The Audrey of the Outback Collection (28 page)

About the Author

Christine Harris has lived in different parts of South Australia, some of them isolated country areas.

The directions to one of her houses went like this: ‘The first fridge on the right, fifteen kilometres after the last pub.’ Kangaroos jumped past her kitchen window, and she once found a snakeskin in the shed.

She spent much of her childhood in the wild places of her imagination, as a princess in a castle, a pirate on the wild seas, an archaeologist. Even her best friend, Jennifer Hobbar, was imaginary. But Christine only realised this when she tried to visit Jennifer’s house and had no idea where it was.

Christine believes the outback draws you back to visit, again and again. She also believes that, with a vivid imagination, you can travel anywhere.

www.audreyoftheoutback.net

About the Illustrator

Ann James grew up in a bushy outer suburb of Melbourne in a house her dad built, on a dirt road he helped to make, on Loughnan’s Hill.

Days were long and busy—kids walked to school and back, and after school and on weekends they’d climb trees, have billycart races, go blackberrying and tadpoling, or just go for long rides to swim in the river.

Ann spent most holidays at Shallow Inlet near Wilsons Promontory, playing with friends, exploring beaches, swimming, roaming paddocks, avoiding quick-sand, looking for treasure, singing to the neighbouring cattle, reading and drawing.

She comes from a do-it-yourself sort of family and has always loved making pictures—so illustrating is her perfect career.

Ann also spends a lot of time creating exhibitions of Australian book illustrations that travel all around the country—even to outback areas!

Awards for Audrey

Audrey of the Outback

• White Raven Award (International Youth Library, Munich)

• Children’s Book Council of Australia, Book of the Year—Younger Readers, shortlisted

Audrey Goes to Town

• Children’s Peace Literature Award, Joint-winner

• Children’s Book Council of Australia, Notable Book

Audrey’s Big Secret

• Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, shortlisted

• South Australian Festival Awards for Literature, shortlisted

• Children’s Book Council of Australia, Notable Book