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Gillian Rubinstein Gillian Rubinstein i(A12378 works by)
Also writes as: G. M. Hanson ; Lian Hearn
Born: Established: 1942 Potten End, Hertfordshire,
c
England,
c
c
United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
;
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: 1973
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BiographyHistory

Rubinstein was an early and avid reader, and it was the wish to write for her own children that launched her successful career as a writer for children and young adults. During her teens her parents lived in Nigeria, and Rubinstein's time was divided between boarding school in England, an English 'foster' family, and visiting her own parents. Her parents' separation when she was in her teens and her unhappy time at boarding school at that time caused her intense pain and anger, emotions she still draws on for her books.

After receiving a degree in modern languages at Oxford University, Rubinstein worked in television, publishing and as a freelance journalist. She travelled extensively and migrated to Australia in 1973.

Her first novel, Space Demons (1986), was not only highly successful commercially (spending two years on Australian best-seller lists) but also won a number of awards, including the first National Children's Peace Literature Award (1987), National Children's Book Award in the Festival Awards for Literature (1988), the Children's Book Council of Australia Honour Book Award (1987) and the YABBA award in 1990. It has also been translated and published internationally, and adapted for the theatre. Unlike many successful first-time authors, Rubinstein garnered fresh praise for her second novel Answers to Brut (1988), which won the NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature, 1988 and was a CBCA Honour Book in 1989. Her novels since then have continued to win awards, including the CBCA Book of the Year Award in 1995 for Foxspell (1994).

In 2002 she adopted the pseudonym 'Lian Hearn' to write her fantasy works, the Otori trilogy.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • For information about this author's works for children, particularly foreign editions not yet included in AustLit, see Australian Children's Books by Marcie Muir and Kerry White (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1992-2003).
  • Adaptations by Rubinstein for children's theatre include 'Robinson Crusoe' (Wharf 2, Sydney, 28/2/2002) and 'Alice in Wonderland' (Theatre 62, Hilton, Adelaide, 18/11/1989)

Affiliation Notes

  • Born elsewhere; moved to SA

Personal Awards

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Whale's Child Sydney : Hodder Headline Australia , 2002 Z987952 2002 single work novel young adult "Ken is an enthusiastic swimmer but he lives in the country and the only place to train is in the sea. When his best friend Caro gets her driver’s licence, the two of them join a swimming squad in the city. But while Caro seems to improve, Ken is struggling. The arrival of Ken’s Aunt Maya from Japan changes everything as she tells him the story of the Whale’s child and its significance to his heritage." (from author's website)
2003 shortlisted The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature Youth Fiction
y separately published work icon Terra-Farma Ringwood : Viking , 2001 Z896454 2001 single work novel young adult science fiction

'No-one has ever escaped from the Galax-Arena before. Now Project Genesis Five wants to know how Joella, Peter and Liane did it.On the run from the all-seeing, all-knowing Project, the girls find shelter at Terra-Farma, while Peter tries to survive in the outback. But Terra-Farma is not what it seems. Can Joelle escape again?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2001 shortlisted Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction Young Adult Division Best Novel
y separately published work icon Sharon, Keep Your Hair On Milsons Point : Random House , 1996 Z800034 1996 single work picture book children's humour
1997 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Picture Book of the Year
2000 winner KOALA Awards Picture Book

Known archival holdings

University of Canberra University of Canberra Library (ACT)
Last amended 12 Feb 2015 17:33:27
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