Kirrawee children's author, Georgie Donaghey, has been listed as a finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards.
Her latest title, In the Shadow of an Elephant, explores the relationship between an orphaned elephant and a small African boy. It touches on poaching, friendship, loss, trust and life coming full circle.
Mrs Donaghey's first picture book, Lulu, was written while waiting to chat with year 2 students at Gymea Bay Public School. Two years later, her second title, Clover's BIG Ideas was launched.
Her books have also made this year's NSW Premier's Reading Challenge, which she has been part of three times.
The event challenges children from Kindergarten to year 9 to read 20-30 books between March and September each year.
Supported by schools, it aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure and to enable kids to experience quality literature. It's not a competition, but a challenge to each student to read, and read more widely.
Mrs Donaghey, a mother of three, is also the founder of Creative Kids Tales, an organisation eastablished in 2011 that is dedicated to assisting Australian emerging authors and illustrators.
After serving for two terms as President of the Children's Book Council of Australia, the author wanted to do more for the children's writing community.
Her latest project is an anthology of stories for children. The book contains 74 short stories and poems from 36 authors and illustrators. Six of these authors are from Sutherland Shire.
Under the themes of 'Enchanted' and 'Things that go Bump in the Night', there is something for children aged five to 13.
The book will be launched at Harry Hartog Miranda, together with all the participating Sutherland Shire authors on October 26 as part of their Halloween celebrations.
