Jennifer June Rowe, (born 4 April 1948), is an Australian author. Her
crime fiction
Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...
for adults is published under her own name, while her
children's fiction
Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader.
Children's ...
is published under the pseudonyms Emily Rodda and Mary-Anne Dickinson. She is well known for the children's fantasy series '' Deltora Quest'', '' Rowan of Rin'', '' Fairy Realm'', ''
Teen Power Inc. {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
''Teen Power Inc.'', now known as ''Raven Hill Mysteries'' is a book series, series of books created by notable Australian author Jennifer Rowe, Emily Rodda, even though many of the books are actually penned by ot ...
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, New South Wales, on 2 April 1948, and raised with two younger brothers in Sydney's North Shore. Her father was Jim Oswin, the founding general manager of ATN7 in Sydney, and was responsible for classic 1960s TV shows such as ''
My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?
''My Name's McGooley, What's Yours?'' is a popular Australian situation comedy series produced by ATN7 from 1966 to 1968.
Premise
The situation involved a young couple, Wally and Rita Stiller (John Meillon and Judi Farr), living in Balmain ...
'' and ''
The Mavis Bramston Show
''The Mavis Bramston Show'' was a weekly Australian television satirical sketch comedy revue series which aired on the Seven Network from 1964 to 1968. Inspired by the British TV satirical revue TV shows of the period (notably ''That Was The Week ...
Masters of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in
English Literature
English literature is literature written in the English language from United Kingdom, its crown dependencies, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. ''The Encyclopaedia Britannica'' defines E ...
at the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
in 1973. Her first job was assistant editor at Paul Hamlyn publishing. She later worked at Angus and Robertson Publishers, where she remained for fourteen years as editor, senior editor, managing director, deputy publisher and finally publisher. During this time she began writing children's books under the pseudonym Emily Rodda (her grandmother's name). Her first book, ''Something Special'', was published in 1984 and won the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award. She went on to win that award a record six times.Biography at EmilyRodda.com
From 1984 to 1992, Rowe continued her career in publishing, then as editor of the ''
Australian Women's Weekly
''The Australian Women's Weekly'', sometimes known as simply ''The Weekly'', is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by Mercury Capital in Sydney. For many years it was the number one magazine in Australia before being outsold by th ...
'' while writing novels in her 'spare time'. In 1994 Rowe became a full-time writer. She now divides her working day between consultancies for book publishers and her own writing. She lives in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales with her husband Bob Ryan and her four children. She enjoys reading murder mystery novels, which have inspired her to add mysterious plots and hidden clues to her works.
Rowe's Verity Birdwood
murder mysteries
"Murder Mysteries" is a fantasy short story by Neil Gaiman first published in the 1992 anthology ''Midnight Graffiti'' and later collected in his collections '' Angels and Visitations'' and '' Smoke and Mirrors''.
Plot
The narrator, a young ...
for adults, written under her own name are: ''Grim Pickings'' (1988) (made into an Australian TV mini-series), ''Murder by the Book'', ''Death in Store'', ''The Makeover Murders'', ''Stranglehold'', and ''Lamb to the Slaughter''. Later she also wrote about
Homicide
Homicide occurs when a person kills another person. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no inten ...
Detective Tessa Vance in ''Suspect'' (also published as ''Deadline'') and ''Something Wicked'', and both books were incorporated as episode story lines in the Australian TV-show ''
Murder Call
''Murder Call'' is an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and broadcast on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The series was inspired by the ''Tessa Vance'' novels by Jennifer Rowe, both ...
''. Rowe also edited a collection of crime stories ''Love Lies Bleeding'' and contributed to the 1997 "Crimes for Summer" collection, ''Moonlight Becomes You''.
Emily Rodda
The most notable of her children's works, authored under the pseudonym Emily Rodda, are the series ''Deltora Quest'', ''
Teen Power Inc. {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
''Teen Power Inc.'', now known as ''Raven Hill Mysteries'' is a book series, series of books created by notable Australian author Jennifer Rowe, Emily Rodda, even though many of the books are actually penned by ot ...
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
,
Denmark
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,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, the
Netherlands
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Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
,
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
,
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
,
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
and the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, with total worldwide sales across all books in excess of 18 million.Scholastic Australian News at Scholastic.com.au A ''Deltora Quest'' anime series was broadcast on Japanese television in early 2007.
Among her other successful novels is the 1990 science fiction novel ''
Finders Keepers
Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...
'', which was made into a television series called '' The Finder'', and the ''Teen Power Inc.'' series (re-published as ''The Raven Hill Mysteries''), a mystery series involving six teenagers. Both of these are written for young adults.
Rodda's ''Star of Deltora'' series is set in the same world as ''Deltora Quest'', ''The Three Doors'' and ''Rowan of Rin'', and focuses on a girl, Britta, who wants to be a trader like her father and sail the nine seas. The first book, ''Shadows of the Master'', was released on 1 August 2015, the second book, ''Two Moons'', on 1 November 2015, the third book, ''The Towers of Illica'', on 1 April 2016, and the fourth and final book, ''The Hungry Isle'', on 1 September 2016.
Rodda has written two children's fantasy novels released by HarperCollins Australia: ''The Shop at Hooper's Bend'' was released on 7 August 2017, and ''His Name Was Walter'' was released on 27 July 2018.
Dromkeen Medal
The Dromkeen Medal is a literary prize awarded annually by the Courtney Oldmeadow Children's Literature Foundation for those who have advanced children's literature in Australia. The Medal was established by bookseller, Joyce Oldmeadow in 1982, ...
* 1997 – CBCA: Honour Book for Younger Readers – ''
Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal
Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal is a 1996 children's fantasy novel by Australian author Jennifer Rowe, Emily Rodda. It is the third book in the ''Rowan of Rin (series), Rowan of Rin'' series.
Plot summary
The Keeper of the Crystal – lead ...
''
* 1999 – Dymock's Children's Choice Awards: Favourite Australian Younger Reader Book – '' Rowan of Rin'' Series
* 2000 – COOL Awards Fiction for Younger Readers Award for ''Bob The Builder and the Elves''
* 2003 – YABBA award (VIC children's choice) – ''
Deltora Quest 2
''Deltora Quest 2'' (known in North America as ''Deltora Shadowlands'') is a series of children’s fantasy books, written by Australian author Emily Rodda. It follows the adventures of three companions as they journey outside the magical lan ...
''
* 2002 – KOALA award (NSW children's choice) – ''Deltora Quest'' series
* 2002 –
Aurealis Awards
The Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.
History
The Aurealis Award was established in 1995 b ...
: Peter McNamara Convenors' Award – ''Deltora Quest'' series
* 2002 – WA Young Reader's Book Awards: Most Popular Book – ''Deltora Quest – The Forests of Silence''
* 2003 – COOL Awards Fiction for Younger Readers Award for the ''Deltora Quest 2'' series
* 2004 – COOL Awards Fiction for Younger Readers Award for the ''Deltora Quest 3'' series
* 2008 – Aurealis Awards Best Children's Novel for ''The Wizard of Rondo''
* 2012 – Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers, honour, for ''The Golden Door''
* 2013 – KOALA Award Fiction for young readers, winner, for ''The Golden Door''
* 2014 – KOALA Award Fiction for young readers, honour, for ''The Third Door''
* 2018 – The Goodest Prize – ''The Shop at Hoopers Bend''
* 2019 –
Companion of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
for services to literature
* 2019 – CBCA: Book of the Year for Younger Readers – ''His Name Was Walter''
* 2019 –
*''Love Lies Bleeding'' (Allen & Unwin, 1994), anthology of crime short fiction
Non-fiction as Jennifer Rowe
*''The Commonsense International Cookery Book'' (1978)
*''The Best of Women's Weekly Craft'' (Ed. Jennifer Rowe, 1989)
Novels as Emily Rodda
*''Something Special'' (1984)
*''Pigs might Fly'' (1986) (also published as ''The Pigs are flying'')
*''The Best-kept Secret'' (1988)
*''
Finders Keepers
Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...
'' (1990) and sequel ''The Timekeeper'' (1992)
*''
Teen Power Inc. {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
''Teen Power Inc.'', now known as ''Raven Hill Mysteries'' is a book series, series of books created by notable Australian author Jennifer Rowe, Emily Rodda, even though many of the books are actually penned by ot ...
'' series (1994–1999) (re-published as '' The Raven Hill Mysteries'' 2006)
*'' Fairy Realm'' series (1994–2006) (also published as the ''Fairy Charm'' series)
*'' Rowan of Rin'' series (1993–2003)
*''The Julia Tapes'' (1999)
*'' Deltora Quest'' series (2000-2009) (3 series plus supplementary works. Includes titles also published as '' Deltora Shadowlands'' and '' Dragons of Deltora'')
*''Dog Tales'' (2001)
*''Squeak Street'' series (2005)
*''
Rondo
The rondo is an instrumental musical form introduced in the Classical period.
Etymology
The English word ''rondo'' comes from the Italian form of the French ''rondeau'', which means "a little round".
Despite the common etymological root, rondo ...
'' trilogy (2007–2009)
*'' The Three Doors'' trilogy (2011–2012)
*'' Star of Deltora'' series (2015–2016)
*''The Shop at Hoopers Bend'' (2017)
*''His Name Was Walter'' (2018)
"Early Readers" books as Emily Rodda
*''Bob the Builder and the Elves'', illustrated by Craig Smith (1998) (re-published as ''Bob and the House Elves'')
*''Fuzz the Famous Fly'', illustrated by Tom Jellet (1999)
*''Gobbleguts'', illustrated by Stephen Axelsen (2000)
*''Bungawitta'', illustrated by Craig Smith (2011)
Picture Storybooks as Emily Rodda
*''Power and Glory'', illustrated by Geoff Kelly (1994)
*''Yay!'', illustrated by Craig Smith (1996)
*''Game Plan'', illustrated by Craig Smith (1998)
*''Green Fingers'', illustrated by Craig Smith (1998)
*''Where Do You Hide Two Elephants?'', illustrated by Andrew Mclean (1998)
*''The Long Way Home'', illustrated by Danny Snell (2001)
Film and television
*''Grim Pickings'', television mini series (1989), based on a novel and scripted by Peter Gawler and Graeme Koetsveld.
*''
Finders Keepers
Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...
'', children's television series (1991–1992)
*''
Blue Heelers
''Blue Heelers'' is an Australian Police procedural, police drama series that was produced by Endemol Australia, Southern Star Group and ran for 12 years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, ...
'', television police drama (1996)
*''
Murder Call
''Murder Call'' is an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and broadcast on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The series was inspired by the ''Tessa Vance'' novels by Jennifer Rowe, both ...
'', television drama (56 episodes, 1997 – 2000) writer and creative consultant
* ''Deltora Quest'' anime series for Japanese television (2007)