Looking for Alibrandi

Melina Marchetta is an Australian writer and former teacher. Her first novel, Looking for Alibrandi, was released in 1992 to much acclaim, sweeping the pool of young adult literary awards. Melina has also written short stories including Twelve Minutes as part of a Books Alive anthology, along with reviews and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and The Australian Literary Review. She has been a writer-in-residence around the country, as far north as Thursday Island and as far south as Hobart. Melina now lives in Sydney and writes full-time.

Marcella Russo has worked extensively as an actor and singer in theatre, film and radio. Her film work includes The Dreaming, Struck by Lightning, Un Padre Traditionale and The Big Maybe. Marcella is an experienced voice-over artist and has performed in various ABC radio dramas.