Jeni Mawter

Jeni Mawter (born in Sydney, New South Wales, 1959) is an Australian children's author who has published over twenty books, including the best-selling series, The So Series. She has published fiction and non-fiction, poetry and verse narrative for children and young adults. Her books have ranged from picture books, to chapter books, short story collections to young adult novels. Her novel, Team Dream, was published in 2005 and endorsed by Nick Farr-Jones, former Captain of the Wallabies Australian rugby team.

Biography

Jeni was born in Sydney to parents, Nola and Garry Braude. She has a sister, Debbi and a brother, Michael. Jeni attended Willoughby Infants', Willoughby Primary and Willoughby Girls' High School where she was School Captain in 1977. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology at Cumberland College (now Sydney University), graduating in 1980 and winning the Private Speech Pathology Association Prize. Jeni worked as a speech pathologist for many years at the Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore and Eversleigh Hospitals, working with neurology, neurosurgery, and head and neck patients. For two years she ran the Speech Pathology Student Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital (1987-88) then worked for several years as a Case Manager for the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (1993-1996).

Jeni completed a Diploma of Book Editing (Distinction) from Macleay College (1997) and a Master of Arts in Children's Literature from Macquarie University (1998). Since then, she has taught creative writing at Macquarie University, the NSW Writer's Centre and is a frequent speaker at schools and literary festivals throughout Australia. Jeni has run creative writing workshops for students from 5 years to 91 years.

Jeni is married to David Mawter and has three children: Hugh, Shevaughn and Tullia.

Published Works

Freewheelers series

• Extreme!
• Launched!
• Unleashed!

'So' series

• So Stinky!
• So Festy!
• So Grotty!
• So Sick!
• So Feral!
• So Gross!

Critical Thinking, Humour and Text

• Critical Thinking: Humour and Text Ages 5 - 8
• Critical Thinking: Humour and Text Ages 8 – 10
• Critical Thinking: Humour and Text Ages 10+

Junior Fiction

• Team Dream
• Turkey Pox
• There’s a Sun Fairy in Our Garden
• Go, the Mobile!
• The Most Unusual Pet
• Maisie's Race

Other Published Works

Audio

• So Sick!
• So Feral!
• So Festy!
• So Gross!

Classroom Focus

• Human Body
• The Changing face of Xmas in Australia
• The Snowy Mountains Scheme
• Food
• Feelings
• Homes and Families
• Special Days
• Natural Disasters

Anthologies

• Excuse Me in Short, Black Dog Books
• Getting into the nitty gritty in Writing {better} stories, Primary English Teaching Association
• Pear Legs, Hello in Alive and Winking, John Wiley & Sons Publishers
• Slow Swimming and The Kiss published in Alive and Kicking, John Wiley & Sons Publishers