Sally Murphy is an Australian children's author and poet. Her works include

verse novel A verse novel is a type of narrative poetry in which a novel-length narrative is told through the medium of poetry rather than prose. Either simple or complex stanzaic verse-forms may be used, but there will usually be a large cast, multiple voice ...

s, picture books, and educational titles.

Early life and education

Sally Murphy was born in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, the youngest of six children, and grew up in the southwest town of Collie. She started writing stories at a young age, entering local writing competitions throughout her childhood. After leaving school she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Western Australia and a Teaching Diploma at Edith Cowan University.

Career

Writing

Her first book, a book of printable educational activities, ''Speak Out'', was published by Ready Ed Publications in 1997. Since then she has had many books published, including verse novels ''Pearl Verses the World'' (2009) and ''Toppling'' (2010), picture books, junior novels, and educational titles. she had published over 50 books.

Academia

Murphy has undertaken research in creative writing; early childhood education; education; English and literacy curriculum and pedagogy; and literary studies. From 2012 to 2013, she was sessional lecturer and learning advisor at Edith Cowan University. From 2017 to 2019, she was a sessional lecturer at

Curtin University Curtin University, formerly known as Curtin University of Technology and Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), is an Australian public research university based in Bentley, Perth, Western Australia. It is named after John Curtin, ...

, becoming a lecturer in literacy and early childhood in the School of Education in 2019, and course coordinator in early childhood education in 2020.

Other activities

In 2001, Murphy founded the Aussie Reviews website. Since 2005 she has been a member of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Recognition and awards

* 2018:

Asialink Asialink is Australia's leading centre for creative engagement with Asia. Asialink works with diverse communities in Australia and Asia for mutual understanding and prosperity. Asialink develops insights, capabilities and connections through p ...

Arts Residency, Hanoi, Vietnam * 2019: Creative Time Fellowship, May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust *2022: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours

''Pearl Verses the World''

*Winner, Children's Book category,

Indie Book Award The Next Generation Indie Book Awards, also known as the Indie Book Awards, is a literary awards program that recognizes and honors authors and publishers of exceptional independently published books in 70 different categories. "Indies" include ...

, 2009The Indie Award
/ref> *Winner, Family Therapist Literary Award, 2010 *Winner, Hoffmann Award (for the highest ranked West Australian author), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award, 2010 *Winner, Western Australian Premier's Book Awards (Children's Book Category) *Shortlisted for the Indie Book of the Year Award, 2009 *Shortlisted for

Mary Ryan's Award The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were an Australian suite of literary awards inaugurated in 1999 and disestablished in 2012. It was one of the most generous suites of literary awards within Australia, with $225,000 in prize money across ...

Queensland Premier's Literary Awards The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were an Australian suite of literary awards inaugurated in 1999 and disestablished in 2012. It was one of the most generous suites of literary awards within Australia, with $225,000 in prize money across ...

, 2009 *Shortlisted for Junior Category, Red Dot Book Award 2009-2010 (International School Libraries Network, Singapore) *Honour Book, Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers, 2010 (called one of "two outstanding verse novels" by the judges)

Other book awards

* 2010: Winner,

, Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, for ''Toppling'' * 2016: Notable Book, Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers, for ''Roses are Blue'' * 2018: Notable Book, Children's Book of the Year (Younger Readers), for ''Looking Up'' * 2021: Honour Book, Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger ReadersCBCA shortlist 2010
/ref>

Selected works

Verse novels

*''Pearl Verses the world'' *''Toppling'', illustrated by Rhian Nest James (2010)

Picture books

*''Snowy’s Christmas'', illustrated by David Murphy (2009) *''Pemberthy Bear'', illustrated by

Jacqui Grantford Jaq Grantford (born 1967), also known as Jacqui Grantford, is an Australian artist and writer, known for her portraiture and illustrations of children's books. Early life and education Jaq Grantford, also known as Jacqui, was born in Melbourne ...

(2006) *''The Floatingest Frog'', illustrated by Simon Bosch (2004)

Chapter books

*''The Big Blowie'', illustrated by Craig Longmuir (2008) *''R is for Rolf'', illustrated by Trevor Pye (2006) *''Bugged'', illustrated by Stephen Axelsen (2006) *''Stuck'', illustrated by Stephen Axelsen (2006) *''Doggy Duo'', illustrated by Teresa Culkin-Lawrence (2003)

Educational titles

*''Two Tricky Tales'' *''Marty’s Birthday'' *''Buzzy Fly'' *''Be Careful'' *''Remember Me'' *''Over the Fence'' *''Sonoran Desert Animals'' *''The Extraordinary House'' *''Icecream'' *''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' *''Desert critters'' *''Frogs: Awesome Amphibians'' *''Aussie Authors'' *''Aussie Authors 2'' *''Writing the News'' *''Speak Out'' *''Speak Up'' *''Spellbound'' *''The Book Book'' *''Assembly: Poems to perform''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Sally Living people 21st-century Australian novelists Australian children's writers Australian women novelists 21st-century Australian women writers Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Writers from Western Australia