Julie Bertagna

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Julie Bertagna
Born: 1962
Ayrshire in Scotland
Occupation: Novelist
Genres: Real life, Science fiction
Website: http://www.juliebertagna.com/
current books published= 10

Julie Bertagna (born in 1962) is a Scottish author who has written real life and science fiction novels for both children and young adults. Her books have been shortlisted for several literature awards, including the Carnegie Medal and her novel Exodus was the winner of the Lancashire County Library Children’s Book of the Year Award[1] Soundtrack, her second novel for young adults, won a Scottish Arts Council Award,[2] the second highest award ever given to a Scottish children's writer.[2]


Contents

[edit] Biography

Bertagna was born in Ayrshire and moved to Glasgow when she was 7 years old.

After receiving an MA HONS in English Language and Literature at Glasgow University[2][3] she worked as a freelance feature writer for Scottish newspapers and then moved into teaching [4]. She then published her first book, The Spark Gap, when she was 25 years old.

She currently writes full time and lives in the West End of Glasgow with her husband and young daughter.

[edit] Influences

Her writing often reflects her Scottish back ground, sometimes being set in the country. An example of this would be The Spark Gap, which she wrote specifically [5] to include characters like the children she was teaching in Glasgow.

Other influences of her work include global warming and climate change, being major themes in her novel Exodus, which took the "highly commmended" award, the equivalent of second prize, at the first Eco Prize, held by the Friends of the Earth Scotland.[6]

Her book, The Opposite of Chocolate, deals with issues of teenage pregnancy.

[edit] Notable works

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Julie Bertagna has written books for both children and young adults. Bertagna's first book was The Spark Gap. Her most recent book is Zenith, the sequel to Exodus. Both of these books were written for young adults.

[edit] The Spark Gap(1996)

Synopsis
The story of Kerrie, who runs away after her Gran dies to live rough on the roof of the tower block they live in. She meets Mauve and Skip who are outcasts from society.

[edit] Exodus(2003)

Synopsis
The story of Mara, a young girl who is living in world where the sea is rising due to global warming. Mara and her community have to deal with the loss of their island and finding somewhere to exist in the increasingly landless world.

[edit] Zenith(2007)

Synopsis
Continuing the story of Mara.

[edit] Other works

  • The Ice Cream Machine (1998)
  • Soundtrack (1999)
  • Bungee Hero (1999)
  • Dolphin Boy (1999)
  • Clumsy Clumps and the Baby Moon (1999)
  • Amphibian City (1999) (In Phenomenal Future Stories, edited by Tony Bradman)
  • The Opposite of Chocolate (2003)
  • Ice Cream Machine Totally Fizzbombed (2005)

[edit] Television series

In January 2007 a television series for children was created based on Bertagna's book[7], The Ice Cream Machine. The programme is produced in a co-production of Five with SMG and the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee [7]. It is aimed at 6 to 9 year-olds and will be broadcast in both English and Gaelic.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Children's Book of the Year Winner, Lancashire County Library. Retrieved February 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Julie Bertagna, Clients, David Higham Associates. Retrieved February 2007.
  3. ^ Official site, About Me section. Retrieved 20 February 2007
  4. ^ Interview with Julie Retrieved 23 February 2007
  5. ^ Official site, 'The story behind the story' section. Retrieved February 2007
  6. ^ Winners of Scotland's First Eco Prize for Creativity Announced, Press Release, Friends of the Earth Scotland. Retrieved February 2007.
  7. ^ a b Official series site, Information about the programme. Retrieved February 2007

[edit] External links

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