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Stephen Axelsen Stephen Axelsen i(A47513 works by) (a.k.a. Steve Axelsen)
Born: Established: 1953 Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Stephen Axelsen was born in Sydney, NSW and educated at Beaumont Road Public School, Chatswood High School and Macquarie University. After graduating in 1973 he worked as a house painter. While he was painting the house of Jack Pollard, a Sydney publisher, the question of book illustration came up and, even though he had no training at all in art, he decided to try his hand at producing a picture book. Neither this book, nor another which followed, was accepted for publication. Soon afterwards he was successful in obtaining commissions to illustrate three mass-market 'Blinky Bill' titles, and Cliff Green's The Incredible Steam-Driven Adventures of Riverboat Bill (McVitty, Walter 1989). While living in Adelaide he had his first success, writing and illustrating The Oath of Bad Brown Bill. In 1987 he illustrated Harriet and Christopher and Me by Libby Hathorn, which won Children's Book Council Book of the Year for Younger Readers.

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Disastrous Party Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2005 Z1229993 2005 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Great Aunt Annabelle has miraculously passed her very messy inspection and can stay on as Piccolo's guardian angel. But chaotic Annabelle has a new-found passion for entering and winning competitions. Will she even notice if Piccolo is in trouble?

'And trouble soon finds Piccolo. When Annabelle wins a grand party, Piccolo is enchanted by a beautiful uninvited guest. Is she friend or foe, angel or enemy, or just confused?' (Publication summary)
2005 winner Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Children's Division — Short Fiction
y separately published work icon The Stinky Cheese Gypsies Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2005 Z1229987 2005 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Piccolo Grande's ordered life has been turned upside down by his competition crazy Guardian Angel. His fine old house has become an obstacle course of prizes that Great Aunt Annabelle has been winning at an alarming rate.

'Enough is enough! Piccolo devises a plan to give away, sell or bank all the prizes. But little does he know that Annabelle's latest windfall - a bright pink motor scooter and sidecar - is about to lead them into a gangload of trouble with a very wicked twist...' (Publication summary)
2005 finalist Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Children's Division — Children's Short Fiction
y separately published work icon The Very Messy Inspection Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2004 Z1173972 2004 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Young Piccolo Grande lives alone in his fine old family home. But one fateful afternoon his neat and ordered life is turned upside down and inside out when noisy, round and red-faced Annabelle bursts into his life.

'She claims to be his great aunt but Piccolo recognises her for the angel she is - a Guardian Angel, sent to mind Piccolo. But where Annabelle goes, disaster soon follows, and in two shakes of a feather it is the boy who is minding the angel...' (Publication summary)
2004 shortlisted Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Children's Division — Short Fiction
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 26 Jul 2019 12:14:44
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