Susanne Julia Gervay is an Australian author. Her younger fiction in the ''I Am Jack'' series are rites-of-passage books focusing on school bullying reaching adults and children. The first instalment has been adapted into a play by the award-winning Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People. ''I Am Jack'' is the first of four books including ''Super Jack'', ''Always Jack'' and ''Being Jack''. Her powerful realistic young adult literature includes ''Butterflies'', ''The Cave'' and ''That's Why I Wrote This Song'' which is a collaborative work with her teenage daughter Tory who wrote and sings the songs that are part of the book and downloadable from her website. Gervay is widely published in literary journals and anthologies. She is included in an anthology together with Sir

Salman Rushdie Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie ( ; born 19 June 1947) is an Indian-born British and American novelist. His work often combines magic realism with historical fiction and primarily deals with connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern wor ...

David Malouf David George Joseph Malouf (; born 20 March 1934) is an Australian poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright and Libretto, librettist. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2008, Malouf has lectured at both the University ...

Thomas Keneally Thomas Michael Keneally, Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 7 October 1935) is an Australian novelist, playwright, essayist, and actor. He is best known for his historical fiction novel ''Schindler's Ark'', the story of Oskar Schindler' ...

, entitled ''Fear Factor Terror Incognito'', edited by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle. Gervay is head of the

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers ...

(SCBWI) Australia East and New Zealand, former chair of the board of the New South Wales Writers' Centre, writer and ambassador of Room to Read, role model for Books in Homes, and patron of MonkeyBaa Theatre. She has been a speaker in many festivals and conferences including the SCBWI International Conference at the

Bologna Book Fair The Bologna Children's Book Fair or La fiera del libro per ragazzi is the leading professional fair for children's books in the world. Since 1963, it is held yearly for four days in March or April in Bologna, Italy. It is the meeting place for al ...

, Byron Bay Writers Festival, Beijing Literature Festival, Somerset celebration of Literature Festival and festivals and conferences from Delhi to New York. Her work has appeared in literary journals including, ''Southerly'', ''Mattoid'', ''Westerly'', ''Quadrant'', ''Voices (National Library ACT)'', and many others.

Biography

A second generation daughter of post

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Hungarian refugees, Gervay was born in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. She attended Daceyville Public School and SCEGGS Darlinghurst. Gervay went to

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

and became a teacher. She graduated with a

Master of Education The Master of Education (MEd or M.Ed. or Ed.M.; Latin ''Magister Educationis'' or ''Educationis Magister'') is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum an ...

from the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

and a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

from the

University of Technology, Sydney The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1988, though its origins as a technical institution can be traced back t ...

. Gervay founded The Hughenden Boutique Hotel, a literary and arts hotel in Woollahra, Sydney. She went on to become a children's author, where she has had great success. She had two children James and Victoria (aka Tory) who are the inspiration for much of her writing. Gervay is a recognised Australian author of children's and young adult literature. She was awarded the Lady Cutler Award for Distinguished Services to Children's Literature in 2007, UTS Award for Excellence and an Order of Australia Medal in 2011. Her books are endorsed by organisations including

The Children's Hospital at Westmead The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW; formerly Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children) is a children's hospital in Western Sydney. The hospital was founded in 1880 as "The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children". Its name was changed to the "Royal ...

in Sydney, Room to Read, Life Education Australia, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Variety Children's Charity, Cancer Council Australia, Courage to Care and many others.

Bullying at school

As a specialist in child growth and development and author, Gervay was inspired by a son's experience of

school bullying School bullying, like bullying outside the school context, refers to one or more perpetrators who have greater physical strength or more social power than their victim and who repeatedly act aggressively toward their victim. Bullying can be ver ...

, to write ''I Am Jack''. It has become an Australian best-seller and has been translated into other languages including Vietnamese, Bahasa and Korean. ''I Am Jack'' has been adapted by Money Baa Theatre Company, into a play that has toured Australia and the USA. It is now published in the US by Tricycle, an imprint of Kane Miller USA.

Youth disability

Gervay researched burns extensively working with the Children's Hospital at Westmead to write ''Butterflies'' which is a best selling Australian YA title, awarded Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability by the

International Board on Books for Young People International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(IBBY). Gervay addressed the World Burn Conference in New York in August 2009 on Butterflies.

'I am Jack' the stage play

''I am Jack'' series has been adapted into an acclaimed play by ''MonkeyBaa Theatre,'' which has toured nationally in Australia since 2008 and toured the US in 2014.

Published works

Books

* ''I Am Jack'' * ''Super Jack'' * ''Always Jack'' * ''Being Jack'' * ''Jamie's A Hero'' *Victoria's a Star * ''Shadows of Olive Trees'' *Next Stop the Moon * ''Butterflies'' * ''The Cave'' * ''That's Why I Wrote This Song'' * ''Daisy Sunshine'' * ''Gracie and Josh'' * ''Ships in the Field'' * ''Elephants Have Wings'' * ''Heroes of the Secret Underground''

Awards

* Winner,

Crystal Kite Award The Crystal Kite Award''(also known as 'Crystal Kite Members Choice Award) is given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that ...

for ''Heroes of the Secret Underground'' 2022 * ''Always Jack'' winner of Australian Family Therapists Award * Lady Cutler Award for Services to Children's Literature 2007 * UTS Professional Achievement Award, Writing 2008 * ''The Cave'' The Biennial Book Award for YA Literature, Society of Women Writers 2003 * ''Super Jack'' The Biennial Book Award for Children's Literature, Society of Women Writers 2005 * ''I Am Jack'' Notable Award CBC, short listed for WA Young Reader Award, Family Therapy Awards and Children's Literature Prize for Peace and WAYBRA Award, runner up San Francisco Book Festival Award Children's Category 2009 * ''Butterflies'' Short listed for Children's Literature Prize for Peace; Family Therapists Award for Children's, WAYBRA Award, Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability (IBBY), Winner of New York Book Festival Award 2009 * ''That's Why I Wrote This Song'' shortlisted for WAYBRA Awards, winner of San Francisco Book Festival Award, Young Adult Category 2009 * National Society of Women Writers Short Story Award 1999 * Australian National University short story award 1996 * Finalist in AWG/Film Commission Mentorship Scheme 1995

References

Bibliography

National Safe Schools Framework The Alannah and Madeline Foundation

Somerset Celebration of Literature Festival 2009

Beijing Literature Festival 2009

Byron Bay Writers Festival 2008

External links

Official website

Susanne Gervay's blog
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gervay, Susanne 1950s births Living people Australian children's writers Australian non-fiction writers University of New South Wales alumni Australian people of Hungarian descent Australian women children's writers People educated at Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Year of birth missing (living people)