Sonya Hartnett's first novel was published when she was a teenager, in 1984. Since then she has matured into one of Australia's most important writers, creating literary works for readers of all ages. Hartnett's work is direct, challenging and sometimes uncompromising, often examining the darker side of existence. She is renowned for her characterisation and lyrical prose and has won numerous awards, most notably the 2008 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Hartnett drafted her first submission letter as a fifteen-year-old and a few months later received a cautious but encouraging reply from the publisher, Rigby. Hartnett heeded her future publisher's advice and worked on her novel further before resubmitting it. Soon after, Trouble All the Way was published and by the end of that year Hartnett had received her first royalty statement, which showed that she had earned an impressive $2355.91.
On tour will be Hartnett's letter to Rigby publishers in 1983 (shown, left), the letter she received in return, and her first royalty statement. The State Library holds all of Sonya Hartnett's books in the Children's Literature Collection. |
