Alison Stegert
Children’s author Alison D. Stegert creates books that delight and ignite a love of reading in young readers. Her light-hearted stories brim with vivid characters, zany adventure, and loads of imagination.
Alison loves to spark an interest in history, a fondness for handwritten correspondence, and an appreciation of quirky creatures – human and otherwise. Inspiring girl empowerment, particularly in the areas of STEM, civics, and self-belief is a personal mission. She also aims to foster a love of reading and enjoyment of writing. Helping people young and old achieve their writing dreams makes her heart sing!
Alison’s debut novel, Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies (2023) was the winner of several awards, including the TIMES / Chicken House / IET 150 Prize for a book with featuring girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering/ Maths).
The story features Winifred Weatherby, a nineteenth-century girl genius who aspires to be an inventor despite Victorian society’s rules against such unorthodox dreams. In her illicit quest to exhibit her latest invention at the 1889 Paris World Fair, Winnie lands a role as the gadget mistress for Queen Victoria’s league of young lady spies. The text aligns nicely with the Year 9 history curriculum.
Alison co-created a picture book with illustrator Sandra Severgnini. Boogie Woogie Bird stars a lonely Bush Stone-curlew who’s looking for love, and the story emphasises the importance of being authentic. Curlew invites readers aged 3-7 to wiggle-waggle their way to their very own groove.
Formerly a school counsellor, Alison draws on her background in applied psychology to create vibrant characters with true-to-life personalities, dynamic relationships, and fascinating arcs. Her training and practice inform some of her workshops, which teach writers simple psychological tools and methods for character creation. Participants take away useful writing tips and valuable life and self-care skills.
Primary Students
- Bird Watching with Ali (Based on my picture book, Boogie Woogie Bird) – Lower grades
- Message in a Bottle Writing Adventure – Upper grades
- Cabinets of Curiosity Activity – Upper
- The Victorian Art of Letter Writing – Upper
Secondary Students
- Imagining the Past - Historical Character Development (Year 7, 8, 9)
- Short Story Techniques & Tips (Years 8, 9, 10)
- Victorian Horrible History
- Tips for Writing Tight
- Finding the Story in History (Year 10, 11,12)
- Understand Your Character (and Yourself) with the Enneagram (Year 12)
Holiday & Special Programs
- The Art of Victorian Letter Writing (ages 9-13) – includes envelope making
- STEAMpunk Spy Academy - Cyphers, Gadgets & Disguise
- STEAMpunk Sleuth School – Old School Detecting
- Message in a Bottle Writing Adventure (Primary)
- Bouncy Birds (Youngsters)
- An Inspirational Intro to Illuminated Lettering (Secondary and Adults)
Workshops & Talks for Senior Students & Adults
- Super Psymple Psychology for Writers Series:
- Creating 3D Characters with the Enneagram
- Beefing Up Backstory with Tools for the Psychologist's Toolbox
- Self-Care for Creatives
- Surviving Limboland - Staying sane while you're waiting (and working) for your Big Break
- Journalling for Joy
- Story Gym:
- First Chapter Fitness Checklist
- Getting Unstuck - Five Ways to Breakthrough Writers' Block
- Toning Exercises for Flabby Middles
- Sticking Your Landing - Wow-worthy Endings
- Organising Research with OneNote
- Unfolding Victorian Fashion
- Illuminated Initials and Lettering
Testimonials
Alison Stegert ran two primary school workshops during our Book Week Celebrations 2018. She ran a very interactive story time, showing the children what people wore during the time of the story’s setting. She used different hats to depict the different characters as she read aloud, which the children loved! When her time drew to a close, the children were begging for her to come back and finish the book.
In her ‘Message in a Bottle Writing Adventure,’ she led the children through a well-structured activity, where the children "found" a bottle containing a letter from a shipwrecked sailor. Their task was to reply with suggestions to help him to send in their own bottle. The children were very enthusiastic about this session and came up with some inspired ideas. We loved having Alison and would love to make her Book Week visits an annual special. Thanks Alison!
Northside Christian College - August 2018I have attended several of Alison’s workshops, the most recent being the Cairns Tropical Writers’ Conference. Alison gave a presentation that was well researched, with informative slides and handouts that were understandable and not overloaded in detail.
Not only was her workshop presentation excellent, her interactive management of the group (over twenty plus people) kept her audience engaged for over an hour.
I have known Alison for more than five years as a friend and mentor. I consider her a person of high intelligence and impeccable character.
I highly recommend Alison as a quality workshop presenter. Her precision to detail, her creative skills, and her vibrant interaction with her participants make her a unique talent. She will not disappoint.
Cairns Tropical Writers' Conference ParticipantAlison presented to our Year 7s as part of their work in English on writing from a perspective as a historical figure. She held the students’ interest with her calm delivery and engaging stories about how she used historical research into her own middle grade novel, inspiring them to weave interesting facts into their own work. Ali was easy to work with and very professional; I was particularly impressed with how she linked our students’ work with her own presentation to make it even more relatable for the students.
St. Andrew's Anglican College
Her Majesty's League of Remarkable Young Ladies
Boogie Woogie Bird
