Sullivan, Jillian
IN BRIEF
Jillian Sullivan writes fiction for children and teenagers. Her collections of short stories for teens include Hey Tony (1999), and Launched and Other Stories (2005). She has also won awards and writing competitions in New Zealand and the USA. Her teenage novel, Shreve's Promise (2004), was the winner of the Tom Fitzgibbon Award in 2003, and like much of her fiction this book explored a range of issues relevant to young adult readers. Jillian Sullivan participates in the Writers in Schools programme.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sullivan, Jillian (1957 - ) is a writer for children and teenagers whose stories deal with difficult issues in a way young readers can relate to. For seven years, she was a single parent with five children, and writes from experience about families that don't fit the traditional model.
Her two books for younger children are published in Learning Media's 'My Feelings' series. Two Homes for David (1995) looks at a young boy's experience of travelling between his mother's and father's separate homes. Sophie's Mum and the Dinosaur (1997) tells the story of Sophie's mum, who doesn't turn up to collect Sophie from school.
Hey Tony (1999) is a collection of short stories for teenagers. Ideal for reluctant readers, these are 'tough, honest stories for those who live on the frontline. 'Janice Marriott writes that the stories 'capture small moments so perfectly that reading the collection is like looking through your family photo album. You recognise everybody. Read this book and take a journey into the heart of the New Zealand.'
In 2002, Sullivan was runner-up in the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition for her work, Getting On.
Shreve's Promise (Scholastic, 2004) was the winner of the Tom Fitzgibbon Award in 2003. Its bad enough that Shreve's Mum has left to go and live in a commune, and that her Dad appears to be very taken with the housekeeper ... now she has this strange apparition to contend with who calls herself Melissa and who is asking Shreve to help her mother, Zelda..
Launched and Other Stories (Pearson Education NZ, 2005), is a book of teenage short stories following on from Hey Tony. These stories deal with all the issues that teenagers are facing in their daily life, relationships, love, death and school in a humourous, relatable and often touching manner. This has study activities by Ewen Middleton.
What About Bo? ( Scholastic, 2005) was listed as a 2006 Storylines Notable Book. What Jack wants more than anything is to train Bo as his own working dog and make his father proud of him. But now Jack's father has left and Bos life is in danger.
Myths and Legends - The Gift of Stories from Our Cultures ( Pearson Education NZ, 2007) is a collection of great myths and legends from some of the main cultures that make up the heritage of many New Zealanders and Australians today. Stories from Europe, the Pacific, New Zealand and Asia are are retold in a style accessible for teenagers and adults.
Silverstream (Pearson NZ, 2008) is Sullivan's latest book. In a society of the future, the Government has restricted it's citizens' rights and punishes people who disagree with it regime by sending them to work camps. Six years ago, Lorna's father was killed during a protest meeting. And now Lorna's outspoken mother has disappeared. Lorna refuses to lose another parent to the oppressive camps and makes a decision that will put her own freedom, and even her life, at risk.
Jillian Sullivan lives in Motueka.
writers in schools information
Jillian Sullivan is available for school visits as part of the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme.
