AUTHOR

Perth-based Julia Lawrinson's first novel, OBSESSION, won the Western Australian Premier's Prize for Young Adult Writing in 2001. Since then she's published a further four YA novels, has another on the way and a picture book out in August!

Julia grew up in the outer suburbs of Perth and left school at age fifteen.

She worked at the supermarket checkout, and as a chambermaid, barmaid, roadhouse attendant and weighbridge operator before returning to study at Murdoch University in her late teens.

In 2004, she completed a PhD in writing and also has postgraduate qualifications in education.

Julia was recently the Chair of the Arts Development Panel at ArtsWA, has worked at the State Literature Centre, and is currently a speechwriter for the Western Australian Department of Health.

Since OBSESSION launched her writing career, Julia has published SKATING THE EDGE and LOZ AND AL with Fremantle Arts Centre Press and BAD, BAD THING and SUBURBAN FREAK SHOW with Lothian.

BYE, BEAUTIFUL - out in May through Penguin - is the story of secrets and heartbreak, of families and changing times. Set in Western Australia in the 1960s, the protaganist, Sandy feels like a complete outsider in the hot wheatbelt town where her policeman father has just been transferred. Then she meets Billy, the part-Aboriginal mechanic's apprentice and town heart-throb. Sandy's feelings for him are overwhelming her, but she is about to find out that, her greatest rival is her own sister, the alluring, confident Marianne.

With an impressive list of YA publications to her name (as well as a PhD under her belt), Julia's talks and workshops on writing are really insightful for all secondary students.

Penguin will also be publishing Julia's first picture book this year, titled THE GIRL WHO FELL INTO A BOOK and illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, which means that now primary students can enjoy her writing, too. It also means that Julia is now able to speak to upper primary students, making her a great choice for an even wider audience!