Hazel Edwards

Authorpreneur Hazel Edwards believes writers are in the business of creativity and that their intellectual property should be valued.

But she also started the first belly dancing class in Antarctica when stuck in the polar ice during an Australian Antarctic Division expedition as writer. Creativity is risking the combination of unlikely ideas in a productive way.

Best known for 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake', which is approaching its 30th anniversary, (and a recent official Australian government gift to the Danish Princess) Hazel writes across media, for children and adults. An Antarctic vehicles animation and a short hippo film are in production.

 She co-authored ex blog "Cycling Solo: Ireland to Istanbul" (Brolga) with her cartographer son Trevelyan Quest Edwards, the original 3 year old mind behind the hippo concept.  Her web site www.hazeledwards.com has details of her Antarctic expedition publications including picture book 'Antarctic dad', used by families with an absent parent.

Hazel runs Non Boring Writing workshops for genealogists, and web-chats about her 'Gang O Kids ' orienteering literacy series which encourage students to write their own local sleuths. 

In 2006 she was a national Literacy Champion and she is an Education portfolio holder on the Australian Society of Authors' committee. Her 180 books have been translated into many languages including the most recent Tamil edition of the YA novel 'Fake ID' which is a family cyber-history mystery. 

Hazel is currently the Aust-China electronic writer in residence with Nanjing Youfu West Street International School, and mentoring their bi-lingual 'School Turtle' book. Flight of the Bumblebee with music CD is her latest work, along with Enact classroom playscripts.

Difficult Personalities, co-written with Dr Helen Mc Grath will be released midyear in a new Penguin edition. In 2010, Ford Street Publishers will release her co-written YA novel f2m about transitioning from female to male.

Melbourne-based, Hazel is a frequent keynote speaker and also lectures in Professional Writing at Holmesglen. Married with two adult children and a grandson for whom she writes a story each birthday, Hazel is a longterm writing mentor for youth.

Her site www.hazeledwards.com includes FAQs, notes, bios, bibliography and gigs.