Meet the Authors
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Margot is a YA author, reviewer, blogger, former bookseller and cheerleader for #LoveOzYA. Her debut novel Neverland was shortlisted for the 2015 Text Prize and published by Penguin Random House Australia in 2018.
Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Joel McKerrow is an award-winning writer, keynote speaker, creativity specialist, children's author, educator and, having performed for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world, is one of Australia’s most successful internationally touring, performance poets.
Beverley’s middle-grade historical novel ‘The Reindeer and the Submarine’ was published by Pantera Press in November 2022. Her debut picture book ‘Born to Fly’ published by MidnightSun in 2019 was a CBCA notable book. Beverley’s second middle-grade novel, Spies in the Sky, is due for release November 2023, and she has two picture books contracted for 2024 with CSIRO and MidnightSun.
South Australian author, Marianne Musgrove, writes novels and poetry for young people. For over a decade, she has been running lively and engaging workshops for primary and secondary students on the craft of book writing.
Louise Park draws from a strong background in Education, literacy and publishing to produce her blockbuster bestsellers that include Zac Power Test Drives and Spy Recruit, her environmental series, Star Girl, and the Harriet Clare series. She is also the co-author of the hugely successful series’, Boy v Beast and D-Bot Squad.
Cameron is a prize-winning author and has worked as an anthropologist, house dad, archivist, and academic. In First Person Shooter, Cameron explores the deeply personal experience of adolescent stuttering through the eyes of a 15-year-old boy.
Jane Smith is a Toowoomba librarian, author and freelance editor who enjoys researching and writing about history – fiction and non-fiction, for children and for adults. Jane’s latest release is ‘Carly Mills, Pioneer Girl,’ a children’s historical fiction series that celebrates the achievements of remarkable women who have changed the world. Three of her children’s books have been short- or long-listed for significant literary awards.
Lian Tanner has worked as a teacher, a tourist bus driver, a juggler, an editor and a professional actor. She has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. It took her a while to realise that all this was preparation for becoming a writer.
Kate and Jol are internationally awarded children’s authors of over 20 books for kids. Their picture books include the smash hit Bin Chicken series (Nominated for ABIA Picture Book of the Year) and the
backwards-forwards Room on Our Rock, which won the Charlotte Huck Award for outstanding fiction with the potential to transform children’s lives. They also write the best-selling graphic novel series The Underdogs.
Michael Wagner is the best-selling author of more than 80 books for children including the Maxx Rumble series and Why I Love Footy. He’s been speaking to, and working with, primary school children of all ages for fifteen years. As one of Victoria’s most popular school speakers, Michael can tailor his sessions to any sized groups, from single classrooms to whole school assemblies.
Gabrielle Wang is an award winning author and illustrator of novels and picture books for children and young adults. She was born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. As a result, Gabrielle’s books are a blend of both Australian and Chinese culture with a touch of fantasy. She has conducted workshops in writing and illustrating around Australia and overseas.
Allayne writes junior fiction, middle grade and YA novels. Paper Planes, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Awards and Swedish rights to A Cardboard Palacehave been sold. UQP have recently acquired her YA novel, Sensitive.
Kristin Weidenbach writes popular non-fiction focused on Australian history. Her picture books for children include King of the Outback: the story of Sidney Kidman, Meet Banjo Paterson and Tom the Outback Mailman.
Sue Whiting has written numerous books in a variety of genres: fiction and nonfiction, picture books through to YA, including the best-selling Missing, a mystery novel for readers 10+, and the award-winning A Swim in the Sea.
