With Ellie Royce
Michelle 'Ellie' Royce
Photo Credit : Caitlin Royce
Michelle Royce is an internationally published, award winning author of books for adults and children.
As "Ellie Royce" Michelle writes quirky and heartfelt middle grade and YA fiction as well as visionary, unique picture books that spark ideas, empathy and new ways of looking at the world for readers of all ages.
Michelle is also a storyteller, author, speaker and independent publisher, presenting sessions on 'Storytelling for Wellbeing' as an Arts in Health advocate and practitioner for small groups as well as speaking at conferences.
Her first published book was a non- fiction women's self- help book titled "Moon Rites" published in 2002 by Lothian Books and then by independent publisher 'books celebrating Her' in Bellingen NSW in 2005. New incarnations of Moon Rites, along with workbooks and journals are on the way in 2024. She writes on Substack at "Through the Hagstone" about life as a cyclic being in a linear world, and the power and perspective of a sageing woman.
Michelle's passion for children's literature stems from her own voracious reading and love of books as a child. She believes that young people are our most important audience!
Her middle grade novels were originally published by ABC Books under her pen name "Ellie Royce" - Letterbook One - Amy's Secret and Letterbook Two - Passion for Fashion. In 2010 "Amy's Secret" was published in Norway and Sweden.
In 2014 Working Title Press published Ellie's first picture book "Lucas and Jack" inspired by her work with older people and their stories. Award winning illustrator Andrew Mc Lean made Lucas and Jack even more special with his beautiful artwork.
In April 2020 a new picture book, "Auntie Uncle :Drag Queen Hero" was released with POW!Kids books in New York USA - the story of a very unique hero who brings two communities together through diversity, bravery and unconditional love.
In 2021 "Auntie Uncle" won the Children's and YA category of The International Rubery Book Award for independently published books.
Another gorgeous picture book about families, change, diversity and love, "Frizzle and Me" was published by Ford St Publishing in 2021, again illustrated by Andrew McLean.
A new book with Ford Street is due out in 2024.
Michelle's first book in a fun new Junior Fiction series "Avery's Hat- Tastic Adventures- How Does A Hat save The Day?" hits shelves in June 2022.
Michelle lives on Gumbaynggir Country in Northern NSW with her lovely husband, way too many books and as much pistachio gelato as she can fit in the freezer. She loves visiting her grown up daughters and her grandbaby Finn in Sydney and Melbourne (and not just for the gelato- or even the bookstores!)
She reads and writes all the time ( quite often when she should be doing other things) and, is a committed advocate for the magic and power of story to connect people and to change lives and the world for the better.