Elaine was born in London and moved to New Zealand in 2005. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Bristol in the UK. She currently lives in an old house in central Wellington with her partner and three children.
Before becoming an author Elaine worked for many years in London as a magazine publisher. After moving to New Zealand she worked for advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. Books have always been her passion though and a career break after her third child was born gave her the time to concentrate on her writing. Her first book, The Little Ghost who lost her Boo!, has been published in a number of countries including Canada and the USA. It was also translated and published in France. Her second book, Starfish the Star, is due for publication in New Zealand and Australia in August 2021.

Selected bibliography:

• The Little Ghost who Lost her Boo!, illustrated my Raymond McGrath (Scholastic 2019)
• Starfish the Star, illustrated by Daron Parton (Due for publication Scholastic 2021)

Awards:

• Shortlsted for theStorylines  Joy Cowley Award 2017 for 'The Enormous Feet'
• Storylines Joy Cowley Award 2018 for The Little Ghost who lost her Boo!
• Storylines Notable picture book award 2020 for The Little Ghost who lost her Boo!
• New York Times Bestseller list October 2020 for The Little Ghost who lost her Boo!

Resources

• Website: elainebickell.com
• Facebook: Elaine Bickell Children's Author

 

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