Murray, Kirsty 1960–

PERSONAL: Born November 21, 1960, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; daughter of Guy Martin (a sculptor) and Phyllis (Nairn) Boyd; married John Murray, December 17, 1982 (divorced, 1994); married Ken Harper (a drama teacher), 1998; children: (first marriage) Ruby, William, Elwyn; stepchildren: (second marriage) Isobel, Romanie, Theodore. Education: Attended Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, catering, books, music, film.

ADDRESSES: Home—Australia. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allen & Unwin, 9 Atchinson St., Sidney, New South Wales 2065, Australia. E-mail—Kirsty@KirstyMurray.com.

CAREER: Children's book author. Worked variously as a forest ranger, secretary, caterer, life model, waitress, graphic artist, administrator, art teacher, craftsperson, laborer, barmaid, editor, and researcher. Served on various school councils in the United Kingdom and Australia; Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge, ambassador, 2005.

MEMBER: Australian Society of Authors, Amnesty International, Children's Book Council of Australia.

AWARDS, HONORS: Western Australian Premier's Book Award, 2000, for Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish; Children's Literature Choice listee, 2001, for What Kids Are Made Of; Aurealis Award shortlist, 2001, and Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book designation, 2002, both for Market Blues; CBCA Notable Book designation, 2003, and West Australian Young Readers Book Award shortlist, 2004, both for Walking Home with Marie-Claire; CBCA Notable Book designation, and New South Wales Premier's History Awards Young People's History Prize shortlist, both 2004, both for Bridie's Fire; CBCA Notable Book designation, 2005, for Becoming Billy Dare.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Maneaters and Bloodsuckers, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Howard Florey: Miracle Maker, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Tough Stuff, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia, 1999, published as What Kids Are Made Of: True Stories of Young Rescuers, Rulers, and Rebels, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Circus of Secrets, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Market Blues, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

Walking Home with Marie-Claire, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2002.

"CHILDREN OF THE WIND" SERIES

Bridie's Fire, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.

Becoming Billy Dare, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.

A Prayer for Blue Delaney, Allen & Unwin (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia), 2005.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Secret Life of Maeve Lee Kwong, the fourth book in the "Children of the Wind" series.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kliatt, May, 2004, Jessica Swain, review of Walking Home with Marie-Claire, p. 21.

Magpies, September, 1998, review of Howard Florey Miracle Maker, p. 42; July, 1999, review of Tough Stuff, p. 42; March, 2000, review of Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish, p. 34; May, 2001, review of Market Blues, p. 35; March, 2003, review of Walking Home with Marie-Claire, p. 34; November, 2003, review of Bridie's Fire, p. 36; March, 2005, Anne Briggs, review of Becoming Billy Dare, p. 36.

School Librarian, spring, 2001, review of Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish, p. 35.

Times Educational Supplement, July 7, 2000, review of Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish, p. 23.

ONLINE

Allen and Unwin Web site, http://www.allenandunwin.com/ (October 7, 2005), "Kirsty Murray."

Kirsty Murray Home Page, http://www.kirstymurray.com (October 7, 2005).