Sophie Masson
CREATIVE PRACTICE
Literature
Award-winning and internationally-published author of over 70 books for children, young adults and adults. Also co-director of small locally-based publisher, Christmas Press.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I was born to be a writer, to tell stories. Born in Indonesia of French parents who are themselves of mixed ethnicity—Basque, Spanish, Portuguese and French-Canadian as well as French-- and brought up in France and Australia, all my childhood was a story of travelling between cultures, languages(I am still bilingual) and worlds. Stories have been vitally important to me for as long as I can remember, helping d me make sense of the world but also escape its confusions into a magical, immersive experience from which I’d emerge refreshed and inspired. I started to write my own from a very young age, and never really stopped! The magic, freedom and clarity of Story is still something I love and which I always put at the centre of my own work. I write across genres, often mixing them, and across age ranges, from picture books for the youngest listener through to middle grade fiction, young adult fiction and adult fiction. I’ve also written non-fiction on literary and publishing topics, as well as academic research papers around elements of creative practice. As co-director of small locally-based children’s books publisher Christmas Press, I bring my love of Story and industry experience into helping to bring to readers quality, beautiful and wide-ranging books by other authors and illustrators, and I love nurturing new talent through my work with the New England Writers’ Centre.
I’m available for talks, workshops, festivals and conferences, both in person and online: for details see www.sophiemassonpresents.com
BIO
Education:
B.A, M.Litt and PhD from the University of New England.
Awards:
AM award in the Order of Australia Honours list for significant service to literature, 2019
Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, 2011
Winner, Young Adult category, Aurealis Awards for Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2003
Numerous books shortlisted for major awards over the years..
Asia-Pacific Fellowship, Australia Council, 1995
Residencies:
Visiting Scholar, Children’s Literature Research Centre, University of Cambridge(UK) 2017
Keesing Studio Fellowship, Paris (Australia Council) 2010
Service in cultural organisations:
Current Chair of the New England Writers’ Centre
Current President of the Small Press Network
Current President of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors.
CONTACT
https://firebirdfeathers.com/contact/
www.sophiemasson.org