Glyn Parry kindly provided the following information about himself.

I was born in the north-east of England. I grew up in the town where Billy Elliott was filmed. My favourite childhood memory is of snow falling. When I was twelve I came to Australia to live. I was a Lynwood migrant kid. I went to Kinlock Primary School , then Rossmoyne Senior High. I was always the shortest boy in the class, with everyone telling me I’d be a jockey. My English teacher, Anna Whitehead, asked me what I wanted to be. I told her I was going to be a writer. She still has some of my earliest work. My first typewriter was an Olivetti Lettera 32. I married the girl I loved from Friday night youth group. We raised three noisy teenagers and life was never boring. For some years I taught high school English.

In 1992 L.A. Postcards was published to critical acclaim. Since then there have been ten books for children and teenagers. I have served on a number of boards, which is always interesting. And I’ve been a guest at every major literary festival in the land. But writing and teaching are still my life. In 2005 my wife and I moved to Geraldton WA , where we plan to stay for the foreseeable future. Ocean Road is my first novel for adults. Someone has said the hero gets the adventure for which he is prepared. I believe that to be true.
Glyn Parry, 12 September 2006

Glyn does not have an official website but welcomes contact through email: bythesea@iinet.net.au Also meet Glyn through his BLOG

Novels

LA Postcards, 1992 Radical Take-offs, 1994 Overall Winner, and Winner, Young Adult category, WA Premier's Book Award 1995 Monster Man, 1994 Stoked!, 1994 Mosh, 1996 Spooking the cows, 1997 Sad Boys, 1998 Scooterboy, 1999   Winner, Young Adult category, WA Premier's Book Award 1999 Harry & Luke, with Caroline Magerl, 2002 Shortlisted, Children's Books, WA Premier's Book Award 2002 Ocean Road, 2007 [First book for adults. Forthcoming]

Other Information Sources

Matthews, Stephen. The Eye of the Soul. Grange, Qld : Magpies Magazine, 1998. p 201-211 ISBN 1 875249 02 8 SCIS No: 935917

www.terabithia.com

This is the official Katherine Paterson website. Click on the photograph of the author to read about her life and work. You will also find a list of her books including a brief outline of each plot, answers to frequently asked questions and a list of awards.

The Teacher's section on the Scholastic USA site below, also features Katherine Paterson. Information includes a biography, selected booklist, a transcript of an interview with the author and a link to her website. Choose from the author index.

Scholastic Author Studies

Bridge to Terabithia was adapted for the screen in 2007. Teacher's notes are available from the film's website.

Novels (A selection)

www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen

www.trelease-on-reading.com/paulsen.html

http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/paulsen.html

This site from the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies at Rutgers University, New Jersey, contains further information, including details of Gary Paulsen's many awards.

michaelpryor.com.au

Michael Pryor writes science fiction novels and humorous science fiction short stories, mainly for teenagers and adults, although he has a novel suitable for upper primary students in the Longman Trend series and several short stories for younger readers. He and Paul Collins have created the Quentaris Chronicles for readers in upper-primary and lower-secondary school. Two of his books have been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award. Michael lives in Victoria with his wife and two daughters.

His website contains biographical details and views on writing in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Information about Michael's books includes summaries, extracts and explanations of Michael's inspiration for each story. Readers of Michael Pryor can also find a bibliography of further science fiction reading attached to the details about his novel Blackout.

Young Adult Novels

Philip Pullman website

British author Philip Pullman is one of today's most outstanding writers for young people, currently best known for His Dark Materials trilogy, destined to become a classic. Pullman's novels are challenging and original, appealing to children and adults alike. He won the Carnegie Medal for Northern Lights (The Golden Compass in the US), the first book of His Dark Materials trilogy.

Philip Pullman winner: Carnegie of Carnegies, 2007

Websites
Many websites contain information about Philip Pullman. Each of the following provides something useful and different:

Philip Pullman
The Guardian Unlimited site, part of Guardian Newspapers (UK) contains interesting author information about Philip Pullman in the Authors section. Includes his influences, suggestions on what to read after Pullman for children, teenagers and adults; and articles written by Pullman about literature, morality and religion, which are highly recommended reading for senior students and teachers.

Voluntary Service
Again on the Guardian site this article originated as a lecture given by Pullman in New York in April 2002. Pullman discusses whether or not literature can change, or should attempt to change the world. Thought-provoking reading for Year 11 and 12 students and teachers.

Authors and Books - Philip Pullman
The Teacher Pages of the Scholastic (US) site above contains a brief biography, a list of some of Pullman's works, a transcript of an interview conducted by students and a discussion guide for Firework-maker's Daughter. Access Pullman from the author index.

His Dark Materials
The Random House (US) site features an interesting biography, Pullman's Carnegie Medal acceptance speech which is essential reading for all Pullman fans, author questions and answers, teacher's guide and reader's guide to His Dark Materials trilogy, and a fascinating look at the alethiometer. This is a valuable site for both students and teachers.

Philip Pullman Reaches the Garden
An in-depth interview with Philip Pullman conducted by Dave Weich in August 2000, shortly after Dave finished reading His Dark Materials trilogy back-to-back. Pullman discusses his characters, motifs, the writing process and much more providing an interesting insight into the author and his work.

In 2007, The Golden Compass is being made into a film. The website invites people to create their own Daemon.

Journals
The following journal articles provide a valuable insight into Philip Pullman and his work:

Masson, Sophie. Philip Pullman.
Magpies Volume 16 No. 2 May 2001. p 10-13.
In this interesting Know the Author feature, Sophie Masson provides a brief biography of Philip Pullman, information about his writing and conducts an interview in which Pullman discusses His Dark Materials trilogy, the many sources of his inspiration and an indication of what we can expect from him in the future. Highly recommended reading for teachers and older students.

Hilary Adams. Fantasy - Is It True?.
Classroom. Vol. 20. Issue 3, 2001. p 19-21.
This article by Hilary Adams is thought-provoking reading for anyone interested in the fantasy genre and especially for those who have read Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. It may also open the eyes of those who tend to dismiss fantasy as unrealistic or only for children.

Hilary begins with an introductory discussion about how reading good fantasy not only nourishes the imagination but also deepens our understanding of the real world. She then explores Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy explaining why these books appeal to readers of all ages.

Novels (A selection)
His Dark Materials trilogy: