Leonie Agnew

Leonie Agnew is a very private person. She wrote stories all her life but hid them from the public eye, often writing at night, under the covers and with invisible ink. (No pen stains allowed on the sheets.) Imagine the StorylinesTom Fitzgibbon Award committee’s surprise when 82 blank sheets of paper arrived on their desks. Luckily, an editor spilt a cup of lemon tea over the pages and the words were revealed.

Leonie Agnew is unavailable for comment, probably because of her obsession with privacy. However, sources close to the author have informed the committee that she used to work as a copy writer but, now, works as a primary school teacher. (Her class is rumoured to be the best class in the school, just quietly.) She belongs to Kiwi Write4kids and will be forever glad that she joined the South Auckland Critique Group, who keep her supplied with cake and confidence. She is also grateful to her mum who kept her supplied with books, right throughout her childhood. Co-incidentally, this is what it takes to make an author: cake, confidence, books and a pen. (Invisible ink is optional, but preferred.) She is also grateful to editors with shaky hands and a preference for herbal teas.

Awards:

• Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award 2010.
   

Selected bibliography:

• Super Finn (Scholastic 2011).

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