Meet the Authors of the Inspired Readers Festival
This year’s festival features acclaimed Australian authors Deborah Abela, George Ivanoff, Jacqueline Harvey, and R.A. Spratt. These talented writers will share their stories, insights, and passion for literature, offering a unique opportunity for young readers to connect with the minds behind their favourite books.
Corey Tutt
Corey Tutt OAM, a Kamilaroi man from Nowra, founded DeadlyScience in 2018 to provide science books and telescopes to remote schools and connect Indigenous youth with STEM mentors. Motivated by the lack of encouragement for Aboriginal people in STEM, Corey continues to inspire First Nations kids to pursue these subjects. He was named NSW Young Australian of the Year in 2020 and received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022. DeadlyScience has gained international recognition, with Corey presenting at Harvard and Oxford, and winning the Eureka STEM Inclusion Prize in 2021.
Deborah Abela
After training as a teacher, Deb travelled to Africa, where she was trapped in a desert sandstorm, harassed by monkeys and thrown in jail twice. She trained as a teacher before becoming writer/producer of a national children’s TV show at Network TEN. She’s since written 30 internationally published and awarded books, including the Max Remy series, her climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm and The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. Her CBCA Notable, The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, is about the power of books to save us when we feel lost. Her latest books are, The Kindness Project, a verse novel about how even the smallest act of kindness can change the world and her picture book, No More Room in the Bed.
George Ivanoff
George Ivanoff, a Melbourne-based author, has written over 100 books for kids and teens, including the You Choose series, Survival Guides, RFDS Adventures, and Monster Island. He enjoys creating interactive stories, indulging his curiosity through research, and exploring his childhood fascination with dinosaurs in his writing. His work has earned him multiple award nominations and two YABBA Awards. George is a coffee, chocolate, and Doctor Who enthusiast, with one wife, two children, and an unstoppable imagination.
Jacqueline Harvey
Jacqueline Harvey, a former teacher with a lifelong passion for storytelling, is the author of the beloved Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, Kensy and Max, and Willa and Woof series, with nearly two million copies sold in Australia. In 2022, she released the picture book That Cat, illustrated by a former student. Her work has earned numerous awards, including a CBCA Honour Book for The Sound of the Sea. Jacqueline speaks at schools and festivals worldwide, drawing inspiration for her characters from the children she meets. She splits her time between Sydney and Queenstown, and is currently working on new Willa and Woof adventures and a middle-grade story.
R.A. Spratt
R.A. Spratt, originally from Dursley, Gloucestershire, moved to Australia as a child, where her imagination flourished in the western suburbs of Sydney. Spending time at the library, she devoured books by Arthur Ransome, Enid Blyton, and Roald Dahl, shaping her path to becoming a bestselling author. Now based in Bowral, NSW, R.A. has written numerous witty books, including Friday Barnes, The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, and The Peski Kids. Her podcast, Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt, boasts over 4 million downloads and connects her with fans worldwide.