Mardi McConnochie facts for kids

Mardi McConnochie (born in 1971) is an Australian author and playwright. She has written many books, including three novels and two books especially for kids. She also writes plays.

Her novels often explore ideas about fame and what women can achieve, especially if they are artists. Mardi has also written for TV shows like Home and Away and McLeod's Daughters.

McConnochie lives in Sydney with her partner, the novelist, James Bradley.

About Mardi McConnochie's Life and Work

Mardi McConnochie was born in Armidale, New South Wales. She grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. She has a special degree called a PhD in English Literature from the University of Sydney.

Her novels explore ideas about fame and what women can achieve. Her first novel, Coldwater, tells a story about the Brontë sisters. They are imagined living in a penal colony off the coast of New South Wales. This book looks at different ways to approach art, life, and love. It was even chosen as one of the "Best First Books" for an award. The Washington Post also named it one of the Books of the Year.

Her second novel, The Snow Queen, is set in Adelaide. It is about a former Russian ballerina who gets stuck in Australia after a war. Because of this book, Mardi McConnochie was named one of the Best Young Australian Novelists in 2004. This was by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Her third novel, Fivestar, is about modern ideas of fame. It follows the journey of an Australian girl group. They are like a famous pop group called The Spice Girls.

Mardi McConnochie has also written books for children. Her first children's novel was Melissa, Queen of Evil. It won the 2006 Aurealis Award for Best Children's Novel. Another book, The Flooded Earth (also known as "Quest of the Sunfish"), won an award in the US. It won the Best Children's Fiction prize at the 2019 Green Earth Book Awards.

Mardi McConnochie's Novels

• Coldwater (2001)
• The Snow Queen (2003)
• Fivestar (2005)
• The Voyagers (2011)
• Quest of the Sunfish: Escape to the Moon Islands (2016)
• Quest of the Sunfish: The Castle in the Sea (2017)
• Quest of the Sunfish: The Skeleton Coast (2017)