Alyssa Brugman facts for kids
Alyssa Brugman, born in May 1974, is an Australian author who writes exciting stories for young adults. She grew up in Rathmines, a suburb near Lake Macquarie, Australia. Alyssa went to five different schools before studying Marketing at the University of Newcastle. Today, she lives in the Hunter Region.
About Alyssa Brugman's Career
Before becoming a full-time writer, Alyssa Brugman had many different jobs. She tutored Aboriginal children after school and taught business subjects like management and marketing. She also worked for a home improvements company and in public relations.
Her First Books
Alyssa started her writing journey by submitting her first book, Finding Grace, in 1998. Even though it didn't win an award right away, it was considered for publishing, which was a great start!
Finding Grace became very popular. It was nominated for several awards in 2002, including the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards and the CBCA Book of the Year. It was also recognized in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. This book was so well-liked that it was translated into many languages, such as Dutch, Danish, German, and Belgian. In the United States, it was even nominated for the Michael Printz Award in 2005.
Alyssa's second novel, Walking Naked, came out in August 2002. This book also received many honors. It won the IBBY Australia Ena Noël Award and was nominated for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award. In 2003, it was named an 'Honour Book' for the CBCA Book of the Year. Walking Naked was also published in the US, UK, Germany, Turkey, and Portugal.
Her third book for young adults, Being Bindy, was released in mid-2004. It was listed as a CBCA 'Notable Book' and was nominated for the Children's Peace Literature Award in 2005. This book is also available in Swedish and Norwegian.
Pony Books and Other Novels
Alyssa Brugman has also written a series of popular pony books. These include For Sale or Swap, Beginner's Luck, Hot Potato, Hide & Seek, and Greener Pastures.
For Sale or Swap was especially popular. It was nominated for the Kids Own Australian Literature Award, The Young Australian Best Book Awards, and the Children's Choice Book Awards in 2006. It was also chosen for the 'Books Alive' Campaign in 2007. These pony books are also sold in Germany.
In July 2007, Alyssa released her eighth novel, Solo. This book was recognized as a CBCA 'Notable Book' in the Older Readers Category in 2008.
In 2008, Alyssa explored the fantasy genre with The Equen Queen. This was her first fantasy book for children and part of the Quentaris series.
Her eleventh novel, Girl Next Door, was released in February 2009.
One of her more recent books, Alex as Well, came out in January 2013. This book was nominated for the 'Western Australian Premiers Award' in 2014. Alex as Well was also published in the UK (2014), US (2015), and Italy (2013).
Alyssa Brugman now writes full-time. She lives in the Hunter Region with her family and many pets, including four-legged animals and chickens. She is also continuing her studies at the University of Canberra.
