Blog
I have just completed a new commission for a friend. She requested it to be in black and white so I thought pencil with a soft watercolour outline would be best to communicate a dreamy feel. I also have this illustration for purchase called Tiger and Baby as an art print at Redbubble
The first day of 2016 and I’m sitting at home, alone. It is lovely and peaceful. The local magpies are carolling in the paper bark tree and a single crow caaws in the oaks that line the street. I’m at my desk looking through the door of my writing room down the kitchen to […]
The books I read in 2015
Dec 10: Book News
I’m a slow reader and being a writer, my eyes grow tired so audiobooks are perfect for me. I subscribe to Audible and borrow Eaudiobooks for my iphone from my local library through BorrowBox which is a Bolinda audio app. This app is one of my best finds for 2015. I listen while I’m driving, cooking, cleaning, […]
Poppy Hardback
Dec 02: Book News
I have several projects on the go at the moment. First up is my Our Australian Girl, Poppy series which will come out in November next year in a beautiful new hardback omnibus of all four stories in one volume. What is really lovely is that it will have a magnetic clasp – something that […]
I was interviewed by lovely friend and fellow children’s author and illustrator, Sally Rippin on Triple R. Sally has a regular spot once a month on The Grapevine.
I received this lovely email from Truc and I thought I would share it with you. Little Paradise is a young adult novel which is very close to my heart. It is about my mother and the passion she had. It is a story of love, of war and creativity, of finding your own little paradise […]
Nov 20:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms.Wang, Hello, I am from Viet Nam but currently studying in Melbourne, Australia. My class (the English Language Centre at Kew High School) and I have been reading your book ‘Little Paradise’ for a while and its had touched our hearts through many different ways. I really enjoyed reading your book. Your mom was […]
Nov 03:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, My name is Louna from St Andrews Primary Marayong, for my school reader my group read Meet poppy and Meet poppy at Summerhill, I really liked the books I would give the books a five out of five. My favourite character would be Fisher since I have two dogs at home that […]
Nov 03:
Fan Mail Letters
To Mrs Wang, Thank you so for writing the Pearlie book. I love them! I have a few questions: Who inspired you to get writing? Where did you get your information from? Why did you write about the bombing of Darwin? Thanks, Laura.A
I am raising money for the Befriend a Child in Detention project which sends books and letters from penpals to children in detention centres in Australia and offshore on Nauru. Leading up to Christmas, I am selling this set of 4 cards in the “it came upon the wind” series and will donate the proceeds […]
my skin belongs to me
Nov 01: Book News
I only realised this morning that when I paint a child I unconsciously paint her being Asian and not white. It has taken me this long to feel that my skin belongs to me. Writing has done that. Writing is going into those dark and muck-filled corners of your mind and cleaning them out. Then […]
Here is the story of a Melbourne primary school and how they are connecting with children in detention on Nauru. Your school can get involved just as Bell Primary is doing.
What a fabulous interviewer Sarah from Bell Primary School was. Here we are talking about the Befriend a Child in Detention Project for Behind the News.
I love seeing other people’s creative spaces. Here are 40 Inspiring workspaces of the Famously Creative so check them out. I’ve selected a few and the reasons why I love them. MARC CHAGALL – painter I love Chagall’s beautiful, dreamy work. And he looks like a lovely man. E. B. WHITE – Author The raw starkness […]
foxy girl
Oct 14: Book News , From My SketchbookBehind the News
Oct 14: A Passing Whisper
Today I was interviewed by Sarah (right) and Michaela (left) for ABC’s Behind the News. Sarah and Michaela attend Bell Primary School in Melbourne, the first school to be involved in the Befriend a Child in Detention project established by Dr June Factor. The aim of Befriend a Child in Detention is to make others […]
mindfulness
Oct 04: A Passing Whisper , From My Sketchbook
From moment to moment, from one cycle to the next, don’t think of where you are going or where you have been This is the only moment…
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,I would just like to say thank you for coming to my school, Emmaus College on the 9th of September. You have inspired me to write a story in my spare time, but I won’t publish it. Thank-you for coming to my school and talking about the witch house, the meanings behind your […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Wang,Recently our reading group at Roma State College has been reading your amazing novel A ghost in my suitcase. I am Writing this in tears after just reading the end, but can remember all the outstanding similes and metaphors you have included and how you have made me laugh out loud. you are […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Gabrielle Wang,I am a student from Roma State College, QLD, and I have extremely enjoyed your astonishing novel “A ghost in my suitcase,” and want to emphasize your creative, descriptive and engaging writing style. Your descriptive noun and verb groups that paint a clear picture in readers’ heads have always sufficed in satisfying […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Wang,My reading group and I have been reading your book A Ghost in my Suitcase. I have loved your use of metaphors and similes. We have enjoyed every moment of reading your book. Our teacher Mrs Rickert has said numerous times that she has NEVER seen a book as well written as yours. […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Wang,I’m a student at Roma State College ( Queensland, Roma ) and in our class reading groups we have been reading your wonderful book, A Ghost In My Suitcase. When I come to school on a Wednesday the only thing I look forward to is reading your book. You are a fabulous writer. […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
dear Mrs WangI’m student from Roma state college QLDAt school in our reading groups we are reading your book ghost in my suit case. it is an amazing book . I felt so connected with your characters. my favourite character was Robbie even thought we didn’t get to know him he was still funny. Shanara
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs. Wang,I am a student at Roma State College, Middle Campus (Queensland, Australia). I am just an average grade 7 girl however I found your book, A Ghost In My Suitcase, and I have come to the conclusion that your book is anything but average; in fact or entire reading group (which we like […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Ms Wang,Hi, I’m a student at Roma State College in Queensland. I’m 13 and in grade 7. For all I know, I have never come across such a significant author in my life, until I read a book by you, A ghost in my suitcase. we are reading this book at school and my classmates […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Wang,I’m Jade, I’m 13 , I’m in year 7,and I am a student at Roma State College. We have been reading your book(we call it our book club). When we were reading your book there was a lot of emotions going through our minds at once I also loved the use of metaphors […]
Sep 26:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,My name is Makayla, I’m 12 years old and I go to Roma State College Queensland, Australia. My reading class has recently read “Ghost in my suitcase.” I loved your book because it had a great amount of suspense, grief and happiness. I love your chose of characters but I have struggle to […]
Sep 12:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Mrs Wang, I’m a student at Roma State College Middle Campus, QLD. I am a 12 year old boy in Grade 7 and I am really enjoying your book, ‘A Ghost in my Suitcase’. Just to say, this book is unbelievable. We’ve had kids in tears with emotions many times. Others full of hatred […]
Sep 12:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang I am a student in grade 7, Roma State College, Queensland I have read your book A Ghost in my Suitcase.Its full of metaphors and similes and most of the girls cried at the emotional parts. Some girls didn’t like Ting Ting, thank you for writing this book Hayden
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Hello Ms Wang,This is Helen and Shana from Braybrook College, in English we are currently doing a book study on your fabulous book ‘ Ghost In My Suitcase’. You’re an inspirational writer to us and the Ghost in My Suitcase book was great. We really hope for a sequel soon, Our class has finished reading […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,In my class, we have just finished reading “A Ghost in My Suitcase” as our main text to read. It was a wonderful story and bought me to realize that I am a lucky person to be living in Australia.I am inspired by your dedication towards your amazing books.I have read your book […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Good morning Gabrielle Wang,I’ve just read “A Ghost In My Suitcase” and it was fabulous.Your an amazing author and illustrator. Please keep up the amazing work!I read your blog posts and i would like to ask:What inspires you to draw and who are your favorite illustrators?Sincerely,Livia
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,My name is Natarsha and I am a year seven student. For English, we studied your novel ‘A Ghost In My Suitcase’. It was a great book, one of the best I have read. I recently watched a book trailer for the novel,and I was wondering if the book could be made into […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, I have just finished reading the book “A Ghost In My Suitcase”. It is really good and I would like to ask you two questions about this book.My first question is why did you choose the Isle of Clouds for “A Ghost In My Suitcase” instead of other towns in China?My other question […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,My name is Helen and I am a year 7 student in Melbourne. I have recently finished your marvelous novel “A Ghost in My Suitcase”. I really enjoyed this book as it hooked me in and made me keep wanting to read it.A question that i would like to ask you is what […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,I am a 12 year old student at a high school in Melbourne. I have recently read your book, “A Ghost In My Suitcase.” I enjoyed it thoroughly, because, it was interesting to learn about the Chinese culture. I am Chinese myself, so it was pretty cool to learn about acupuncture, and traditional […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms. Gabrielle Wang,I am a twelve year old year 7 student in Melbourne, Australia. my class had finished reading your book “A Ghost in my Suitcase.” Our class had a conversation discussing about if we liked or hated the book. We decided that it was a fantastic book. Our class had learnt a lot […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Ms. Gabrielle Wang, I am a year student from a Secondary College. Recently, our class 7K had just finished reading your book ‘A Ghost in my Suitcase.’ Our class had a nice conversation that it was a fantastic book. For our homework, our class had to analyse the story and therefore, we got to learn […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,My class has just finished reading a “A Ghost in my Suitcase” for our book report. I really enjoyed the book and is one of my favourite book I’ve read.Below are a few questions I would like for you to answer:-Will there be a sequel for “A Ghost in my Suitcase”?-How long does […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,I am a year 7 and as part of my English class, we have studies one of your great books, A Ghost in my Suitcase. We have all annotated, analysed and re-read your book and personally I loved every second of it. After reading the book, I have a lot of questions that […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi there Ms Wang,Our names are Jenny Chan and Cindy Tran, and we are year sevens who have just finished reading and studying your book for English class. We really enjoyed your book ‘A Ghost In My Suitcase’, and we really want to read the sequel (even though there isn’t one). One of the many […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,I have really enjoyed your book “Ghost in my Suitcase”. It was very well written, detailed and suspenseful.I was just wondering if you would write a sequel to the book and add more information about Ting Ting, Papa and Robbie.I actually also want to ask if Ting Ting goes to school. She seems […]
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang ,I am a 12 year old student in a Melbourne high school who recently read your novel, A Ghost in my Suitcase. I enjoyed because it taught me a lot about the Chinese culture and was a heartwarming story. Thank you for writing these books.From Jason.
Sep 05:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang, My name is Georgia and I am a year 7 student. I am writing to you today because I have just finished reading your novel “A Ghost in my Suitcase” and have wondered if it was […]
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
from my painting book
Aug 14: Book NewsHow to Make a Story
Aug 14: A Passing Whisper
There is a horse in my letterbox The first time I saw him was on the nature strip where he lay for four days. He is a china horse and has two broken legs. On the fifth day he had disappeared and he slipped from my mind. The next time I saw him was […]
Aug 13:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle,We went on our year 3-6 camp in Melbourne 2 weeks ago and after we left the Shrine of Remembrance we went to find the gate that you told us about that is at the Botanical Gardens. It was so cool, we can’t believe they’re the actual gates from your childhood and story.We can’t […]
Aug 13:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,I just finished reading your book Little Paradise (literally two seconds ago) and I am amazed. I am also left on the edge of my seat. Is there a second book? Please tell me you are planning one. I feel so attached to Lola. I am a teenage girl, and I also fight […]
Aug 13:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, My name is Amy and I live in Melbourne. I have read and enjoyed many of your books. My absolute favourite is The Wishbird. I think you are a very talented author. I have recently seen you at your author talk for the Book Festival. You talked about your story The Wishbird. I […]
To be good at anything you have to practice and practice regularly. So I’ve been practicing illustrating lately with the aim of creating a picture book. I do love animals especially dogs and cats. The cats are my grand-kitties, Bandit and Pebble. They are rescue kittens that belong to my daughter. The cavalier is Rupert […]
dancing on water
Jul 07: Booktalk
This morning I received one of those disappointing emails, one that I had been wanting an answer to for quite a while. And as I was sitting in a bit of a slump, the winter sun burst through the window bathing the kitchen in a summer glow. It was only brief, just long enough to […]
Jul 02:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, Hi, my name is Tessa. I am eight years old. I have read and really enjoyed: the Wish Bird, Pearlie the Spy, The Garden of Empress Cassia, the Pearl of Tiger Bay and a Ghost in my Suitcase. I really like your books because they intrigued me and are very adventurous and […]
our shimmery world
Jun 28: A Passing Whisper
I caught this image while walking home. The winter sun was sliding down the sky. The bare grey branches of the oaks looked like coral in an underwater garden. It was one of those shimmery moments that makes you smile inside, makes you feel that everything is just right. So often we only see the […]
from my painting book
Jun 06: Book News
Into the snowy woods
Jun 06:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang,My name is Caitlin and I am one of the students you met at Drummoyne Public School.Recently I read The Wishbird. I thought it was great! It was so intriguing and mysterious. The plot was fantastic, as the scenes changed from every chapter. As soon as I started reading, I could not put […]
happy writing tips
May 30: A Passing Whisper
If you have only an inkling of a novel idea, try writing a synopsis first. Ideas come as you write. It not only crystallises the story in your head but can also move it forward. This is what I did with my new novel, The Hushing Wood. The finished novel is not like the synopsis but the […]
May 27:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Ms Wang,In class we have been reading Your book.It is amazing and inspiring.7 years ago you came to my school and signed my sisters book which is then same one I am reading from.Have a good day.FromHeidi
May 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle,Thank you so much for coming to Dimboola and showing us how to draw Peng. When we came back to school we found out that we have ‘A Ghost in my Suitcase’ in our library. We liked your adventure in the mansion that you told us about and your tips were very inspiring to […]
The Silver Wolf
May 25: Book News , From My Sketchbook
Chinese brush and ink with watercolour.
The Hushing Wood
May 23: A Passing Whisper
I have just completed the ‘first’ draft of The Hushing Wood which will be published in Australia next year. Here is a short synopsis: Ziggy Truegood has a reoccurring dream that she will drown on her twelfth birthday. When a strange new boy comes to town and a frightening beast haunts the woods, she must decide […]
having fun with colour
May 10: Book Newssunday musings
May 03: A Passing Whisper
Befriend a Child in Detention is a wonderful new community project organised by Dr June Factor and a group of volunteers. You can find out more about Befriend a Child in Detention at their website and what you can do to help http://www.befriendachild.com/ Gabi x
the act of doing
Apr 16: Book News
I love Japanese fabric and design so a few years ago I made a patchwork quilt for our bed. I found the act of doing was the most rewarding part of making that quilt. As I don’t have a sewing machine I hand stitched it all. I am inspired to do more craft. It is […]
Upon learning of the death of Gunter Grass, I was jolted back to my late teens and early twenties, to a period in my life when I read more widely and more prolifically and watched more foreign films than in any other period. This blog post is about some of the authors and directors who […]
Mar 30:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle,I have just finished your book The Wishbird and it was wonderful! I love to read books and I have read many books and some books I forget the plot, and some books stick with me for a long time. The Wishbird and the Ghost in my Suitcase will stick with me for a […]
I had the pleasure of speaking to the grades 3’s to 6’s at St Dominics Primary School in Camberwell East this week. The students were delightful and all of them have been reading at least one of my books in class. Thank you to librarian Nadine Bolton and to all the teachers. It is always […]
The Children’s Book Festival on Sunday was a wonderful event. I had the chance to meet a lot of my young readers and their parents. Apart from wanting to inspire kids to read, write, draw and use their imaginations, I love being part of a festival such as this so that I can meet my audience. […]
On Sunday March 22, I’ll be appearing with authors and illustrators such as Shaun Tan, Andy Griffiths, Tristan Bancks, Hazel Edwards, Ursula Dubosarsky and Oliver Phommavanh and more. Here’s the programme if you’d like to come along.
it’s been a while
Mar 07: A Passing Whisper
It’s been a while since I last wrote. Lots of things have happened, are happening. Some I can mention, some I won’t. Some emotional stuff too. Life’s like that. That’s how you know you’re alive, I guess. I’ve been drawing more than usual lately. Like anything worthwhile, you have to be constant and practice and […]
Feb 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle,Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed Little Paradise. I can barely believe it’s based on the story of your parents! The story was really sweet and I was immersed in the historical details.I’ve read A Ghost in My Suitcase as well – it’s really nice to read about Chinese settings/cultural […]
Feb 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle,I have just finished your book A Ghost in My Suitcase. It was really emotive and strong ( :)in a good way!) And I was stuck to the book the whole time! I have also just finished making a list of all your books that I would like to read in order. Your blog […]
Feb 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi my name’s Otto. I come from Melbourne but I live in London and I’m seven years old. I really like the Chinese Horoscope that you wrote for War Child. I have one question though: What year were you born in ( so I can know your Chinese Horoscope)? Please write back.From OttoP.S. I was […]
Feb 25:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle,I have some questions for you. I have read a lot of your books but my favorites were probably The Wishbird and A Ghost in My Suitcase. How do you manage to suck readers into your stories? How are they captivating? Please answer back quickly.Yours sincerely, Anirudh
While at Bookaroo Festival of Children’s Literature, I was interviewed by Malini Sen of The Times of India. You can read the interview HERE
Jan 04:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle,Thank you for repleling to my letter.When i saw that you had sent me an e-mail I nealy screamed.My teacher saw that i was realy exited so she can over to see what i was so exited about. After i told her that i had a letter for an author she told me to […]
i made an illustration. may the new year be a gentle one. may it be filled with friendship, humour and love
on the last day of 2014
Dec 31: Book News
The weather was sad this morning, all dreary and grey and shadowless. Now there is sunshine and it is quite lovely. It will not last. Melbourne is a city where weather is the most talked about topic, that and football. It is a city that makes you live in the moment. 2015 is the Year […]
Sprouting velvety antlers.
more drawing love
Dec 23: Book News
Look at these wonderful drawings a grade 3/4 teacher sent me. They were inspired by
cat and bird
Dec 15: A Passing Whisper
These illustrations are from my sketchbook done with brush, ink and watercolour. It is good to use Chinese painting techniques again. I have written a picture book and am experimenting with style.
Dec 03:
Uncategorized
Ms. Gabrielle, I am Unnathi from Pathways World School, Aravali, India. Thank you so much for visiting us today! I really enjoyed your session and got inspired.Thank you once again!From Unnathi
Dec 03:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle Wang,My name is Stella and i think that your books are absolutely amazing!I was really inspired by you to let my imagination run and to write interesting stories to entertain myself.I really love the Australian girl meet Poppy series thats my favourite and I’ve just about read every Australian girl book, buts your […]
Drawing love
Dec 03: Book News
Today I received a large envelope from a school in Queensland. Inside the envelope
Bookaroo India
Dec 03: A Passing Whisper
I have just returned from Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival in Delhi, India. I so enjoyed meeting the children,
I often feel like a monk transcribing and decorating an illuminated manuscript. Patiently, painfully working over years in minute detail on the one book until it is done. I wrote my first two novels in the corner
This article was published on September 29th in Daily Life, a SMH online magazine about women. I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne at a time when back doors were never locked, when bikes were our wings, when we never had to tell our
Today Saturday 22nd November, I will be teaching a Dragon drawing workshop at the Myer Music Bowl as part of Playfest. Bring the kids along. It should be great fun. To find out more about the festival Click HERE
On Thursday November 20th I will be signing books at Dymocks Camberwell between 6pm and 8pm. Come along for a chat, a drink and some nibbles. You can read more about the event HERE
Moroccan diary 2
Oct 18: Uncategorized
‘The Prophet said never to discard a crust of bread and that if you ever see it, even the smallest piece on the ground, you must pick it up and put it on a wall. Then, if a beggar is passing and is in need of food, he will not have to stoop down. Because […]
Moroccan diary 1
Oct 07: Uncategorized
Morocco is a land full of surprises. From the beaches of Essaouira to the lofty Atlas Mountains, its scenery is constantly changing. I love how the buildings are constructed from the surrounding land so that when a village is too old to inhabit and more dwellings are built on the outside, the old town is […]
Oct 02:
Fan Mail Letters
Hi Gabrielle wang, At Thomas Mitchell primy school in year 4 we are giving you a letter from you. Think you for teaching us about your drawings. From Stella
the street cats of istanbul
Sep 16: Booktalk
Apart from the wonderful sites Istanbul has to offer, one thing I cannot help noticing is the number of cats there are living on the streets. The difference here though
Aug 30:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle Wang, Hi I’m Madison and I am a student at a school in Victoria. It’s really a great opportunity to chat with you. In literacy groups I chose to read The Wishbird and just finished it with the rest of my group. I loved the way you described the characters feelings and the […]
Aug 22:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle, Thank you for coming to Malvern Primary today! Some of us really enjoyed it including me. My favourite part was when you tought us to draw peng. It is so cool I am drawing him now. Now that I heard about how you became a writer I really want to become a writer […]
Aug 22:
Fan Mail Letters
Dear Gabrielle I am from M . P . S that you visited a few weeks ago. You have inspired me to start my own series of books. I would like to thank you for signing my book . I have dedicated my book to you, my favorite movie is My Neighbor Totoro. I have […]