Dianne Wolfer
Dianne Wolfer (born 1961) is an Australian children's author who lives on the south coast of Western Australia. Her latest title, ‘Munjed Al Muderis - From Refugee to Surgical Inventor’ is Book Three of Aussie STEM Stars by Wild Dingo Press. An earlier title "Lighthouse Girl" won the 2010 West Australian Young Readers' Book Award for Picture Books, and was shortlisted for the 2009 New South Wales Premier's History Awards. It is based on the true story of Fay Howe, daughter of the Breaksea Island lighthouse keeper, who relayed messages for the departing ANZAC troops in 1914 . "Lighthouse Girl" was part inspiration for the Royal de Luxe "The Giants" story at the 2015 Perth International Arts Festival and has been adapted for stage by Black Swan Theatre. In 2018 Black Swan Theatre's production toured regional Western Australia. Partner title,"Light Horse Boy" won the Children's Book Category of the 2014 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, was shortlisted and awarded Honour Book for the 2014 Children's Book Council of Australia Awards. A third title, "In the Lamplight" was published in 2018 and launched in Western Australia and Harefield, UK. This title completes Wolfer's "Light  series". Wolfer's first picture book "Photographs in the Mud" was inspired by a research trip along the Kokoda Track and is used as a reference for international workshops promoting peaceful "Discourse Analysis". It has been published in Japanese. Her second picture book "Granny Grommet and Me" was shortlisted for the 2014 Children's Book Council of Australia Awards. "Nanna's Button Tin", Wolfer's latest picture book was published by Walker Books Australia in 2017 and republished by Candlewick Press in 2018. Wolfer completed PhD research at the University of Western Australia in 2017, with a focus on anthropomorphism  and Crafting Animal Characters in Australian Children's Literature. Two novels for young adult (YA) readers were created as part of this study; "The Shark Caller" and "The Dog with Seven Names", both published by Penguin Random House. "The Shark Caller" was shortlisted for the 2016 West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards and was a 2017 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable book. 'The Dog with Seven Names' was shortlisted for the 2019 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. An earlier YA title, "Choices" was commended for the Family Therapists Children's Literature Award and is also published in  Polish. From 2006-2012 Wolfer was the Western Australian Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Munjed al Muderis 2019