Nadia Wheatley (born 30 April 1949) is an Australian writer whose work includes picture books, novels, biography and history. Perhaps best known for her classic picture book My Place (illustrated by Donna Rawlins), the author's biography of Charmian Clift was described by critic Peter Craven as 'one of the greatest Australian biographies'. Another book by Wheatley is A Banner Bold, a historical novel.
While some of the author's books for children and young adults have been honoured in the annual awards of the Children's Book Council of Australia, in 2014 Nadia was nominated by IBBY Australia for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing — the highest international recognition given to a living author whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.
In 2014 Wheatley was admitted by the University of Sydney to the degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), in recognition of 'her exceptional creative achievements in the field of children's and adult literature, her work as a historian and her contribution to our understanding of Indigenous issues, cultural diversity, equity and social justice and the environment through story'.
Matt Ottley is a multi-award-winning picture book writer and illustrator. He spent his childhood in Papua New Guinea, and has travelled widely throughout Australia and the world. He worked for some years as a stockman on remote cattle stations in the Australian outback, then went on to study fine arts and music at college and university. He lived for three years in Britain where he worked as an equestrian painter. His controversial book and musical work for young adults, Requiem for a Beast was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year in 2008, and the Queensland Premier’s Award for Young Adult Literature in the same year. Matt’s work has been translated into many languages and his picture book What Faust Saw was an international bestseller. Matt continues to work as an author, illustrator and composer.
