Maria Gill

Maria Gill has established herself as a prominent figure in children's literature as a full-time writer, qualified teacher, and journalist based in New Zealand. Her impressive career spans the creation of 62 non-fiction books, including the award-winning "Anzac Heroes," which won both the Non-fiction Award and Supreme Book of the Year prize at the 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Her expertise in children's literature is reflected through her role as a lecturer at Massey University, co-development of the Coursera online course "Writing for Young Readers," and her eleven-year leadership of a nationwide writers' group. In 2020, her contributions were recognized with the prestigious Margaret Mahy Medal for services to children's literature. Her diverse portfolio includes works on native wildlife, conservation, history, and war, published through traditional, digital, and educational publishers, while she continues to engage with young readers through school visits and literary festivals