Education:
Bachelor of Education degree with Auckland University
Diploma of Teaching with Auckland College of Education
Part-way through a Journalism degree with Massey University

Work Experience:
Primary Teacher at Intermediate and Primary levels
Editor of Kiwi Write4Kidz newsletter
Co-ordinator of Kiwi Wrte4Kidz workshops

Writing Experience:
Trade Books
'Homework Powerpack' published by Zenith Publishing (2005)
'Bird's-eye View' published by Penguin Books (2006)
'Operation Nest Egg' published by Reed (2007)
'Dogs on the Job' to be published by Reed (2008)
'Rangitoto' published by Penguin Books (May 2009)
'Save Our Seas' published by New Holland (June 2009)
'Eco-agents mission: Save our Planet' published by New Holland (Aug 2009)

Articles and Short Stories
'Flight of the Albatross' short story in School Journal Part 3, #2 2009, published by Learning Media
'No More Tea Parties' short story in School Journal Part 3, #1 2010, published by Learning Media
'Cat Attack' and 'Dog Operation' short stories in 'Claws & Jaws' Anthology) Edited by Barbara Else, published by Random House (2004)
Articles published by Kids Life Magazine, Matakana Matters, Organic New Zealand, DANZ Magazine, Magpie Magazine (2005/6)

Educational Books
'Clever Camouflage' published by Red Rockets (2006) worldwide
'Making Pancakes' published by Red Rockets (2007) worldwide
'Volcanoes' published by South Pacific Press (2008) America
'Earth's Core' published by South Pacific Press (2008) America
'Water: An Amazing Substance' published by South Pacific Press (2008) America
'Local Leaders: Pass It On' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'Digging Up a Story: Water Across the Land' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'The Shape of the Land: Saving the Salmon' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'Growing Up: Savannah' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'Science at Play: Try this at Home' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'Inventions: Inventions Take Time' published by Learning Media (2010) America
'Inventions: Science Meets Fiction' published by Learning Media (2010) America

Competitions and Awards:
Second in a national writing competition 'Rodney Writes' in the Premier (published authors') category
'Bird's-eye View' Storylines Notable Book (2007)
'Bird's-eye View' shortlisted Elsie Locke Award, LIANZA Children's Book Awards (2007)
'Rangitoto' shortlisted in the Non-Fiction category for the 2010 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards.

Interests:
Conservation issues, animal welfare, literature, education, dance, organic gardening

Belong to these Organisations:
New Zealand Book Council 'Writers in Schools'
NZSA - New Zealand Society of Authors
Storylines - Children's Literature of New Zealand Foundation
KW4K - Kiwi Write4Kidz
SCWBI - Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
Forest & Bird New Zealand
Greenpeace
S.P.C.A. - Society of Protection of Cruelty to Animals
Motuora Restoration Society
TOSSI - Tauwharanui protection society
Sponsored a World Vision child for twelve years

Volunteer:
Help co-ordinate kiwi releases at Motuora Island for DOC
Plant trees at Tauwharanui
Write the newsletter and co-ordinate Kiwi Write4Kidz activities

What has a figure skater, gypsy, gem fossicker, backpacker, dancer, secretary, grape picker, shepherdess, nanny, teacher, mother and wife all have in common? Me! I've been all these things...

• My brother and I competed in national figure skating competitions when I was ten until thirteen years.

• After that we moved to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia and travelled around in a caravan for several years. We fossicked for gemstones and fished in every river in the outback (well, it felt like that - Dad was mad keen on fishing).

• I left school when I was sixteen; and worked in an office for three years.

• I swapped the typewriter for a backpack and travelled to the U.K. After a trip around Europe, I became a nanny in England then Greece. I also had a stint as a grape picker and shepherdess in Israel before climbing the pyramids in Egypt. On the way home I called into India and travelled from Kashmir to the bottom of India sometimes on an elephant, train, camel, bus or plane.

• The travel fever hadn't left after that trip so after a short break home I travelled back to the U.K. and worked until I saved enough for a trip to China. No one spoke English in China in 1984 so I used a travel guide to help me get from Beijing to Guilen.

• When I came back home this time I decided to change my career - I went to University and Teachers College and trained to be a teacher.

• After teaching for several years, I took time off to have two children. I had Tristan and Rhiannon with my husband Rod Gill.

• We swapped the city for a life style block in 2003 and share it with 5 sheep, 4 ducks, 1 cat, 1 dog, 2 guinea fowl, a dozen chickens and 1 rooster.

• When my daughter was three years old I put my lifetime dream to write a book into practice and began writing courses on how to write stories for children. In 2004, 'Homework Powerpack' was published followed by 'Bird's-Eye View' then 'Operation Nest Egg'. Dogs on the Job came out in September 2008, Rangitoto a non fiction picture book in May 2009, 'Save Our Seas' in June 2009 and 'Eco-rangers Mission: Save the Planet' in August 2009.

• With a group of fellow writers, we run 'Kiwi Write4Kidz' a group for adults who like to write tales for children.

• With four other members from Kiwi Write4Kidz, we review children's books by New Zealand authors - Kids BooksNZ

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