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Robertson, Alison
Writer's File

Alison Robertson

Bay of Plenty - Te Moana-a-Toi
Robertson, Alison
In brief
Alison Robertson writes fiction for young readers, and has also written short-stories and non-fiction texts for Pearson and other publications. Her first book, Knocked for Six, was published in 2001 after winning the 2000 Tom Fitzgibbon Award. She has a background in journalism, and has worked as a sports reporter for radio, and as a freelance writer. Her novel for young adults, Finding Isabella, was published in 2005.
Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robertson, Alison (1958 - ) is a children's fiction writer, and has also written short-stories and non-fiction texts for Pearson and other publications. Her first book, Knocked For Six, was published in 2001 after having won the 2000 Tom Fitzgibbon Award.

Robertson was born and raised in Napier. She received a diploma in Journalism from the Wellington Polytechnic (1976). She later received a certificate in Writing (1998) and a diploma in Applied Arts (2001) from Whitireia Polytechnic.

Professionally, Roberston worked as a sports reporter for Radio New Zealand until 1986, when she became a freelance writer. Before publishing Knocked For Six, Roberston published Connecting Cultures (1999) and Know You’re Talking (2000) for the ESOL Home Tutor Scheme.

Magpies New Zealand found Knocked For Six 'an ambitious novel [that] touches on some serious family issues but always remembers to spice the plot with a little humour'. Jill Holt in the NZ Listener comments that the novel is as 'sparky' as it is 'clever and amusing at several levels'. The novel also received the Esther Glen Award at the 2002 LIANZA Children's Book Awards, and was listed as a 2002 Storylines Notable Book.

Robertson's published Finding Isabella (Scholastic) in 2005. Her most recent publication is Rocket Shoes (Pearson Education, 2011).

She lives and works in Tauranga.