Billie is a children’s writer and environmental educator whose picture book Creature Corridors (2025, with illustrator Anke Noack) is published by CSIRO Publishing. She writes both fiction and non-fiction picture books, as well as middle grade books for children. Her books feature children’s joyful, curious and magical encounters with the world and are inspired by her passion for the environment. Seeking any excuse for an adventure, she can often be found rock-hopping along rivers, climbing mountains, or exploring narrow winding paths. Billie lives on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country in Canberra, Australia.
WHAT CYA CONFERENCE DID FOR ME
I’ve been CYA attending since 2021. I love it all - the conference sessions, the opportunity for manuscript assessments with publishers and the CYA competition. Each year, I leave CYA feeling full of inspiration and gratitude for the chance to learn within such a supportive and wonderful community.
In 2022, I attended a bootcamp with publisher, Clare Hallifax, to work on a manuscript that would eventually become Creature Corridors. The feedback I received sparked new ideas and inspired me to keep working with the concept until I found a shape and structure that worked for the story I wanted to tell. I submitted the manuscript to CSIRO Publishing, and was thrilled to sign the book with them in 2023.
I’ve loved reading and listening to the CYA success stories, and so it feels particularly special to be included here. Thank you CYA team for all you do to support both aspiring and established writers and illustrators.
