Austlit

Merrilee Moss grew up in Canberra and studied literature at the Australian National University and worked as an administrative assistant with the Canberra Children's Theatre before moving to melbourne. Moss's plays have toured theatre and community venues across Australia. 'Over the Hill' and 'The Slippery Slope', for example, have been produced by 'Women on a Shoestring'. She has been inspired by Dorothy Hewett, whose plays are 'full of poetry and symbolism'; Hannie Rayson's plays that have 'precision and warmth'; and Jenny Kemp 'for challenging theatrical conventions' (qq.v.).

Moss has published several novels for teenagers, including some for the Hot Pursuit series. She has also edited Taking a Punt : First Stop Bonegilla (1997), stories by Darebin residents about their immigrant experiences that started at the Migrant Reception Centre, Bonegilla, Victoria. In 2005 Moss received funding from Images of Age, Victorian Government, for the writing of a new playscript 'Night Breakfast' which had a professional reading in 2006.