Belinda Murrell, author of The Forgotten Pearl, The Ivory Rose, The Ruby Talisman, The Locket of Dreams and The Sun Sword Trilogy, spent  two years travelling with her family. The trip included five months traveling in Europe and an 18 month journey around Australia in a caravan. Belinda home schooled her three children while researching and writing The Locket of Dreams and The Ruby Talisman.

Some of the family adventures included living with an Aboriginal family on the remote Dampier Peninsula, staying on vast outback cattle stations, sailing the islands of the Barrier Reef, fossicking for gold and gemstones and exploring the Strezlecki Desert.

The Sun Sword Trilogy is a children's fantasy adventure series, published by Random House, for eight to 11 year olds. The books in the trilogy include Quest for the Sun Gem, Voyage of the Owl and The Snowy Tower.

The Locket of Dreams (2009), The Ruby Talisman (2010) and The Ivory Rose (2011)  are time slip adventures for girls aged 10+. Her latest book The Forgotten Pearl is a thrilling wartime adventure set in the Top End. Belinda has also written four picture books for pre-school children.

After leaving university, Belinda worked as a professional writer for 20 years, as a travel journalist, technical writer, editor, TAFE teacher and Public Relations consultant. She ran her own award winning Public Relations consultancy for eleven years. Belinda has also worked as a grapepicker, stable girl, waitress in a ski resort and veterinary nurse.

While Belinda studied Children's Literature and Media Studies at Macquarie University, her passion for children's literature was reignited when she had her own three children. She began telling and writing stories for Nick, Emily and Lachlan.

Belinda comes from a very literary family, with a history of Australian writers stretching back 180 years. Her great-great-great-great grandfather James Atkinson published his book on Australia in 1826, while his wife Charlotte published the first Australian children's book in 1841.

The family has been writing ever since. Belinda's brother, Nick Humphrey and sister, Kate Forsyth are also both published best-selling authors.

Belinda has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. These travel adventures have inspired her travel writing for the West Australian newspaper and Out & About with Kids magazine, amongst others.

Belinda lives in Manly in a beautiful old cottage overlooking the sea with her husband Rob, three gorgeous children and lots of animals including a brave and loyal Rhodesian Ridgeback called Asha, who was the inspiration for one of her characters.

 

 

Author Photos by Jen Bradley