Kirsty Murray facts for kids

Kirsty Murray, born in 1960, is an Australian author who writes books for young people. She is especially known for her stories about Australian history. You might know her from the Children of the Wind book series. She has also won the Aurealis Award for best children's fiction, which is a big award for fantasy and science fiction books.

About Kirsty Murray

Kirsty Murray was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1960. She has lived in different countries like Canada, France, and Wales. Today, she lives in Melbourne.

Before becoming a writer, Kirsty worked in graphic arts. Later, she studied Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT. Her books are even studied at La Trobe University as examples of children's literature.

Kirsty is an Ambassador for the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge. This means she helps encourage young people to read. In 2006, she was a Creative Fellow at the State Library of Victoria. In 2007, she was an Asialink Literature Resident in South India.

She also helps other authors. Kirsty is on the board of the Australian Society of Authors and the Australian Copyright Agency. These groups work to protect the rights of writers in Australia.

Awards and Recognition

Kirsty Murray has won many awards for her books. Here are some of them:

• 2021 – Strangers on Country (co-written with David Hartley) was shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year Award: Eve Pownall Award for Information Books.
• 2019 – "When Billy was a Dog" was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Early Childhood award.
• 2019 – "Puddle Hunters" was shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Book Awards for Writing for Children.
• 2018 – She was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a very important international award for children's literature.
• 2015 – "The Year it All Ended" was named a Notable Book for Older Readers by the Children's Book Council of Australia.
• 2013 – She won the Aurealis Award for Best Children's Book for "The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie".
• 2013 – "Topsy Turvy World" was an Honour Book for the Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award for Non-fiction.
• 2000 – She won the WA Premier's Book Award for Children's Writing for Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish.
• 2005 – She won the WA Premier's Writing for Young Adults Award for A Prayer for the Blue Delaney.
• 2011 – She won the NSW Premier's History Awards, The Young People's History Prize, for "India Dark".

Many of her other books have also been recognized as "Notable Books" by the Children's Book Council of Australia. These include Market Blues (2002), Walking Home with Marie Claire (2003), Bridie's Fire (2004), Becoming Billy Dare (2005), A Prayer for Blue Delaney (2006), and India Dark (2011).