MELINA MARCHETTA is one of Australia’s most celebrated authors of young adult fiction. Her novels have been published in 17 languages. Marchetta’s first novel Looking For Alibrandi was published in 1992 and released in 2000 as a major motion picture. The film received rave reviews and was a box office success, winning five awards including an AFI Award and an IF Award for Best Screenplay, as well as the NSW Premier’s Literary Award and the Film Critics Circle of Australia Award. The novel won the CBC Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Award. Marchetta taught secondary school English and history for ten years, during which time she released her second novel Saving Francesca (Winner of the CBC Book of the Year) followed by On the Jellicoe Road (Winner of the US Printz Award, shortlisted for Queensland Premier’s Awards, shortlisted for ABIA Awards). Her other novels include the fantasy novel Finnikin of the Rock (Winner of the ABIA Award, Winner of the Aurealis Fantasy Award, shortlisted for the CBC Award, shortlisted for the Western Australia Premier’s Literary Awards), Frio of the Exiles, Quintana of Charyn, The Piper’s Son (shortlisted for Queensland Premier’s Award), and a children’s book The Gorgon in the Gully, as part of the Puffin Pocket Money series. Marchetta’s screenplay for On the Jellicoe Road is in development. She is also developing a television series with writer/director Cathy Randall and wrote episodes for the Emmy nominated young adult series Dance Academy for Werner Productions and ABC3.