Melissa Ashley
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Melissa Ashley (born 1973) is an Australian novelist. In the 2017
Queensland Literary Awards The Queensland Literary Awards is an awards program established in 2012 by the Queensland literary community, funded by sponsors and administered by the State Library of Queensland. Like the former Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the QLA ...
, her novel ''The Birdman's Wife'' won the University of Queensland Fiction Book Award. It also received the Australian Booksellers Association Nielsen BookData 2017 Booksellers Choice Award.


Biography

Ashley was born 1973 in Christchurch, New Zealand and arrived in Australia aged eight. Ashley has two children and is a self-confessed committed "
twitcher Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...
". Ashley's interest in birds motivated her 2016 historical novel ''The Birdman's Wife'', about Elizabeth Gould who illustrated and drew specimens of birds for her husband
John Gould John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, ...
's various books on birds. Ashley wrote the novel as part of her PhD whilst studying at the
University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...
. ''The Bee and the Orange Tree'' was shortlisted for the 2020
Davitt Award The Davitt Awards are literary awards which are presented annually by the Sisters in Crime Australia association. The awards are named in honour of Ellen Davitt (1812–1879) who wrote Australia's first mystery novel, ''Force and Fraud'' in 186 ...
for best debut crime book. At the 2022
Queensland Literary Awards The Queensland Literary Awards is an awards program established in 2012 by the Queensland literary community, funded by sponsors and administered by the State Library of Queensland. Like the former Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the QLA ...
, Ashley was awarded a Queensland Writers Fellowship valued at $15,000.


Works

* * * (M.Phil Thesis) * *


References


External links


Author's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashley, Melissa 1973 births Living people Australian women novelists Australian historical novelists