AUTHOR / PERFORMER

Sofie Laguna first trained as an actor, graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1992. Since then she has worked in television, film and theatre. She has worked for the Flying Bookworm Theatre Company and the Salamanca Theatre Company touring theatre into schools for all age levels throughout Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. In fact, for seven months Sofie played a tempestuous five-year-old called Lily and discovered her connection with children.

After all her work as a performer for children, Sofie turned her attention to writing children's books. Sofie now has five books for children being published by Omnibus Books and Penguin Books. Her first picture book, MY YELLOW BLANKY is a warm and funny story about the almost addictive and very sensual relationship a child can have with a blanky. As part of the 'Solo' series of easy-to-read for beginners, Sofie's BILL'S BEST DAY has been very well received.

Sofie also writes for adults and recently the ABC broadcast her first radio play on Radio National. Sofie herself played Sue, one of the main characters in the play.

Sofie loves an audience of children; she is extremely comfortable workshopping and performing for them. For a younger audience Sofie performs a play based on the story of MY YELLOW BLANKY. She will then inspire children to write their own stories and show them the relationships between performance and text. She will also give them a better idea of what life as an actor and writer is really like.

With Sofie's second picture book, TOO LOUD LILY, being shortlisted for the 2003 CBC awards for early childhood, and her first novel for young adults, SURVIVING AUNT MARSHA, recently hitting the shelves, she's the perfect speaker to talk to all primary year levels!

"Great! The children, including 3-5 year olds, were totally involved. Keep it up Sofie!

- Jennifer Fairley, Korowa Anglican Girls Junior School

"Sofie had a great rapport with the students. She inspired and involved the children and the teachers."

- Rose Larkin, St Gerard's Primary School

"Sofie's visit was a terrific opportunity for the children to meet an author, and she was great with them - enthusiastic, entertaining and inspiring."

- Sue Maher, St Mary's Primary School

"Sofie was excellent. She was able to work with all year levels and she has a lovely manner with the children. I would recommend her to any school."

- Mary Klupacs, St John Vianneys