Sherryl Clark

Sherryl Clark’s first children’s book, 'The Too-Tight Tutu', was published in 1997, and she now has more than 70 published books for young readers. She also writes crime fiction for adults, with a three-book series published by Verve Books UK featuring her character, Judi Westerholme. Her newest crime novel, 'Woman, Missing', is published by HQ/Harlequin Australia in 2024. She likes to write books set in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, calling on her experiences of 40 years living in the City of Hobsons Bay.

Sherryl’s verse novel, 'Mina and the Whole Wide World', won the Prime Minister's Award for Children's Literature in 2022. 'Farm Kid' won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for children’s books, and her second verse novel, 'Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!)' was an Honour Book in the 2008 CBCA Awards.
Her books have been published in Australia and overseas, including the USA, UK, Spain, Mexico and China.

Sherryl has a PhD from Victoria University on the topic of fairy tales, focusing on how to write new tales for today's children. She continues to write crime fiction and books for young readers, and also works as a freelance editor.

Life in, and connection to, Hobsons Bay

I lived in Altona North for more than 38 years, and been a part of the literary community for almost that long. I have launched my books at the Hobson's Bay Libraries, given talks and workshops there, as well as done school visits to local schools. I love being a member of the library (and I love the book sales!).

In my early years in Altona North I wrote a uni assignment about the history of my street, which was a real eye-opener. I wish everyone knew more about where they live and what the past was like. I walk regularly along Altona Beach, drink coffee and eat in Williamstown, and visit local bookshops. I love to use local settings in my novels.

Works

  • The Littlest Pirate (picture book) (2008) Penguin
  • Saving Moonbeam (2008) Penguin
  • The Littlest Pirate and the Treasure Map (2009) Penguin
  • The Littlest Pirate and the Hammerheads (Picture book) (2010) Penguin
  • Rocky and the Wolf Cub/Rocky Runs Away (2012) Pearson UK
  • The Littlest Pirate and the Stinky Ship (2013) Penguin
  • Tracey Binns is Trouble (2008) University of Queensland Press
  • Tracey Binns is Lost (2009) UQP
  • Motormouth (2010) Penguin
  • One Perfect Pirouette (2010) UQP
  • Now I Am Bigger (2010) Working Title Press
  • Pirate X (2011) UQP
  • Dying to Tell Me (2011) KaneMiller USA
  • Runaways (2013) Penguin
  • Farm Kid (2014) Penguin
  • Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!) (2007) Penguin
  • Meet Rose/Rose on Wheels/Rose’s Challenge/Rose in Bloom (2011) Penguin
  • Runaways (2013) Penguin
  • Jimmy's War (2015) Penguin
  • Ellyse Perry series (2016) Penguin Random House
  • Trust Me, I'm Dead (2019) Verve Books UK
  • Dead and Gone (2020) Verve Books UK
  • Mad, Bad and Dead (2022) Verve Books UK
  • Woman, Missing (2024) HQ/Harlequin Australia
Woman missing.jpg Mad-Bad-Dead-RGB.jpg Dead and Gone.jpg Trust Me Im Dead.jpg Mina-and-the-Whole-Wide-World_9780702263231_COVER_PMLA-sticker-update.jpg
 
Dying to tell me.jpg Pirate.jpg Runaways.jpg The littlest pirate.jpg

 

Awards

  • Mina and the Whole Wide World (University of Queensland Press, 2021) won the Prime Minister's Award for Children's Literature 2022
  • Trust Me, I'm Dead - longlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Award and NZ Ngaio Marsh Award 2020
  • Farm Kid (Penguin Books, 2004) won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Award for Children’s Books – Patricia Wrightson
  • Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!) won a 2008 Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Award