Authors

Sofie Laguna

Author of the Grace books

Sofie Laguna was born in 1968 in Sydney and began her career as an actor. Her books have been named Honour Books and Notable Books by the Children's Book Council of Australia and shortlisted in the Queensland Premier's Awards. Her picture book with Andrew McLean, On Our Way to the Beach, was included in an annual selection of outstanding international children's books by the International Youth Library (Associated Project of UNESCO). Sofie's other books include My Yellow Blanky, Too Loud Lily, Surviving Aunt Marsha, Bad Buster and Big Ned's Bushwalk.

Sofie lives in Melbourne with her partner and new baby.

Alison Lloyd

Author of the Letty books

Alison Lloyd is the popular and highly regarded author of several books for children, including Year of the Tiger, which was her first book, followed by Wicked Warriors and Evil Emperors. Alison speaks and reads Chinese. She studied in China for two years and has worked for the Australian Government in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Alison lives in Melbourne with her husband, two children, two grandparents and three chickens.

Alison likes making things, reading, the bush, beach and mountains, cycling - and dessert.

alisonlloyd.com.au

Gabrielle Wang

Author of the Poppy books

Gabrielle Wang is a much loved writer for young people. A fourth generation Chinese Australian born in Melbourne, Gabrielle studied graphic design and did an Arts degree at Melbourne University, majoring in Chinese. Gabrielle has worked as a sales girl, abalone sheller, dishwasher, waitress, graphic designer, English teacher and Chinese teacher.

Gabrielle's books include her bestselling Young Adult novel, Little Paradise, and the popular Ghost in My Suitcase, which won the 2009 Aurealis Award for young fiction.

Gabrielle is married with two children and lives with her husband, a dog called Saffy who does lots of tricks, a cockatiel called Cookie and a guinea pig called Ratty.

gabriellewang.com

Sherryl Clark

Author of the Rose books

Sherryl Clark is a prolific and popular writer who has had over 40 children's and Young Adult books published. Born in New Zealand on a dairy farm, Sherryl travelled the world before eventually settling in Australia after arriving here in 1978.

Sherryl, who has an Arts Degree from Deakin University, began writing for children in 1996 after being encouraged by a friend. Her first book, The Too-Tight Tutu was published by Penguin in 1997 as one of the first Aussie Bites. Sherryl's most recent Puffin book is Motormouth, is a companion volume to Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!), which was shortlisted for the 2009 CBCA Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers.

sherrylclark.com