Meg McKinlay has published over twenty books for young people, ranging from picture books through to middle-grade/YA novels, as well as a collection of poetry for adults.

Meg writes across many genres, including contemporary realism, speculative fiction, historical fiction, mystery, adventure, and the purely and utterly whimsical (if whimsy isn’t an official genre, it definitely should be!). Her best-known titles include the multi-award-winning A Single Stone and How to Make a Bird (illust. Matt Ottley) and the much-loved Catch A Falling Star, No Bears, and Ten Tiny Things. Her work has been widely published internationally and translated into languages such as Japanese, French, Dutch, German and Turkish.

Meg grew up in Bendigo, Victoria, in a book-loving, TV- and car-free household. On the long and winding path to becoming a children’s writer, she worked a variety of jobs including swim instructor, tour guide, translator and teacher. She has a PhD in Japanese Literature and was formerly an academic at the University of Western Australia, where she taught Australian Literature, Japanese, and Creative Writing. These days, she lives with her family near the ocean in Fremantle and spends most of her time cooking up books.

There aren’t many things Meg enjoys more than writing, but talking about writing comes a very close second! Her wide range of work and experience makes her a very versatile presenter and she is equally at home discussing lyrical language with upper secondary students as she is stirring up a pot of stuffed animals for kindies.

Meg can offer all sorts of presentations, ranging from general “Meet the Author” talks and those focused on a specific book, to craft-focused sessions on topics such as finding inspiration in the everyday, moving from spark to story, bringing characters to life, plot-building, and how to plan when you’re emphatically not a planner! Meg is also an experienced presenter of poetry-focused talks and workshops for both primary and high school groups and loves the chance to do a deep dive into the power and possibilities of language.