First Friday, our monthly conversation with an industry professional, is a chance for our community to learn more about the writing and publishing industry. This May, we invite you to our online event with award-winning, internationally published children’s author Belinda Murrell.

With more than 20 years in writing with a career spanning travel journalism, technical writing, editing, and public relations, best-selling children’s author Belinda Murrell joins us to discuss her writing career, her writing practice, and what we can expect at this year’s Kids & YA Festival.

This event starts online at 12:30pm, via Zoom, and will run for 60 minutes. If there is time, we will take audience questions at the end. Free and open to members and non-members, but RSVPs are essential.

Registered attendees will receive a link to access this event online immediately prior to the event start time on Friday 6 May.

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BELINDA MURRELL, AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, AND DIRECTOR OF THE 2022 KIDS & YA FESTIVAL

Belinda Murrell worked as a travel writer and journalist before becoming the award-winning author of more than 35 books, ranging from picture books and junior fiction to adult non-fiction. Belinda’s books include Meet Zoe and Zac, popular series The Sun Sword, Lulu Bell and Pippa’s Island, and historical novels The Ivory Rose, The Locket of Dreams, The Forgotten Pearl and The Lost Sapphire. Accolades include Honour Book KOALAS, shortlisted nine times for YABBA (Young Australians Best Book Award), CBCA Notable 2012 and 2017 and highly commended in the PM’s Literary Awards. In 2018, Belinda won the KOALA Legend award for her contribution to Australian children’s literature. Her latest books include an adult non-fiction bibliomemoir, Searching for Charlotte and The Golden Tower, a timeslip fantasy for children. Belinda is the Director of the Writing NSW 2022 Kids and YA Festival. www.belindamurrell.com.au