Wolfer, Dianne 1961-

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WOLFER, Dianne 1961-

PERSONAL: Born October 28, 1961, in Melbourne, Australia; daughter of Donald (a manager) and Audrey (a teacher) Davidson; married Reinhard Wolfer (a systems manager), December 23, 1984 (died, 1995); children: Sophie. Ethnicity: "Australian." Education: Melbourne State College, Diploma of Teaching; Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University), Certificate of Fluency in Japanese and graduate study. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, reading, swimming, scuba diving, bush-walking, photography.

ADDRESSES: Home—P.O. Box 421, Denmark 6333, Western Australia, Australia. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Western Australian Education Department, teacher, 1984-87; teacher at Japan International School and American School in Japan, Tokyo, 1987-90; Western Australian Education Department, teacher, 1991-92. Teacher of missionary children in remote western Nepal; TAFE International, lecturer to adults in Western Australia; workshop presenter and public speaker. Member of Australian Conservation Foundation, Denmark Environment Centre, DenmarkArts, Peter Cowan Writers Centre, and Western Australia State Literature Office.

MEMBER: Australian Society of Authors, Society of Women Writers (Western Australia branch), Fellowship of Australian Writers, Children's Book Council, Amnesty International.

AWARDS, HONORS: Bronze Quill Award, Society of Women Writers, 1992, for short story "Gokiburi"; South-West Literary Award, South-West Development Authority, 1995, for Christmas Lunch; Furphy Award for best published novel, Fellowship of Australian Writers, 1995, for Dolphin Song; Mary Grant Bruce Short Story Award, Fellowship of Australian Writers, 1997, for "Donkey Ears."

WRITINGS:

books for younger readers

Butterfly Notes, Thomson Learning Australia (Southbank, Victoria, Australia), 2002.

Ironkid, Thomson Learning Australia (Southbank, Victoria, Australia), 2003.

Being Billy, Thomson Learning Australia (Southbank, Victoria, Australia), 2003.

Scuba Kid, Thomson Learning Australia (Southbank, Victoria, Australia), 2004.

Village Rules!, Thomson Learning Australia (Southbank, Victoria, Australia), 2004.

other

Dolphin Song (young adult), International Specialized Book Services (Portland, OR), 1995.

Border Line (young adult), International Specialized Book Services (Portland, OR), 1998.

Choices (young adult), International Specialized Book Services (Portland, OR), 2001.

Photographs in the Mud (picture book), Fremantle Arts Centre Press (Fremantle, Australia), in press.

Author of the one-act play Christmas Lunch, 1995. Work represented in anthologies, including Going Down South, 1992, and Going Down South Two, 1993.

Contributor of short stories, poetry, and articles to magazines, including Decades, Lucky, Western Word, Nature and Health, Western Review, Let's Travel, and In Perspective.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Kokoda (tentative title), a young adult novel; texts for picture books; stories for younger readers.

SIDELIGHTS: Dianne Wolfer once told CA: "I feel very lucky to be able to live in a beautiful area on the southwest coast of Western Australia. My home is surrounded by bushland, and it's a short drive to the dramatic beaches of the Southern Ocean. Parrots, wrens, and lorikeets feed outside my window, and if I'm up early I often see kangaroos nibbling on my lawn.

"The environment and unique beauty of the corner of Australia in which I live play an important part in my writing. I am interested in the conflicts that occur when humans meet nature, so my books have environmental undercurrents and themes. Friendship and the complex bonds between characters are also of great importance to me as a writer. I also enjoy writing books with parallel storylines, like Choices, my novel focusing on teenage pregnancy.

"I love traveling and have lived in several countries (Thailand, Nepal, and Japan). My family and friends are scattered around the world, and I hope that, through my writing, I can foster an interest in other countries and cultures."

Recently Wolfer added: "I am currently working on a novel set on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Kokoda was the site of ferocious World War II battles between Japanese, Australian, and American soldiers. The novel is set in modern times with diary flashbacks to 1942.

"The aspect of writing I enjoy most is hearing from readers that my work has really touched them. I find that very special. I also love working my own hours and traveling to other communities to give workshops and speak about my work."