Sophie Masson
Sophie Masson is a French-Australian fantasy and children's author. Early life and education. Sophie Masson was born in Indonesia of French parents who are of mixed ancestry (French, Spanish and Portuguese). Masson, the third in a family of seven children, came to Australia at the age of five and spent most of the rest of her childhood shuttling back and forth between Australia and France. Career. Her first two novels, one for adults entitled "The House in the Rainforest"; the second, for children, called "Fire in the Sky", were published in Australia in 1990. Having written  40 books, for children, young adults and adults, she is now published in the UK, United States, Thailand and Germany as well as Australia. Most of her novels are in the fantasy genre, but she has also written realistic fiction. She has also had many short stories, essays, articles and reviews published, in books, magazines, newspapers and internet journals. In the 2019 Australia Day Honours Masson was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "significant service to literature as an author and publisher, and through roles with industry organisations." Personal life. Masson is married, has three children  and lives in northern New South Wales. She has also written books under the pen-names of Isabelle Merlin and Jenna Austen. Nominations and awards. Several other books have been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction. Bibliography. Novels. Lay Lines series. Her Lay Lines trilogy is based on the life and work of the 12th century French poet, Marie de France, and involves love and magic, werewolves and fairy lovers. It evokes the medieval world and world view, notably through the device of the "book within a book". StarMaker series. Her StarMaker trilogy for young adults  is a set of unrelated fairytale fantasies set in an historical context. The books are based on Tattercoats and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ("Malkin"), Sleeping Beauty ("Clementine") and Puss in Boots ("Serafin"). Thomas Trew series. Her Thomas Trew series for children is set in the Hidden Land, a fantasy world of several realms, each dominated by a particular type of mythical being: Middler Land, a mixed collection of magic-using villagers including pixies and werefoxes; Pandemonium, the realm of the brutish Uncouthers; Arkadia, populated by beings from Greek mythology; Montaynard country, land of dwarves and trolls; Oceanopolis, where selkies  and mermaids live; Seraphimia in the sky, home of the winged ariels; and the Island of Ghosts, ruled by Mister D, the lord of death. The series was published by Hodder & Stoughton between 2006 and 2008. There are six titles, all illustrated by Ted Dewan.