Jane Godwin (Author)
Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed author of over twenty-five books for children, across all styles and ages. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations, including the Queensland Premier's Award (Children's Books), the Aurealis Award and the Animal Welfare Award, and shortlistings in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, the Prime Minister's Literary Award, the New South Wales State Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize) the YABBA Awards, the Speech Pathology Awards, The Family Award for Children's Books, and the Australian Book Industry Awards. For many years Jane was a publisher of children's books at Penguin Australia.
Jen Storer (Author)
Jen Storer has worked behind the scenes in publishing as an editor, a project manager and in creative development. She is now a full-time writer for young people. Her gothic fantasy novel, Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children, was shortlisted for a string of awards including the Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Best Children's Fiction) and the CBCA Book of the Year. Her books include the classic fantasy Accidental Princess and the Crystal Bay series. Jen lives and works in Melbourne.
Patricia Wrightson (Author)
Patricia Wrightson was one of Australia's most distinguished writers for children. Her books have won many prestigious awards all over the world. She was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in 1977, the Dromkeen Medal in 1984 and the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1986, all for her services to children's literature. She was also a four-time winner of the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award: in 1956 for The Crooked Snake, in 1974 for The Nargun and the Stars, in 1978 for The Ice Is Coming and in 1984 for A Little Fear. Patricia passed away in 2010.
Gus Gordon (Illustrator)
Gus Gordon is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and author. He has illustrated and written over 80 books for children. His illustrations are known for their loose and energetic line work, mixed media and humour. His writing is always anthropomorphic. He attributes this to his love of Kenneth Grahame's Wind in The Willows.
Gus's first picture book, Wendy, was a Notable Book in the 2010 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Awards.
His second picture book, Herman and Rosie, now published in twelve countries, has been internationally acclaimed and awarded.
Somewhere Else was published by Penguin Random House Australia in 2016.
Mitch Vane (Illustrator)
Mitch Vane has had a long career working as an illustrator and artist. She is interested in all forms of visual story-telling using a variety of mediums but is at her happiest drawing with a good old-fashioned dip pen and Indian ink.
Mitch often collaborates with her partner Danny Katz - her cartoons appeared with his weekly humour column in The Age - and they have created many children's books together, including Aussie Bites - The Parents are Revolting and Big Bad Bunnies.
Mitch illustrated a series of 12 Zodiac themed stamps for Australia Post and has created many children's books with publishers both in Australia and the U.S.
She works from her studio at home in Melbourne, and does illustration workshops and appearances at libraries and schools throughout the year.
David Cox (Illustrator)
David Cox grew up in outback Queensland where he spent some years working on sheep and cattle stations. At the age of twenty-one he set off to England to study art at St Martins School of Art. His first illustration commission was with Puffin Books in the UK that same year.After eight years in the UK and Europe, David returned to Australia and worked in the newspaper industry, writing articles, book reviews and art reviews and contributing illustrations. In 1978, he was awarded the Walkeley Award for newspaper illustration.David Cox has won awards for illustration in Australia and the USA. He now works as a full-time illustrator and writer and lives in Brisbane.
