AUTHOR / ILLUSTRATOR

Sally's first picture books are the popular FANG FANG books (FANG FANG'S CHINESE NEW YEAR, SPEAK CHINESE, FANG FANG! and WHAT A MESS, FANG FANG!) and are based on the experiences of a young Chinese-born Australian girl and her feelings of not quite fitting in. The simple storylines and vibrant illustrations both entertain and engage the reader and are ideal for primary classroom discussion.

CHENXI AND THE FOREIGNER, Sally's first novel for young adults, is about art, politics and falling in love with a foreigner. Set in Shanghai, the novel explores the taking charge of one's own destiny, which the main character, Australian-born Helen, discovers is the final transition from adolescence to adulthood. Recommended for upper secondary levels.

LEOPARD SKIN, Sally's second YA novel, is set in Melbourne and tells the story of Ellie and her crazy leopard-skin wearing mother. It is once again the story of an outsider and brings up similar adolescent issues of self-worth to Sally's first novel. Ellie, however, discovers in order to accept the people around her, she must first learn to accept herself. This is a novel to be enjoyed by 13 to 16 year olds.

Sally has also illustrated picture books for other writers over the years, including MILLIE and THE BOY YOU BROUGHT HOME both by John Marsden, GEZANI AND THE TRICKY BABOON by Valanga Khoza MONKEY MOVING, by Margaret Wild and WHEN IT IS TIME by Stacey McLeary.

In 2006 Sally illustrated David Metzenthen's THE RAINBIRDS, which was a 2007 CBC Picture Book of the Year Honour Book. Sally has several books soon to be released, including picture books, a younger reader novel and an adult edition of CHENXI AND THE FOREIGNER. Watch a video about Sally's school presentations. Visit Sally's website. Sally talks about her illustration style:

"The photo on the left was taken during my time at the Art Institute in Shanghai. The technique you see me using in the photo was for painting on silk. I had to hold two brushes in my hand at a time - a thin wolf hair brush and a soft sheep hair brush. After every stroke with the wolf hair brush, I would follow it with a brushstroke of water from the sheep hair brush so that the ink would blend into the silk and make the outside lines disappear. It was a very precise, detailed way of painting. Sometimes I would use a brush where the tip was only one hair thick. This method of fine, detailed painting is called Gong Bi. However the Chinese style of painting that I have adapted for many of my illustrations today is the method called Xie Yi. It is a very loose spontaneous brushstroke and suits the liveliness and freshness I want to achieve in my illustrations."

"Both staff and students were impressed with Sally's talk. Her easy going and approachable personality made teachers and students comfortable. The children were engaged in Sally's presentation and were very motivated to write and draw after her visit."

- Judy Glaubitz, Corpus Christi PS, Werribee

"Staff all still talk about how wonderful Sally was with the year ones - her gentle approach and humour and her obvious love of her work kept all enthralled."

- Helen Taylor, Geelong Grammar - Glamorgan

"Sally was delightful. Students and staff thoroughly enjoyed her presentation - enriching and inspiring. Teachers valued Sally gearing her presentation to the Asian Perspective topic so well. She was skillful in the manner she tackled various issues."

- Joan Kiekebosch, Holy Trinity PS, Wantirna South