resume

An author of books for both children and adults, Tania McCartney has been writing professionally for over 25 years. An experienced magazine writer and editor, she has around a thousand columns, feature articles, news articles or reviews, both in print and online. She also has ten years' experience in book publishing, layout and design.

During her time China (2005-2009), Tania was an editor, features writer and columnist for several English language publications, and has since written for several major online sites and magazines.

career roles

• Author (children's and adult), freelance writer, book and magazine editor, publisher, illustrator, book layout and design, speaking and teaching
• Contributing Editor, beijingkids 
• Kids' Editor and copy editor/proofreader Time Out 
• Family Matters Columnist, freelance writer and copy editor/proofreader City Weekend 
• Writer and sub-editor for Little Star educational magazine, Beijing and Shanghai
• Freelance Writer HerCanberra 
• Senior Editor Australian Women Online
• Founder, Editor and Reviewer, Kids' Book Review
• Contributor Maeve magazine
• Blogger, social networker and supporter of the Australian children's book industry and juvenile literacy initiatives such as the National Year of Reading (an ambassador), The Reading Hour and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. 
• Reviewer, Boomerang Books Blog and Kids' Book Review
• Freelance writer and Bookshelf Editor Tickle the Imagination magazine
• Founder and illustrator 52-Week Illustration Challenge
• Curator, 52-Week Illustration Challenge Exhibition, Arts Brookfield, Perth March 2015

magazine + webs articles
A comprehensive list can be found here.

kids' book review
Tania's great passion is Kids' Book Review which she founded in 2009, and is now run with a sensational team and a slew of fabulous contributors.

52-week illustration challenge
Tania founded the hugely successful 52-Week Illustration Challenge in January 2014. It now has thousands of members posting artwork weekly. The Challenge is under the direction of Nicky Johnston for 2015/2016. See the Facebook page here and blog here.

image: Penny Fisher

school visits + speaking
Tania is an experienced presenter, available to visit schools, libraries and other organisations, to read books and present or speak on a wide range of topics from publishing to marketing and story writing. She has run workshops through the ACT Writers Centre, the Australian Society of Authors and SCBWI. See more here or send an an email to - infoATtaniamccartneyDOTcom to make an inquiry.

memberships + affiliations

• Australian Society of Authors (ASA) - member
• Society of Australian Book Writers and (SCBWI) Illustrators - member
• Children's Book Council of Australia - member
• The National Year of Reading (2012) - ambassador
• Love2Read Canberra - friend
• The Reading Hour - friend
• Libraries ACT Reading Champion - friend 
• Indigenous Literacy Foundation - support via Kids' Book Review
• Australian Festival of Australian Children's Literature - social networker
• Kids' Book Review - founder and editor-at-large
• 52-Week Illustration Challenge - founder

 notable achievements + awards 

• Australian Kids Through the Years featured book in the Australian Bookseller's Association Kids' Reading Guide, 2015/2016 
• Grant for work-in-progress from ArtsACT (October 2015)
• First Kirkus review (for Peas in a Pod, June 2015)
• Presenter and Panelist, Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore (2015)
• Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo chosen by the ACT Government as official gift for royal baby, Princess Charlotte
• Workshop presenter for SCBWI (2015)
• Winner, ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, Children's Category for An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids (2014)
• Highly Commended for When I Was Little, Emerging Illustrator Mentorship, Australian Society of Authors (2014)
• Presenter, SCWBI Sydney Conference (2014)
• Panelist (+ chair) for the CBCA Canberra Conference (2014)
• Workshop presenter for the Australian Society of Authors (2014)
• Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo equal second place, Outstanding Picture Book, University of Canberra's Get Real Canberra Award
• Featured author, Griffith Readers' Festival (2012)
• Second-placing for Ella McZoo: Animal Whisperer in the CYA unpublished manuscript awards, Brisbane
• Workshop presenter for the ACT Writers Centre
• Shortlisted and highly commended for How to Be Ten in the CYA unpublished manuscript awards, Brisbane
• Highly commended for short story The Books, National Year of Reading’s It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Read competition
• Keynote speaker, International Women’s Day event, Cowra
• Featured author at the Smith Family’s Government House Open Day
• Riley and the Sleeping Dragon appears in the Australian Bookseller Association’s Kids Reading Guide 2009/2010

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