Pamela Freeman
Encyclopedia
Pamela Freeman is an Australian author of books for both adults and children. Most of her work is fantasy but she has also written mystery stories, science fiction, family dramas and non-fiction. Her first adult series, the Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle) is published globally by Orbit books. She is best known in Australia
for the junior novel Victor’s Quest and an associated series, the Floramonde books, and for The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop’s Early Years, which won the NSW Premier’s History Prize in 2006.
, Australia
and grew up near Parramatta. She attended the University of Technology, Sydney
from 1978–1980 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in Communications, majoring in film and television and psychology. After working in public relations in the petroleum exploration and engineering fields, she left Australia
for London
and spent some time there working in a variety of jobs, including a stint as a clerk for the scenery construction department of the BBC
. She returned to Australia
in 1984 and worked as a scriptwriter for the Powerhouse Museum
in Sydney
, moving from there to ABC
TV’s Children’s and Education Department in 1987. She was researcher and scriptwriter on a number of the department’s programs and first wrote prose stories for children for the series Watch! Your Language. Her first children’s stories were published in the NSW School Magazine and one of these became the last chapter of her first book, The Willow Tree’s Daughter.
After leaving the ABC in late 1989, Freeman began work as a consultant in organisational communications, educational designer and trainer. She also completed a Masters degree in writing at the University of Technology, Sydney
in 1996. Freeman developed a speciality in the area of corruption prevention in law enforcement, particularly the support of 'internal witnesses' (people who come forward to report misconduct or corruption). She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1998 to study this issue in North America.
After the birth of her son in 2001, Freeman concentrated on writing and took the opportunity to complete a doctorate in creative arts at UTS. Debra Adelaide, author of The Household Guide to Dying, was her supervisor. Her thesis, Blood Ties, was her first book for adults, and is Book 1 in the Castings Trilogy, published globally by Orbit Books
.
Freeman lives in Sydney with her husband and son.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for the junior novel Victor’s Quest and an associated series, the Floramonde books, and for The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop’s Early Years, which won the NSW Premier’s History Prize in 2006.
Biography
Freeman was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and grew up near Parramatta. She attended the University of Technology, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
from 1978–1980 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Communications, majoring in film and television and psychology. After working in public relations in the petroleum exploration and engineering fields, she left Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and spent some time there working in a variety of jobs, including a stint as a clerk for the scenery construction department of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. She returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1984 and worked as a scriptwriter for the Powerhouse Museum
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, moving from there to ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
TV’s Children’s and Education Department in 1987. She was researcher and scriptwriter on a number of the department’s programs and first wrote prose stories for children for the series Watch! Your Language. Her first children’s stories were published in the NSW School Magazine and one of these became the last chapter of her first book, The Willow Tree’s Daughter.
After leaving the ABC in late 1989, Freeman began work as a consultant in organisational communications, educational designer and trainer. She also completed a Masters degree in writing at the University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
in 1996. Freeman developed a speciality in the area of corruption prevention in law enforcement, particularly the support of 'internal witnesses' (people who come forward to report misconduct or corruption). She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1998 to study this issue in North America.
After the birth of her son in 2001, Freeman concentrated on writing and took the opportunity to complete a doctorate in creative arts at UTS. Debra Adelaide, author of The Household Guide to Dying, was her supervisor. Her thesis, Blood Ties, was her first book for adults, and is Book 1 in the Castings Trilogy, published globally by Orbit Books
Orbit Books
Orbit Books is an international publisher that specialises in science fiction and fantasy books. It was founded in 1974 as part of the Macdonald Futura publishing company...
.
Freeman lives in Sydney with her husband and son.
Awards and nominations
- 1994 - The Willow Tree's Daughter : Shortlisted for the NSW State Literary Awards
- 1997 - Victor's Quest : Shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Book of the Year for Younger Readers
- 2001 - Pole to Pole : Shortlisted for the Children’s Books Council Book of the Year Eve Pownall Award
- 2004 - Scum of the Earth : Winner of the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature
- 2006 - The Black Dress : NSW Premier’s History Prize
Adults
- 2007 Blood Ties, Book 1 of the Castings Trilogy, Orbit Books, 2007, Sydney, 2008, London, New York.
- 2008 Deep Water, Book 2 of the Castings Trilogy, Orbit Books, 2008, Sydney London, New York.
- 2009 Full Circle, Book 3 of the Castings Trilogy, Orbit Books, 2009, Sydney London, New York.
Young adult
- 2005 Chronicles of Quentaris: The Murderers' Apprentice, Lothian Books, Melbourne.
- 2006 The Black Dress, Black Dog Books, Melbourne.
The Floramonde books
- 1994 The Willow Tree's Daughter, Little Ark Books, Allen & Unwin, Melbourne.
- 1995 Windrider, Little Ark Books, Allen & Unwin, Melbourne.
- 1996 Victor's Quest, illustrated by Kim Gamble, Omnibus Books, Adelaide; re-released by Walker Books, Australia and UK, 2008
- 1998 The Centre of Magic, Allen & Unwin, Melbourne
- 2008 Victor's Challenge, Walker Books, Australia and UK
The Network mysteries
- 2003 Hair of the Skeleton, Koala Books, Sydney.
- 2003 Scum of the Earth, Koala Books, Sydney.
- 2003 Trick of the Light, Koala Books, Sydney.
Standalone children's books
- 1997 Nanna, illustrated by Greg Somers, Koala Books, Sydney.
- 2001 Make Me the Flowergirl!, Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia, Adelaide. Reprinted 2007, 2008.
- 2002 The Wonder Dog, Koala Books, Sydney.
- 2003 Shipborn, Koala Books, Sydney.
Picture books
- 2000 Cherryblossom and the Golden Bear, illustrated by Beth Norling, Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia, Adelaide.
Non-fiction
- 1995 All for Love!, one of the True Stories series, Little Ark Books, Allen & Unwin, Melbourne
- 2000 Pole to Pole, illustrated by Philip Blythe, Koala Books, Sydney.
- 2006 Fire to Life, illustrated by Philip Blythe, Koala Books, Sydney.