Emily Rodda

"I have always loved reading and writing stories... at home I often wrote plays for my brothers to act out."

Emily Rodda is one of Australia's most successful, popular and versatile writers, who has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award for a record five times.

A former editor of The Women's Weekly, this Australian author is also the best-selling author of adult mysteries under her own name of Jennifer Rowe. Her children's books, for a range of ages and genres, exhibit a mastery of plot and character.

Amongst her many books, she has written Finders Keepers (which has been serialised for television); Rowan of Rin; Rowan and the Travellers; Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal; Rowan and the Zebak and Rowan of the Bukshah, all published by Omnibus Books. Rowan of Rin was the Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the year for Younger Readers in 1994. Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal was short-listed for the 1997 Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers.

Meet Emily Rodda

Emily Rodda, real name Jennifer Rowe, was born in Sydney in 1948. She went to Abbotsleigh School for Girls, then the University of Sydney for a Masters of Arts in English Literature.

For many years, Emily worked in publishing. She started as an assistant editor and worked her way up, eventually becoming a publisher herself. It was at this time that she began to write, and did so under her grandmother’s name as a pseudonym.

She started winning awards from her very first book, and continued to do so, winning the Australia Children’s Book Council Book of the Year for Young Readers Award six times in total. Despite her success, Emily continued working, eventually moving into the editor role at Australian Women’s Weekly. It wasn’t until 1994 that she finally left her ‘day job’ to write full time.

Today, Emily and her husband live in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney with their dog Sadie.

What genres does Emily Rodda write?

She is best known for children's and middle grade fantasy and adventure. She also writes books for a range of ages and genres, and publishes adult mysteries under the pseudonym Jennifer Rowe.

What are Emily Rodda's most popular series and where should a new reader start?

Major series include Deltora Quest, Rowan of Rin, The Three Doors, and the Fairy Realm books. Good entry points are Forests of Silence (Deltora Quest book 1), Rowan of Rin (Rowan of Rin book 1) and The Golden Door (The Three Doors book 1).

Is there a recommended reading order for her series?

Yes. Read each series in its published series order (for example, start Deltora Quest with Forests of Silence and follow the numbered sequence; start Rowan of Rin with Rowan of Rin and continue through its titles). Standalone books can be read independently.

Has Emily Rodda won major awards for her work?

Yes. She has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award multiple times. Rowan of Rin won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 1994, and Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal was shortlisted in 1997.