Writing a Non-boring Family History

Best known for ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake’ (1980) series adapted for screen and stage, and illustrated by Deborah Niland, Hazel Edwards writes across genres, media and age groups. Hazel Edwards has over 200 books plus translations & adaptations.

Author-educator Hazel Edwards M.Ed, B.A. Dip Ed, T.P.T.C. qualified as a primary teacher and graduated from Monash University after studying while teaching fulltime. Her first YA novel ‘General Store (1972) is in the Untapped Australian Literary Heritage Project. Coping successfully with being different, cultural diversity and social justice using humour are common themes. Adult non-fiction include ‘Difficult Personalities’ and ‘Writing a Non Boring Family History’. Her works are published in Chinese, Korean, Finnish, Japanese, Russian, Braille, Auslan signing and dylexie font.

Honors include international ALMA (Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award) nominations 2012, 2011 and 2010 and the ASA Medal (Australian Society of Authors) 2009. In 2013 she was awarded an OAM for services to Literature and in 2017 the YABBA Graham Davey Citation. Also Patron of the Society of Women Writers (Vic) and a director on the board of the Australian Society of Authors for 20 years. ‘Not Just a Piece of Cake: Being an Author’ is her memoir based on anecdultery as a creative structure. Adult mystery series with asexual Quinn her ‘celebrant sleuth’ is being scripted.