Pamela Freeman

Infobox Writer
name = Pamela Freeman


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birthdate = April 1960
birthplace = Sydney, Australia
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occupation = Writer
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genre = Fantasy, Children's Literature
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website = http://www.pamelafreemanbooks.com/

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.

Biography

Freeman was born in Sydney, 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 UTS 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.

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 [ [http://cbca.org.au/awards.htm Children's Book Council Awards website] ]
*2001 - "Pole to Pole" : Shortlisted for the Children’s Books Council Book of the Year Eve Pownall Award [ [http://cbca.org.au/awards.htm Children's Book Council Awards website] ]
*2004 - "Scum of the Earth" : Winner of the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature [ [http://www.wilderness.org.au/ Wilderness Society website] ]
*2006 - "The Black Dress" : NSW Premier’s History Prize [ [http://www.arts.nsw.gov.au/FundingOpportunities/Awards/NSWPremiersHistoryAwards/tabid/108/Default.aspx NSW Premier's History Award website] ]

Bibliography

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.

References

External Links

* [http://www.pamelafreemanbooks.com Pamela Freeman Books Website]
* [http://www.castingstrilogy.com Castings Trilogy Website]
* [http://www.fantasyliterature.net/freemanpamela.html Reviews of Pamela Freeman's fantasy novels]