Felicity Pulman facts for kids
Felicity Pulman (born in 1945) is an Australian writer. She loves writing about crime, history, and fantasy. Some of her well-known books include Ghost Boy and A Ring Through Time. She also wrote The Janna Mysteries, a popular series about medieval crime for young adults. Besides novels, Felicity has written articles about how to write stories. She often gives talks at schools and writing events.
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About Felicity Pulman
Felicity Pulman was born in 1945 in Fort Victoria, Rhodesia (now Masvingo, Zimbabwe). She moved to Australia in 1970 and now feels Australian. Felicity started writing stories when she was in primary school. However, she did not think of writing as a job until she was 40 years old. At that age, she went back to school to finish her high school certificate. Then, she went to university to study communications, focusing on creative writing. After that, she earned a master's degree in Children's Literature. This made her very passionate about writing stories for children and teenagers.
Felicity Pulman's Books
Felicity Pulman wrote her first young adult novel, a teen romance, under the name 'Anne Holmes'. This book was part of a series called 'Dolly Fiction'. After that, all her books have been published under her own name.
Ghost Boy
Her first book published under her own name was Ghost Boy. Part of this story takes place at Sydney's North Head Quarantine Station. It also includes flashbacks to the station's spooky past. Schools that study Ghost Boy can even go on a special tour at the Quarantine Station. There was also a plan to make a movie based on the book.
The Shalott Trilogy
Felicity Pulman's Shalott trilogy was inspired by a famous poem. The poem is called The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. She also got ideas from the legends of King Arthur and his knights. The series asks, "What if five Australian teenagers could change the legend?" "What if they could save the Lady of Shalott?" The books explore how they might end up changing their own lives instead.
The Janna Mysteries
Pulman also wrote The Janna Mysteries. This series is now called The Janna Chronicles. It is a six-book medieval crime series for teenagers. The stories are set in England in the 1140s. This was a time of civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. In The Janna Mysteries, a young girl named Janna tries to get revenge for her mother's death. Along the way, she solves many crimes and mysteries. She even uncovers the secret of her own birth and identity.
The six books in the series are:
- Rosemary for Remembrance
- Rue for Repentance
- Lilies for Love
- Willows for Weeping
- Sage for Sanctuary
- Thyme for Trust
Other Novels
Felicity Pulman also published A Ring Through Time. This is a "ghostly romance" story. It is set on Norfolk Island and includes flashbacks to its history. The book won an award from the Society of Women Writers. It also received a "Highly Commended" award from Sisters in Crime Australia.
Nonfiction and Short Stories
Pulman has written nonfiction books too. These include Wally the Water Dragon and The Little Penguins of Manly. The book about penguins teaches about this special group of penguins. It also explains how to protect and care for them. Her most recent novel is I, Morgana. This book is about one of the most mysterious characters in Arthurian legend.
Felicity Pulman also writes short stories about crime and fantasy. Many of these stories have won awards. They have been published in Australia and other countries.
Personal Life
Felicity Pulman is married. She has two children and six grandchildren.
Awards and Recognition
Felicity Pulman has won many awards for her writing, including:
- Wooden Horse Award, Fellowship of Australian Writers (for a first publication)
- Partners in Crime 'Queen of Crime' award for 'Wild Garlic', 1999
- Society of Women Writers Book Award, Young Adult category for Shalott, 2001
- KSP award for short story, 'A Chinese Garden', 2003
- Helen Wilson award for short story, 'Babes and Sucklings'
- Dymphna Cusack award for short story, 'The Great Tsongololo Race'
- CBCA Notable Book for Rosemary for Remembrance, Book 1 of The Janna Mysteries, 2006
- Premier's Reading Challenge, Victoria, NSW and South Australia
- Society of Women Writers Book Award, Young Adult category for Lilies for Love, 2007
- Society of Women Writers Book Award, Young Adult category for A Ring Through Time, 2013
- H/C Davitt Awards (Sisters in Crime Australia) for A Ring Through Time, 2014
- Inaugural Di Yerbury Writer's Fellowship, Society of Women Writers, 2014
