by Paul Collins
James Roy
James grew up in Papua New Guinea and Fiji as part of a missionary family, but he thinks that being a writer is probably the best adventure he’s ever had. He has written twenty books, and some of them have won awards. He lives in the Blue Mountains. Visit him at www.jamesroy.com.au.
Jen Storer
Jen is a talented and exciting writer for children. Her gothic fantasy novel, Tensy Farlow and the Home .for Mislaid Children, was short-listed for a string of awards including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Best Children’s Fiction) and the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Book of the Year. She lives in Melbourne with her partner and two teenage sons. Visit www.jenstorer.com.
Lucy Sussex
Lucy reviews weekly for The Age. Her writing includes genres ranging from horror crime to fiction for younger readers. She also researches early crime fiction. ‘The Thieftaker’s Apprentice’ is based on a true case of 1752, as reported in the Covent-Garden Journal, edited by novelist and Old Bailey magistrate Henry Fielding.
Shaun Tan
Shaun grew up m Perth, Western Australia, and in school became known as the ‘good drawer’, which partly compensated for always being the shortest kid in every class. He currently works full time as an artist and author, writing and illustrating picture books such as The Arrival, Tales.from Outer Suburbia, The Red Tree and The Lost Thing. For more information visit www.shauntan.net.
Mitch Vane
Mitch is a Melbourne-based illustrator who works in a variety of mediums but is at her happiest drawing with a good old-fashioned dip pen and Indian ink. She often collaborates with her partner Danny Katz. They have created many children’s books together, including The YABBA Award-winning Little Lunch series, Big Bad Bunnies, and the recently released No Thanks Hanks & other Unmannerly Tales. Visit her website at www.mitchvane.com.
PeterViska
Peter’s cartoons have appeared in newspapers around Australia. He has since illustrated the Far Out, Brussel Sprout! series and Aussie Bite books: The Lenski Kids and Dracula, Hello World It’s Me and No Place.for Grubbs. He is the author and illustrator of Dan Dann - the Dunnyman. His latest book is The Greeblies.
Michael Wagner
Michael is the author of forty-six children’s books, including the Maxx Rumble series and another about a family called The Undys. He also sings and writes songs with his band
The Grownups (available through www.grownupsmusic. com). His current book, published by Penguin Australia, is Ted Goes Wild.
Gabrielle Wang
Gabrielle is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her great-grandfather came to Victoria during the Gold Rush. Before becoming a children’s author, Gabrielle was a graphic designer. Now she writes stories that are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy. Visit www.gabriellewang.com.
Sean Williams
Sean is the award-winning, #1 New York Times-best-selling author of thirty-five novels, seventy-five short stories, and the odd poem. His latest series is Troubletwisters, co-written with Garth Nix.
Mark Wilson
Mark loved drawing from a very early age and loved playing drums on his mum’s upturned pots and pans. He also loved comics, especially The Phantom. He now writes and illustrates children’s books like Angel qf Kokoda and Journey qf the Sea Turtle, and sings in the blues band, The Dodgy Chairs.