Gervay, Susanne

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Gervay, Susanne

Personal

Born in Australia; daughter of Hungarian parents: children: Tory (daughter). Education: University of Sydney, B.A. (English, education, government); Advanced College of Education—Victoria, Dip.Ed.; University of New South Wales, M.Ed.; University of Technology—Sydney, M.A. (writing).

Addresses

Home and office—The Hughenden, 14 Queen St., Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales 2025, Australia. Agent—Rick Raftos, Raftos Management, Level 4/116-122 Kippax St., Surry Hills, New South Wales 2010, Australia. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Educator, author, and child development specialist. Lecturer in English and communication at Sydney colleges, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Sydney's Literary and Arts Hotel, The Hughenden, Sydney, co-owner with sister, Elizabeth Gervay, beginning 1992. Sydney Children's Writers and Illustrators Network at the Hughenden, chair.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Australia/New Zealand (co-head), New South Wales Writers Centre (member of board).

Awards, Honors

Australian National University Short Story Award, 1996; Children's Literature Prize for Peace shortlist, 1996, for Next Stop the Moon; National Society of Women Writers Short Story Award, 1999; Family Therapy Award shortlist, Children's Book Council Notable Award, and WAYBRA award shorlist, all for I Am Jack; International Board on Books for Young People Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability honor, for Butterflies; Society of Women Writers Biennial Book Award, 2003, for The Cave, and 2005 for Super Jack; Lady Culter Award for services to children, 2007.

Writings

Jamie's a Hero, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, Angus & Robertson (Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Next Stop the Moon, Angus & Robertson (Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

Shadows of Olive Trees, Hodder Headline (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1996.

Victoria's a Star, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, Angus & Robertson (Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), 1996.

I Am Jack, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, HarperCollins (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

Butterflies, HarperCollins (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

The Cave, HarperCollins (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2002.

SuperJack (sequel to I Am Jack), illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, HarperCollins (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.

That's Why I Wrote This Song, lyrics and music by daughter, Tory Gervay, HarperCollins (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2007.

Contributor of short fiction to periodicals, including Southerly, Quadrant, Westerly, Mattoid, and Ling. Contributor to anthology H20: Stories of Water, ABC Books, 2005.

Authors work has been translated into several languages, including Korean and Bahasa.

Adaptations

Several books have been adapted for audiobook, including I Am Jack and SuperJack, Vocaleyes. I Am Jack was adapted as a play produced by MonkeyBaa Theatre, 2008.

Sidelights

"Writing is my voice and central to discovering meaning," Australian author and teacher Susanne Gervay told SATA. "My collaborative work, That's Why I Wrote This Song, with my daughter Tory, was especially emotional. Tory wrote the music and lyrics, and sings her songs ‘I Wanna Be Found’ and ‘Psycho Dad,’ both of which underpin my novel. The integration of music, film, and text in story was a difficult but amazing journey."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Magpies, September, 1996, review of Victoria's a Star, p. 33; March, 2001, review of Butterflies, p. 38; July, 2002, review of The Cave, p. 43; November, 2003, review of Super Jack, p. 34, and That's Why I Wrote This Song, p. 41.