McKay, Sandy
IN BRIEF
Sandy McKay is a children’s book author, and a freelance writer. Her novel for junior readers, Recycled, was published in 2001 and won the Junior Fiction category in the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Losing it (2007) was McKay's first book for teenage readers, and was nominated for the Esther Glen Awards in the 2008 LIANZA Children’s Book Awards. Sandy McKay is available for school visits as part of the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
McKay, Sandy (1959 –) is a fiction writer for junior readers.
McKay was born and raised in Dunedin. Although McKay knew she wanted to write, she chose instead to try her hand at fruit picking, waitressing, and various office jobs. After attending University of Otago McKay opened a fruit shop, which she ran until 1987 when she became a free-lance writer.
As a free-lance writer McKay’s wrote features for Next, More and the NZ Women’s Weekly. She also writes a regular humorous column for Kiwi Parent Magazine.
After the birth of her daughter Meg five years ago McKay decided to write a junior novel, Recycled was published in 2001 and won the Junior Fiction category in the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. My Dad, the All Black and Becky’s Big Race were published in 2002.
McKay continues to live in Dunedin where she is a free-lance writer and a mother.
Colin Goes Bush (2003). Colin Kennedy thinks about the big things. Like cleaning up our environment. And he doesn’t just think; he acts. He’s an eco-warrior.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Longacre, 2004). When Hannah's family wins the lottery life seems like it's going to be great. But then her best friend won't talk to her and a newspaper story about the win means the family is suddenly getting a lot of negative attention — someone wants them to hand over their money and Hannah has an idea of who it might be.
In 2005 McKay's book Barry and Bitsa was published as part of Puffin Books’ Kiwi Bites series. It was followed by I'm Telling on You in 2006, which also appears in Kiwi Bites.
Losing it (Longacre, 2007) is McKay's first book for teenage readers. This hard-hitting book looks at the contrasting lives of Jo, a girl confined by anorexia to hospital, and her best friend Issy, who is dealing with the everyday hassles of school and family.
Media Links and Clips
- Sandy McKay featured in the Spring 2001 issue of BRAT: Books for Readers and Teachers
