WA AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS
Meet the West Australian Authors and Illustrators who support the WA Branch of the CBCA.
We are fortunate to have so much talent in WA. These creators are happy to hear from you about bookings at any time of the year, not just during Children’s Book Week in August. They are available for school visits, author talks, workshops, library visits and kids lit festivals. Please note that, as with all professionals trying to make a living, they will charge minimum ASA rates for their appearances.
Contact them direct via their website or from the information they have supplied in their profiles.
If you would like to be featured on this page, please complete the WA Creator profile submission form.
We are fortunate to have so much talent in WA. These creators are happy to hear from you about bookings at any time of the year, not just during Children’s Book Week in August. They are available for school visits, author talks, workshops, library visits and kids lit festivals. Please note that, as with all professionals trying to make a living, they will charge minimum ASA rates for their appearances.
Contact them direct via their website or from the information they have supplied in their profiles.
If you would like to be featured on this page, please complete the WA Creator profile submission form.
AśkaAśka, (pronounced ‘Ash-ka’), is creative dynamite: a shortlisted graphic novelist, an ex-quantum physicist, and a hugely engaging and popular presenter.
Aśka is very passionate about visual literacy. She has published more than ten books and comics, is a recipient of several government Arts grants and prizes, and volunteers for numerous literary organisations. |
Sean E AverySean E Avery is a teacher, writer-illustrator, sculptor and designer born in South Africa; living in Perth, Western Australia. Locally, he’s best known as the writer-illustrator of well-loved children’s picture books, All Monkeys Love Bananas, published by Fremantle Press. Internationally, he’s best known as a sculptor who uses CDs and DVDs to create breath-taking works of art that reside in galleries and private collections all around the world. He is curious, enthusiastic and ready to work hard for the things he believes in.
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Jen BanyardJen Banyard writes the kind of adventures she daydreamed about - and sought out - as a kid. Her stories and school sessions are fuelled by the joy of uninhibited play and the power of imagination. Her writing blends humour with grittier themes like compassion and environmental accountability, the Australian Book Review describing her style as smart, funny and insightful.
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AJ BettsA.J. is a Fremantle-based author for young adults. Her novels include the dystopian duology Hive and Rogue (2018/2019) and Zac & Mia (2013) which was adapted into an Emmy-award-winning television series in Hollywood.
A.J. is also a secondary English Teacher, and a regular presenter in schools. |
Karen BlairKaren Blair is a multi-award winning author and illustrator who has published more than 15 books for children. She is passionate about creating stories that capture the wonder and magic of childhood with an illustration style known for its warmth and liveliness. Karen had the pleasure of teaching art to primary students for many years, sharing a joy of exploring materials and expressing ideas in visual media.
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Cristy BurneScience writer Cristy Burne’s fiction and non-fiction books are all about inspiring creativity, courage, compassion and capability. Cristy has performed in a science circus, worked as a garbage analyst, and worked for twenty years as a children’s author and science communicator. She’s excited to be working at the intersection of STEM, STEAM and creativity.
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Raewyn CaisleyMulti award winning author Raewyn Caisley writes stories about cool Western Australian places, (from the Nullarbor to Kalumburu!) and amazing Western Australian people, (like Sam, the famous quantum physicist who was raised by kangaroos!) She's been recognized for her contribution to changing young West Australian lives with her work featured in the Innovations Gallery of our own WA Museum Boola Bardip. Oh, and her school visits are more fun than recess and cake!
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PETER CHEONGPeter Cheong is an author, illustrator and graphic novelist. After spending several years in the Australian Army, Peter decided to pursue a career in illustration, something that he was always passionate about, but had been afraid to commit to. He currently resides in Perth (Whadjuk Region), Western Australia with his amazing wife (and cat), creating characters and telling their stories.
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Ruth de VosRuth de Vos’ illustration work has grown out of a career as an internationally recognised textile artist. Ruth combines traditional (pencil, gouache, collage, screen printing) and digital techniques to create fun scenes and worlds. As a mother of six young children, she is an avid and critical consumer of children’s literature, and she also has a ready source of drawing inspiration right in her home.
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Amy DunjeyAmy is a children’s author with a love for all things quirky and whimsical. She writes picture books, short stories and poetry for children and has a strong hankering for rhyme. As a speech pathologist and lecturer, Amy endeavours to pass on her love for words. She aspires to write stories that ignite little imaginations and instil the same love for words and adventure that she treasures.
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Gabriel EvansGabriel Evans is an author and illustrator of picture books.
Working from a small studio on a hill surrounded by oak trees, he makes books that have sold internationally, been translated into nine languages and have been shortlisted in the CBCA Picture Book of the Year. Gabriel has travelled Australia giving energetic and informative author visits in schools and libraries from the busy streets of Sydney and Melbourne to the remote indigenous communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley. |
Deb FitzpatrickDeb Fitzpatrick is the author of novels for adults, young adults and children and loves using stories from real life in her books. She regularly teaches creative writing at all levels, and shares her life with a lovely family and their kelpie, who is absolutely not a failed sheep dog.
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James FoleyJames Foley makes children’s books for children who read books. If you’re a child and you’re eating his books, you’re doing it wrong. James writes and draws; he gives talks and runs workshops. He tells dad jokes. Legends say James can grow a beard in an afternoon. He lives in Perth with his wife, two kids, and a labrador. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd and comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts.
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Elaine ForrestalElaine Forrestal loves the sea. She lives just a stone’s throw from the dog beach and can be seen walking and swimming there first thing every morning. It's where she thinks about her characters, from the manuscript she is working on, and asks them what they have been up to since the previous day.
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Sharon GiltrowSharon Giltrow grew up the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She is a children’s author who writes humorous and heartfelt picture books. As well as speculative, adventure filled middle grade books.
Sharon is an enthusiastic and inspirational speaker with a passion for developing children’s oral, visual, and written literacy. |
Mark GreenwoodMark Greenwood is a history hunter who enjoys exploring the past, searching for lost treasures and delving into baffling mysteries. To create his award-winning books, Mark likes collecting clues and brushing away the layers of time to blend information about the past with the power of imagination. Most of all, Mark enjoys sharing his writing secrets with students of all ages and backgrounds, inspiring them to develop their curiosity about reading, writing and history.
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Renae HaywardRenae Hayward was born during a cyclone in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, but grew up by the beaches of Perth’s northern suburbs. She has authored two books for children, Barking Mad and Say Hooray, and was the inaugural recipient of the Ray Koppe Young Writers Residency (Australian Society of Authors/Varuna). She has also contributed as a poet to The School Magazine (NSW Department of Education).
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Steve HeronWhen he’s not hanging out with the local magpie population, award-winning author Steve Heron uses forty years of experience working with children in social/emotional well-being to cultivate and underpin his writing to create children's books that touch and tickle hearts.
Steve was a recipient of an Order of Australia Medal in 2016 for his contribution to the social and emotional well-being of children. |
Lorraine HorsleyLorraine has spent most of her working life in the media. She started out in TV news, worked in print media, spent over a decade as a presenter and producer with ABC Radio and is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and author.
Lorraine gives talks and workshops on a variety of topics and facilitates events with other authors. |
Kylie HowarthKylie Howarth is an award-winning, internationally published children’s book author and illustrator from Western Australia. She’s braved encounters with lionfish in Egypt, piranha in the Amazon, elephants in Africa, hammerhead sharks in Ecuador, humpback whales in Ningaloo, and thousands of primary school students in Australia. The textures in Kylie’s book illustrations are created with her two adventurous young boys during their backyard art sessions.
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NORMAN JORGENSENCBCA award-winning author Norman Jorgensen freely admits that while he may have the body of an ageing historical novelist, he can still tap successfully into the mind of his adolescent 12-year-old self and write the sort of thrilling adventure stories kids that age love to read.
He relishes the challenge of transforming reluctant, disengaged students into avid readers through the power of his storytelling. |
Denis KnightDenis Knight is a children’s author and computer programmer who grew up geeking out about the works of JRR Tolkien, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. His presentations on the topic of “Science, Books and Magic” are designed to make literature and science fun. His shows are also notable for incorporating “big impact” science demonstrations – including vortex cannons and toilet paper blowers – which never fail to wow audiences of any age.
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Cindy LaneCindy is an award winning illustrator, found most days splashing in rock-pools, puddles and paint. She loves to share her creative techniques, bringing out the artist in everyone, especially those who think they can't draw or paint.
Helping students overcome their fear of the blank page and perfection paralysis is Cindy's speciality! |
Josh LangleyJosh Langley was told he wouldn't amount to much in life, having failed high school (twice) and being unemployed for several years, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a multi award-winning radio copywriter and children’s author. His groundbreaking children’s books, programs and talks on resilience, self-acceptance, understanding emotions and kindness, are helping thousands of kids make friends with themselves. His funny and engaging presentations have been developed to complement the health and wellbeing aspects of the Australian curriculum as well as connecting with pastoral care policies.
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Julia LawrinsonJulia Lawrinson has written more than a dozen books for children and teenagers, many of them award-winning.
She grew up in the outer suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, and loves dogs, oceans, and sunsets. She loves getting students of all ages reading, writing and having fun with stories. |
Frané LessacFrané Lessac is an award-winning author/illustrator with over 50 books published throughout the world. Travelling has always been an inspiration in her work. Ever since she could walk, she’d wander off with her little red wagon trailing behind, collecting adventure stories to share. Frané visits schools, libraries and festivals, empowering both children and adults.
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Bren MacdibbleBren is an award-winning Kalbarri-based writer of children's fiction. Her entertaining adventure novels for 9-14 year olds are set in futures shaped by environmental changes and empower young readers to engage in thoughtful discussions about climate issues and the future.
Bren also writes young adult novels as Cally Black. |
Shirley MarrCBCA award-winning children’s author Shirley Marr is a first-generation Chinese-Australian who describes herself as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart and writes in the middle where both collide.
Her own voice novels emphasise the importance of kindness, empathy, resilience and learning through imaginative play. |
Chenée MarrapodiChenée Marrapodi is a children’s author, television journalist and podcaster. A love of storytelling led Chenée to a career in journalism, where she travelled the country in search of the perfect yarn, meeting an assortment of fascinating characters along the way. She writes books about friendship, family, cultural heritage, resilience and very determined kids & teens, usually with the assistance of her ginormous Great Dane, Taco.
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Meg McKinlayMeg McKinlay finds it disturbingly easy to slip into the skin of her childhood self. She writes with humour and heart out of the self-described 'weird little kid' she once was and hopes that will connect with the glorious strangeness inside readers of all ages.
She is in favour of fresh air, ocean swimming, and poetry in all things. |
Amber MoffatAmber Moffat is an author, illustrator and poet who believes that being able to share stories is the most magnificent thing about being human!
She is an experienced teacher and fierce advocate for arts education. Her workshops allow young people to celebrate their own creativity and unique stories. |
Tamara MossTamara Moss is the author of the award-winning, CBCA Notable Lintang and the Pirate Queen and its sequels. Her background in primary school teaching means her workshops and presentations are relevant and engaging for students. She is passionate about getting kids excited about reading and writing.
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Sally MurphySally Murphy thinks the world be perfect if only she could spend her whole day reading, writing and talking about books and poetry. Luckily, she does a lot of all three, but she also works as an academic in literacy education, walks on the beach, and, occasionally, sleeps.
She loves to visit schools, festivals and anything book related. |
Rebecca NewmanRebecca Newman has been a poet-in-residence, a Christmas Carol lyricist, and had her short story pop out of the Raine Square short story dispenser in Perth City!
Rebecca's work is published in Australia and internationally, and she loves exploring wordplay, rhythm and poetry with young readers. |
Jevita NilsonAward-winning writer Jevita Nilson is passionate about creating meaningful and uplifting stories that encourage young children to embrace their imaginations and explore the world around them. Jevita combines her love of nature, family and storytelling to create picture books that inspire, entertain and educate young readers.
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Sandi ParsonsSandi Parsons lives and breathes stories, as a reader, writer and storyteller. Sandi's creative nonfiction has been published in MiNDFOOD, Frankie and the Growing Up Disabled in Australia anthology.
She lives in Western Australia with her favourite husband, some problem puppies and many teetering stacks of books. |
Teena Raffa-MulliganTeena Raffa-Mulligan is a reader, writer and day-dream believer who writes tales to entertain children of all ages. She is a multi-published author of quirky and whimsical books full of warmth, gentle humour and hope. Teena is passionate about the importance of storytelling in our lives and enjoys inspiring young people to set out on their own story adventure.
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Rachael RobertsonRachael Robertson is an author, illustrator and teacher who is passionate about inspiring the next generation of students.
Combining her love for art and creativity with an acute admiration for literature, Rachael engages with children in a unique and interactive way. |
Alicia RogersonAlicia spends her days painting, dreaming and bringing her imagination to life. An award winning children's book illustrator, artist and creator, much of her childhood was spent up in trees reading books.
She enjoys sharing her process, experience and creations so they can find as much excitement in stories as she does. |
Sarah Winifred SearleSWS is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist originally from the US who's now based in Perth, where they spend their days making and reading lots and lots of comics. Their graphic novel The Greatest Thing shortlisted for the older readers category of the CBCA Book of the Year and won the young adult category in the Prime Minister's Literary Award in 2023.
Sarah's work explores themes of identity, health, history, and relationships. |
T.C. ShelleyEight-year-old shoved into a much older body. I write speculative fiction and have published a couple for middle-grade. I’m sure there are a few more books trapped in me, some of them for YA.
I have taught for over twenty years, I love being in the same room with kids, they ask the best questions, and I am interested in sharing stories with everyone. |
Katie StewartKatie Stewart lives on a farm and writes and illustrates picture books inspired by the nature around her. When she's not working on a book, she likes to wander the property, swinging a metal detector or playing paparazzi to the local birds. As a former teacher, she enjoys talking to kids about books and doing fun art activities with them.
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Sian TurnerSian Turner seeks to create stories that inspire, educate and entertain. She has a Certificate in Children’s Book Writing through Open Universities, has completed course with the Australian Writers Centre, and also has a PhD in Physiotherapy. She loves presenting to students in both large groups and smaller workshops and has three children of her own so relates well to all ages. In her spare time Sian loves poetry, gardening, walking in the beach and playing field hockey.
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HM WaughHM (Heather) Waugh is an environmental scientist, author and educator with a long-term love of wild places and adventure.
She writes middle-grade and young adult stories full of friendship, resilience, humour and action, and firmly believes that literacy is a superpower. She brings energy and inspiration to all her presentations. |
Leanne WhiteLeanne is a regional based author/ illustrator who paints with humour, heart, mystery and magic. She has published over ten picture books, including the popular William the Wild series.
When Leanne is not out bush-walking, she spends a lot of time reading, day dreaming and giggling at kids books, always accompanied in her studio by her two blue heeler dogs, Bo and Banjo. |
Dianne WolferDianne writes across genres and is author of 23 books, including the award-winning ‘Light’ series; adapted for CineStage, theatre and massed choirs. Dianne's writing is inspired by history and nature. This bookworm loves animals and her PhD research into anthropomorphism resulted in The Dog with Seven Names (2019 CBCA Notable, Readers Cup, Speech Pathology Book of the Year) and The Shark Caller (2017 CBCA Notable, WAYBRA shortlist).
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