctant 13 year old shape-shifter. And in 2019, prepare to meet Mick's new character, Squidge Dibley.