Alison Lloyd
Before becoming a writer, Alison Lloyd worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), on Australia’s relations with the rest of the world. Alison speaks and reads Mandarin Chinese. She studied in China for two years – she was on campus during the student movement in 1989. Alison now lives in suburban Melbourne with two kids, two grandparents and three chickens, but only one husband – imported from China.
Alison Lloyd is the author of Year of the Tiger, an adventure novel for middle readers set on the Great Wall of China. Two boys cross paths with an army battalion, as the Han empire crumbles. When their plans to win an archery tournament go badly wrong, their shooting skills and their relationship are severely tested… Year of the Tiger will be followed in early 2010 by a children’s non-fiction book, Evil Emperors and Wily Warriors, which will be an entertaining account of China’s iconic first Emperor, who built the Great Wall and the army of clay warriors.
Alison can discuss with classes what life was like for children in pre-modern China, including education, family and social structures. She can also talk about why the Great Wall was built, how it was defended, and why it was important. She can illustrate her presentation with overhead visuals (if an interactive white board or similar screen is available), relevant props and costumes, and snippets of Chinese language as required.
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