Zoë is a new British-Australian children’s author with a passion for writing engaging and thought-provoking stories. Her debut picture book (which won the Scott Stuart Literary Prize in June 2025), is due to be released in 2027 and another was contracted shortly after, thanks to CYA.
Originally from Hampshire, UK, Zoë emigrated to Australia in 2014. She now has young twins who absorb picture books like bread meeting gravy. Between them, they have read over 1,500 so far. When she's not writing or parenting, Zoë enjoys sewing felt creations and training and competing her foxhound x beagle, Monty, in multiple dog sports.
Zoë has completed various writing courses and have been successful in several writing competitions, including:
- Winner of the Scott Stuart Literary Prize 2025
- Shortlisted in ‘The WriteMentor 2025 Novel & Picture Book Award’ (UK)
- Winner of the Just Write for Kids' PitchIt 2025 picture book competition
- Shortlisted in the CBCA NSW ‘Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program 2024’
- Published online in a flash fiction ‘Show Case’ 2020 (Australian Writers’ Centre)
- Finalist in flash fiction 2019 (London Independent Story Prize)
- Shortlisted in flash fiction 2019 (Flash500, UK)
WHAT CYA CONFERENCE DID FOR ME
I first discovered the CYA conference in 2024 and entered the competition for aspiring writers. The feedback was insightful and helped me reshape two of my manuscripts.
For 2025, both manuscripts scored a lot higher, and this time, I also had a ticket for the conference. It was an invaluable experience. The online sessions were inspiring and packed with useful information from established authors. But the true highlight for me was the assessments. Having an agent or publisher pre-read your work and provide personalised feedback is a fantastic opportunity.
Some advice I received from an agent helped me rewrite a manuscript that has just been taken to acquisitions with a publisher that is near-impossible to interact with for unagented authors (so I still have my fingers crossed for that one...)
And on an even more exciting note, another assessment resulted in a direct contract offer from Rochelle at Wombat Books. It has been a wonderful experience working with Rochelle and the Wombat team, who have been nothing but welcoming and supportive.
A huge thank you to CYA for creating these opportunities for new or aspiring authors and illustrators.
