Aleesah Darlison is a multi-published, award-winning Australian children’s author. She has written forty-five books for children including picture books, chapter books, novels and series. Aleesah has won numerous awards for her writing including the 2015 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (Our Class Tiger - Non-Fiction) and an Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Mentorship. Her picture book, Warambi, was a 2012 CBCA Notable Book and was shortlisted for the Eve Pownall Award and the 2012 Environment Award. Her picture book, Emerald: The Green Turtle’s Tale was shortlisted for the 2018 Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards.
 
Aleesah works across various genres including non-fiction, fantasy, and social realism. Aleesah has also written numerous award-winning short stories and non-fiction articles for adults and children. Her novels include the Little Witch Series, Running from the Tiger, Awesome Animal Stories for Kids, the Netball Gems Series, the Unicorn Riders Series, and Ash Rover: Keeper of the Phoenix. Her picture books include Warambi, Puggle’s Problem, Stripes in the Forest: The Story of the Last Wild Thylacine and Mama and Hug (koalas).

Aleesah travels throughout Australia and internationally delivering talks and workshops to children and adults at preschools, schools, libraries, literary festivals and writers’ centres. She also works as a writing mentor and tutor. Her 8-book fantasy adventure series, Unicorn Riders, has been released in hardcover and paperback in the US, while many of her other books have also been released internationally.

Alex Adsett is a literary agent specialising in fiction for all ages, as well as a freelance publishing consultant offering commercial contract advice to authors and publishers.  She has more than twenty years’ experience working in the publishing and bookselling industry and has managed Alex Adsett Publishing Services since 2008.

As a literary agent, she is focused on finding exceptional fiction and non-fiction manuscripts for adults, young adults and children. She represents more than forty authors including Jodi McAlister, Robert Henderson, Shelly Unwin, and many more.  She is often to be found on twitter at @alexadsett or via her website www.alexadsett.com.au

Award-winning Melbourne writer Anne Gracie spent her childhood on the move. The gypsy life taught her that humour and love are universal languages and that favorite books can take you home, wherever you are.

A lifelong bookworm, Anne began writing her first novel while backpacking solo around the world. She's now a full-time writer working on her 23rd book. A nationally bestselling author in the USA (published with PenguinRandom House) her historical romances have been translated into more than eighteen languages. 

Anne has conducted writing workshops for most Australian state writers’ centres, many tertiary institutions, and has delivered keynotes and workshops in the US, Australia and NZ. Her book,The Autumn Bride, has been on the curriculum of several Australian universities. 

Belinda Murrell is a bestselling, internationally published children’s author with a history of writing in her family that spans over 200 years. Belinda has written more than 30 books including The Sun Sword trilogy, 13 books in the popular Lulu Bell series and her award-winning timeslip novels.  Her latest series is called Pippa’s Island about a group of best friends who start a secret club, which meets after school in a tower on top of a boatshed. 

Belinda thinks she has the best job in the world because it brings together three of her greatest loves – writing, reading and travelling the world with her family! 

And when she’s not writing books (or escaping on wonderful travel holidays with her family) she’s often out talking to kids at schools, festivals and literary events around Australia.

Brian Falkner was born and raised in Auckland. He is the award-winning, bestselling author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Flea Thing, The Real Thing and The Super Freak. His action–adventure sci-fi novels The Tomorrow Code and Brainjack were short-listed for the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and the Esther Glen Award at the LIANZA Awards. 

In 2010 Brainjack won the New Zealand Post Book Awards, Children’s Choice Award (Young Adult Fiction category) and the Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Young Adult Novel. The Project was short-listed on the 2011 Storylines Notable Books List. The first book in the Recon Team Angel series, Assault, was short-listed for the 2012 LIANZA Award (Young Adult Fiction category) and the third book, Ice War, was short-listed for this award in 2014.

Claire Saxby writes award-winning fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children. From extreme silliness in 'There Was an Old Sailor', to big historical stories with strong curriculum links like 'My Name is Lizzie Flynn', 'Meet the Anzacs' and 'Meet Weary Dunlop', to iconic Australian animals including 'Big Red Kangaroo', 'Emu' and 'Koala', her picture books aim to engage, entertain and encourage curiosity. Claire's work is published in Australia and internationally. 

Her picture book 'Emu' (ill Graham Byrne, Walker Books) was shortlisted in CBCA Awards 2015, and won both the Wilderness Award and a Whitley Award. 'Big Red Kangaroo' won the CBCA Crichton Award, was shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Award and was a Whitley Award winner. 

Recent books include 'Koala' (ill Julie Vivas, Walker Books) CBCA Notable Book, Bird to Bird (ill Wayne Harris, Black Dog Books) and Dingo (Tannya Harricks Walker Books).

Deborah Lee is the Senior Manager, Content Acquisition and Business Development, Ingram Content Group.

Debbie began her career as a sales rep in the trade publishing market some 30 years ago. She then moved to educational publishing, becoming a Publisher of academic and professional texts. In 2014 Debbie joined Ingram and now provides print-on-demand and global distribution solutions to publishers large and small, from multinationals to local presses and self-published ‘authorpreneurs’.

Debbie is also doing assessments and running IngramSpark one-on-one information sessions

Heather has always loved literature. Surrounded by books from her earliest memories, she read picture books, biographies, poetry, and all genres of fiction. While she devoured any book that told a good story and introduced a new world, she especially loved the ones that made her want to be the heroine of her own life.

As Heather grew up, her work in Biochemistry inspired her imagination for creating worlds. Writing for enjoyment turned into an interest in improving craft. Heather has always loved meeting authors and working on their books as a collaborative partner. She was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor.

Before becoming an associate agent at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing. She’s helped authors from the pre-query stage to acquisitions, and she’s also worked as a freelance editor and consultant for traditional and non- traditional publishing. She’s excited to continue helping authors as their agent.

Some of her favorite authors: Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Judy Blume, Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, Gary Paulson, Roald Dahl, Lord Byron (so much love for Prometheus Unbound, especially), Orson Scott Card, Beverly Cleary, Dean Koontz, Rainbow Rowell, Pierce Brown, Leigh Bardugo, Maggie Stiefvater, Holly Black, and so many more.

Jacqueline Harvey loves writing books full of adventure, mystery, quirky characters and lots of laughs. With over 40 books published in the past ten years she is one of Australia’s most popular authors for children, best known for her Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose and Kensy and Max series.

In 2020, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Alice-Miranda at School her publisher, Penguin Random House have produced a beautiful hardback edition of the book that inspired another 18 stories and counting. 

Alice-Miranda Friends Forever, the animated movie by SLR Productions in partnership with Screen Australia, ZDF Enterprises and Channel Nine has just premiered in Australia and a second film, Alice-Miranda A Royal Christmas Ball will screen in 2020. 

Jacqueline has received numerous short-listings and awards while her picture book, The Sound of the Sea was a CBCA Honour Book. A highly experienced teacher and presenter, she has delivered thousands of talks and workshops for children and adults at schools and festivals around the world. Her books have been translated into many languages and she is thrilled that Kensy and Max will be published in the United States in 2020. 

She is currently working on lots of exciting new projects including more books in the Alice-Miranda and Kensy and Max series.

As a former Arts and Publishing Publicist for The Australian Ballet and Penguin Random House Australia, Julia started Saint Copy PR & Communications with clear intentions - To make PR expertise more accessible for creatives, small business owners, entrepreneurs, not for profits and authors.

A champion for those bold enough to pursue their creative endeavours, I could see the leverage that targeted PR coverage could have for small business. With a broad range of clients across the arts, fashion, kids publishing and not for profit scene, she has helped get clients the right coverage, from digital to traditional PR, to be seen, heard and felt by their ideal audience.

Dr Kate Forsyth wrote her first novel aged seven and has since sold more than a million copies . Her books for adults include The Blue Rose, Beauty in Thorns, The Beast’s Garden, The Wild Girl, and Bitter Greens which won the 2015 American Library Association Award for Best Historical Fiction. 

Kate’s books for children include the collection of feminist fairy-tale retellings The Buried Moon & Other Tales of Bright Young Women, the companion book to Vasilisa the Wise & Other Tales of Brave Young Women, which won a silver medal in the 2018 Readers Favorite book awards in the US. Other children’s books include The Impossible Quest fantasy series which was shortlisted for the the Reading & Enjoying Australian Literature (REAL) Awards; the Aurealis-award winning historical fiction series The Chain of Charms, and The Puzzle Ring  which was short-listed for the 2009 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and named an 'Unsung Hero of 2009' by international bloggers. 

Kate has also won the 2017 William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism and been honoured with the 2018 Australian Fairy Tale Society Award for her significant contribution to the field of fairy tale studies. Kate has a BA in literature, a MA in creative writing and a Doctorate of Creative Arts, and is also an accredited master storyteller with the Australian Guild of Storytellers. Kate is a direct descendant of Charlotte Waring Atkinson, the author of the first book for children ever published in Australia.

LAUREN CLARKE is an editor of fact and fiction, specialising in the romance genre. She works with a host of traditionally and independently published authors, some USA Today, NY Times, Amazon and iBooks bestsellers amongst them. With more than fifteen years experience in the publishing industry, she is passionate about helping writers create the perfect story. 

As well as working in structural and line editing, Lauren hosts a series of workshops and courses for authors and writers' groups both digitally and in person. She is also the creator of a range of tools to help writers create—check out the store for more details.

Marc McBride has designed over 200 book covers including  the best selling  Deltora Quest series, which has sold over eighteen million copies around the world and has become an Anime TV show.

His latest book, The Glimme, was designed by him along with Time Vaulter, released in 2020.

Marc has won design awards for the Deltora Quest and an Aurealis Award twice. He has had work exhibited with the New York society of Illustrators International show and won Best Art Direction at the WA Film and Television Awards.

Meredith Costain is a versatile writer for children whose work ranges from picture books through to novels, poetry, series fiction and narrative non-fiction. Her books include Doodledum Dancing, Musical Harriet – which was adapted for TV by the ABC, Grandmas are Lovely, and tween series A Year in Girl Hell. Meredith’s latest books include the quirky Ella Diaries and its sister series, Olivia’s Secret Scribbles. She has worked as an editor for children’s magazines and literacy programs, and enjoys presenting writing workshops to children and adults around Australia and overseas.

Michelle Somers is a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she’ll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.

Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia’s 2013 Valerie Parv Award and 2016 Romantic Book of the Year.

When she’s not writing, Michelle teaches writing craft in simple and easy to follow steps. Her SIMPLY SYNOPSIS strategy has revolutionized the way writers craft a synopsis, and now her CHARACTERISATION THROUGH NARRATION strategy is helping writers master the art of strong, character-driven storytelling.

Michelle lives in Melbourne with her real life hero and three heroes in the making. As well as Emerald, a black furry feline who thinks she’s a dog, and Cammie, a goofy rescue pup.

Pamela Rushby was born in Queensland more years ago than she cares to divulge. She has worked in advertising; as a pre-school teacher; and as a writer and producer of educational television, audio and multimedia.

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Pam has written children's books and television scripts; hundreds of radio and TV commercials; multi award-winning documentaries on Queensland dinosaurs, Australian ecosystems, bilbies, the Crown of Thorns starfish and buried Chinese terracotta warriors; short stories; and freelance journalism. She has won several awards, including a Literature Board of the Australia Council grant to work on archaeological excavations in Egypt and Jordan; a Churchill Fellowship to study educational television in Canada; the Ethel Turner Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards; five Notable Books in the Children's Book Council of Australia awards; and a bag of gold coins at a film festival in Iran.

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Her historical novels include When the Hipchicks Went to War (Hachette 2009), The Horses Didn't Come Home (HarperCollins 2012), Flora's War (Ford Street Publishing 2013), The Rat-catcher's Daughter (HarperCollins 2014), Sing a Rebel Song (Omnibus 2015) and Lizzie and Margaret Rose (Omnibus 2016).

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Pam lives in Brisbane with her husband and six visiting scrub turkeys. She has two children (plus son-in-law and two gorgeous grandchildren).

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She is passionately interested in children's books and television, ancient history and Middle Eastern food. 
 

Paul has been the recipient of the A Bertram Chandler, Aurealis, William Atheling and Peter McNamara awards and has been shortlisted for many others including the Speech Pathology, Mary Grant Bruce, Ditmar and Chronos awards.

He founded Ford Street Publishing in 2007. Since then Ford Street has published around 140 books. Many have either been short-listed or won awards such the Family Therapists’ and Gold INKY Award.

Paul was publishing in the mid 70s. In the early 80s he published Australia’s first adult fantasy novels– a decade before the major publishers realised there was an audience for science fiction and fantasy. He began writing full time in the late 90s and is the author of well over 100 books, mostly for children and young adults. He counts among his publishers Penguin, Hachette, The Five Mile Press, Lothian, Macmillan and HarperCollins.

He current title is a middle grade book called James Gong – The Bit Hit, due May 2020. It has pre-sold 2000 copies.

Paul also runs literary festivals in schools and libraries and runs the speakers’ agency Creative Net.
 

Peter Carnavas writes and illustrates books for children and the grown-ups in the their lives.  

He has written and illustrated many picture books, including Jessica’s Box, Last Tree in the City and The Children Who Loved Books.  His novel, The Elephant, won the Children’s Book Award at the 2018 Queensland Literary Award and was shortlisted in four other national awards, including the CBCA Awards.  

Peter has worked with author Pat Flynn on My Totally Awesome Story, and illustrated Damon Young’s series of picture books that celebrate family diversity, including the ABIA winning My Sister is a Superhero.  He also illustrated John Williamson’s picture book, My Dad Snores.  

Peter now divides his time between writing and working as a teacher librarian.  He lives in the Sun-shine Coast hinterland with his wife, two daughters, a dog called Florence and a cat named Harry.  He’s still getting used to the cat.
 

Phil Kettle is an awarding winning author of 200 books for younger readers.

His books include the Toocool, Boyz Rule, Girlz Rock, Billy Kool, Get Real, Our Australia, I Can Be, Spike and soon to be released Out Back Clancy and Kidz Rule book series.

Phil is a passionate and popular presenter in schools not only in Australia, but also OS! .. 

Renee Treml is the author and illustrator of several picture books for young children, including: Ten Little Owls, Roo Knows Blue and Sleep Tight, Platypup. She is also the creator of the Sherlock Bones graphic novel mystery series for independent readers. Renee has a degree in environmental science and a passionate love of natural history. 

Tony Park was born in 1964 and grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney.  He has worked as a journalist, press secretary and PR consultant and is now a full time author. Tony also served 34 years in the Australian Army Reserve, including six months in Afghanistan in 2002.  Tony is the author of 18 thriller novels set in Africa and six non-fiction biographies.  A once-in-a-lifetime safari holiday to Africa in 1995 turned out to be anything but, for Tony and his wife, Nicola. They became hooked on Africa and now divide their time equally each year between Sydney and a house in a game reserve on the edge of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. In his spare time Tony volunteers with Veterans 4 Wildlife, an NGO whose ex-military members train and support anti-poaching rangers in Africa.  His latest novel is ‘Last Survivor’, about the trade in endangered plants. 

Vicki Bennett is an author, artist, a corporate trainer for over three decades and an accomplished writer and entertaining speaker. She has written 30 books and written and co-produced a documentary, Never Forget Australia.
 
Her writing career began with personal development books and has expanded to children’s books, young adult and adult fiction. Books include: I’ve Found the Keys Now Where’s the Car? I’ve Read the Rules, Now How Do I Play the Game? Life Smart - Choices for Young People about Friendship, Family and Future, The Effective Leader, Signposts for Life, Two Pennies, The Little Stowaway and Oliver’s First Big Spy Adventure.
 
The Book of Hope – Antidote to Anxiety released in 2020, came from her personal experience of anxiety. Vicki felt a great need in the marketplace for an accessible book about overcoming anxiety, exploring the antidotes of sacred self-care, values driven behaviour, managing triggers, accessing gratitude, mindfulness and resilience.