Melanie La'Brooy
Melanie La’Brooy is a multi-award-winning author who writes funny, action-packed adventures set in a magical world. The first two books in her Talismans of Fate series are The Wintrish Girl and The Lost History.
As a writer of middle grade fantasy fiction, Melanie’s school sessions are best suited for Years 4 – 8. She is a very experienced presenter who has visited schools all over Australia and has appeared at writer’s festivals including OzAsia Festival and the Emirates Literature Festival in Dubai. Melanie is a passionate voice for diverse representation in children’s literature and is immensely proud to have been the middle-grade winner of the inaugural DANZ (Diversity in Australia Aotearoa New Zealand) Children’s Book Award, whose major supporter is ASLA (Australian School Libraries Association).
Melanie’s school visits are known for their fun, energy and audience participation. She offers two types of sessions: Author Presentations and Writing Workshops.
Author Presentations are highly interactive and include original games such as Author Choose Your Own Adventure and the Not-Entirely-Fair Quiz. The focus is on writing and books in general, understanding failure as part of the process in any worthwhile endeavour and letting imaginations off the leash. These sessions are tailored to different age groups but work best for Years 4 – 7.
Melanie also runs writing workshops for students. She offers general writing workshops but her most requested sessions are the hugely popular Fantasy Writing workshops. Melanie’s writing workshops work best for Years 5 – 8.
AWARDS:
- Winner of the Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fiction
- Winner of the DANZ Children’s Book Award
- Shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Prize
- Longlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award
The Wintrish Girl has also been included on the Premier’s Reading Challenge Lists for Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
Testimonials
The feedback has been great - so positive about the interactive nature of your presentation. You definitely won the staff over - they were full of praise about the way you approached the session and the kids loved the information about other authors, character development and being so interactive!
Brunswick North Primary School, VICYour session was incredibly well-considered and you engaged brilliantly with the students. They loved hearing about the publishing process and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a book. We loved getting to know you as a person and a storyteller.
Carey Grammar, VICYour presentation was amazing – so engaging and full of messages that will really help our students as writers. I loved it so much. Thank you.
Ivanhoe Primary School, VICMelanie La'Brooy's talk at our school was not just fun but genuinely inspiring. Her passion for writing was evident in every word but what stood out most was her ability to make everyone feel comfortable, creating an atmosphere where no question was too small or insignificant. She had a way of connecting with each of us individually, whether through answering questions with thoughtful care or by ensuring that everyone had a voice, whether in front of the entire class or one-on-one. Her genuine interest in our thoughts and experiences made the session feel personal
Catholic Ladies College, Eltham, VICRecently, our school had the privilege of hosting Melanie La'Brooy. Her engaging presence and insightful words left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. The session was both engaging and thought-provoking. By the end, she had empowered us all to approach our passions with courage, and to view challenges as opportunities for growth. It was truly an inspiring experience.
Stuartholme School
The Lost History
The Wintrish Girl
