Jeni Mawter

Jeni Mawter (disguised as J.A. Mawter) is the author of the hilarious 'So' series - So Gross! So Feral! So Sick! and So Festy! with So Grotty! soon to come.

"I used to work as a speech pathologist and as a case manager for people with psychiatric problems and brain injuries. A challenging day at the office involved talking someone out of suicide.

Nowadays, a challenging day at the office, involves:

• discovering the word 'fartleberry' in a dictionary;
• working out the past life of a prune;
• researching the contents of the bowel;
• devising recipes for deadly muffins; and writing down all the things that come to mind when I hear the phrase 'black and hairy'.

Who'd go back to their day job!

Jeni's enthusiasm for words and books is infectious. From children to adults she gives workshops and presentations on topics as diverse as: 'My Work', 'Creative Writing', 'The Life of an Author', 'Writing for Children', 'Writing Humour', 'Humour in Australian Children's Literature' and 'How to Get Published'.

With a Master of Arts in Children's Literature Jeni teaches at Macquarie University and the NSW Writer's Centre, as well as presenting for the Nestlé Write Around Australia program. She also writes non-fiction for primary teachers, her latest being 'Classroom Focus: The Snowy Mountains Scheme.' Jeni's picture book, 'There's a Sun Fairy in Our Garden' is suitable for 5 years and up.

Jeni lives in Sydney with one husband, three children, four lovebirds, one dog, plus zillions of bush cockroaches - all of whom are a source of inspiration for her writing.