Bio:

HOW I STARTED WRITING:

When I was a kindergarten and primary teacher I used to make up stories with the children but I got into poetry writing some years later because of a gorilla named Lulu. As part of a drama assignment, I had to perform a piece about a gorilla. So I penned my first poem called, ‘Lulu the Gorgeous Gorilla.’ Little did I know that a poet was soon to be born.

MY QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

Graduate Certificate Applied Linguistics, Griffith Uni, Brisbane, QLD

Masters of Education (International), Monash Uni, Victoria

Graduate Diploma Secretarial Studies, RMIT, Victoria

Diploma Primary Teaching, Victoria

WRITING QUALIFICATIONS:

Diploma In Writing, with ‘The Writing School’ (formerly, NSW Writing School).

Freelance Journalism Level 1(TAFE QLD, 2011)

AWARDS:

First prize (Children’s poetry category) in the 1993 OZ waves Award and University of Queensland Press Book Prizes for my humorous poem, ’Magpie Mania’. I know that is a while ago now but haven’t entered many competitions since then.

GRANT:

In 2007 awarded a RADF grant (Regional Arts Development Fund) through the Queensland Government/Arts Qld and Logan Council, to undertake professional development in the area of illustrating and writing children’s picture books. Completed Create-a-kids book (e-course by Dr Virginia Lowe.

September 2009 appointed as RADF committee member (Logan City Council); responsible for the portfolios of writing, craft, music and community cultural development.

June 2010 awarded second RADF grant to attend the 3rd SCBWI Australia and New Zealand Conference.
PUBLICATIONS:

In 2010 children's picture book, ‘10 Yellow Bananas’ was released. Published by Little Steps Publishing, New Frontier. Illustrations by Dee Texidor.

2009 ‘Bubble Gum Trouble and Other Giggle Poems’ was published by Little Steps Publishing, Division of New Frontier. Illustrated by Dee Texidor

In 2006 self-published two children’s picture books, ‘Ten Yellow Bananas’(original version) and ‘Santa is in our chimney’.

Also written giggle poetry for Cherububble (Primary/Early childhood education on-line resource), written articles for Australia Bookseller and Publisher magazine, and had a number of self publishing articles published online. Also had heart-felt poetry published in anthologies.


Early 2009 had five of my giggle rhyming verses published in a book for the kids at the Namara District School in Fiji. This was a wonderful project put together by Morgan Hayton and Sally Odgers.

In 2010 freelance journalist for Logan Community magazine.

Follow my blog http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com where I blog about all things book-related.

I have been teaching at TAFE Queensland since 1995, and teach English in language/literacy programs.


I live in Brisbane with my humorous husband and our beloved pets.



Writer
PAL
Member since 2009
Region: Australia East/New Zealand

Contact Information

Email:  helen@helenross.com.au
Phone:   0414 889 107
Current Location:   Rochedale South
Website:  http://www.misshelenbooks.com

Published In Children's Market: Yes
Available for Speaking Engagements? Yes