Jennifer Beck was born in Auckland and attended Waipu District High School before going on to Auckland Teachers’ College and graduating MA (Hons) DipClinPsych from the University of Auckland.
Being a teacher, psychologist and parent have taken up much of Jennifer’s adult life, but writing has always been a loved occupation. Encouraged by her parents, she began writing at nine years of age and in her 20s had articles published in newspapers. The 1980s saw her first books published and she hasn't stopped since. In 2003 Jennifer became a full-time writer, producing more children’s books, magazine articles and short stories.
Jennifer’s advice to young authors and illustrators is to ‘Just get started, do it and enjoy it. Don’t feel that only work which is published is worthwhile. Value everything you create, as well as the process of doing so’.
Selected bibliography:
-
The Choosing Day illustrated by Robyn Belton (Century Hutchinson 1988).
-
David's Dad illustrated by Robyn Belton (Random Century 1990).
-
The Bantam and the Soldier illustrated by Robyn Belton (Scholastic 1996).
-
The Christmas Caravan illustrated by Robyn Belton (Scholastic 2002).
-
John Britten: The Boy Who Did Do Better (Scholastic 2004).
-
Nobody's Dog illustrated by Lindy Fisher (Scholastic 2005).
-
A Present from the Past illustrated by Lindy Fisher (Scholastic 2006).
-
Stefania's Dancing Slippers illustrated by Lindy Fisher (Scholastic 2007).
-
Rufus the Rooster (Polygraphia 2010).
Awards:
-
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Book of the Year 1997 for The Bantam and the Soldier.
-
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book winner 1997 for The Bantam and the Soldier.
-
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book shortlist 2003 for The Christmas Caravan.
-
Storylines Notable Books List 2003 Picture Book list for The Christmas Caravan.
-
Storylines Notable Books List 2005 Non-fiction list for John Britten.
-
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book shortlist 2006 for Nobody’s Dog.
-
Storylines Notable Books List 2006 Picture Book list for Nobody's Dog.
-
Storylines Notable Books List 2007 Picture Book list for A Present from the Past.
Other resources:
-
See Jennifer's interview - along with Lindy Fisher - which was part of the Literature Live project.
Storylines thanks zeald.com for their ongoing support of the Storylines website.
