Kirsty Murray (1960–) Biography

Born 1960, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; stepEducation: Attended Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, catering, books, music, film.

Addresses

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allen & Unwin, 9 Atchinson St., Sidney, New South Wales 2065, Australia.

Career

Children's book author. Worked variously as a forest ranger, secretary, caterer, life model, waitress, graphic artist, administrator, art teacher, craftsperson, laborer, barmaid, editor, and researcher. Served on various school councils in the United Kingdom and Australia; Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge, ambassador, 2005.

Member

Australian Society of Authors, Amnesty International, Children's Book Council of Australia.

Honors Awards

Western Australian Premier's Book Award, 2000, for Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish; Children's Literature Choice listee, 2001, for What Kids Are Made Of; Aurealis Award shortlist, 2001, and Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book designation, 2002, both for Market Blues; CBCA Notable Book designation, 2003, and West Australian Young Readers Book Award shortlist, 2004, both for Walking Home with Marie-Claire; CBCA Notable Book designation, and New South Wales Premier's History Awards Young People's History Prize shortlist, both 2004, both for Bridie's Fire; CBCA Notable Book designation, 2005, for Becoming Billy Dare.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

Maneaters and Bloodsuckers, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Howard Florey: Miracle Maker, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Tough Stuff, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia, 1999, published as What Kids Are Made of: True Stories of Young Rescuers, Rulers, and Rebels, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Circus of Secrets, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Market Blues, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

Walking Home with Marie-Claire, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2002.

"CHILDREN OF THE WIND" SERIES

Bridie's Fire, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.

Becoming Billy Dare, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.

A Prayer for Blue Delaney, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2005.

Work in Progress

The Secret Life of Maeve Lee Kwong, the fourth book in the "Children of the Wind" series.