Melina Marchetta is one of Australia’s most celebrated authors of young adult fiction whose novels have been translated to, and published in, 18 different languages. She is a recipient of the New South Wales Premier’s Literary, Special Award, recognising her contribution as a writer to the literary life of Australia.

Melina’s first novel LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI was published in 1992 and adapted as a major motion picture, released in 2000 under the same name. The film received rave reviews and was a box office success, winning five awards including an IF Award for Best Screenplay and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Additionally, the novel won the CBC Book of the Year, and was followed by other youth fiction novels including: SAVING FRANCESCA (Winner of the CBC Book of the Year), ON THE JELLICOE ROAD (Winner of the US Printz Award), FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK (Winner of the ABIA Award and the Aurealis Fantasy Award) and THE PIPER’S SON (Shortlisted for NSW and QLD Premier’s Literary Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award). Melina has published several books for younger readers in her series WHAT ZOLA DID, with WHAT ZOLA DID ON FRIDAY, released in 2021. Her first adult novel TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL was published in 2017 – a visceral read that captures the emotional aftermath of a mass tragedy, followed by THE PLACE ON DALHOUSIE in 2019.

Since Alibrandi, Melina has branched out into television, developing screenplays of SAVING FRANCESCA, ON THE JELLICOE ROAD and THE PLACE ON DALHOUSIE. She wrote episodes across seasons two and three of ABC’s DANCE ACADEMY, and served as an additional writer on the upcoming feature film KANGAROO (StudioCanal). Finally, Melina has a number of additional projects in development for television.