Picture an Australian storyteller who spins tales of teenage chaos and magical kingdoms with a wink and a grin—meet Jaclyn Moriarty! Known for her young adult fiction, Moriarty crafts stories that blend humor, heart, and innovative formats, like letters and diary entries, to capture the rollercoaster of adolescence. Her Ashbury/Brookfield series has won hearts worldwide, earning her a devoted readership and awards like the Aurealis for Fantasy.
Born in Perth in 1968, Moriarty grew up in Sydney’s suburbs, surrounded by a lively family of four sisters, one brother, two dogs, and twelve chickens. Her knack for storytelling emerged early, and today, she’s a celebrated author whose playful narratives invite readers into worlds both familiar and fantastical.
The Making of Jaclyn Moriarty
Raised in a storytelling household, Jaclyn Moriarty penned her first novel at seven—an Enid Blyton-inspired tale of talking toys that ended in a fistfight. Her father paid the kids to fill exercise books with stories, sparking her love for writing. Moriarty studied English and Law at the University of Sydney, then earned a Master’s in Law at Yale and a PhD at Cambridge, focusing on youth privacy rights. She worked as a media and entertainment lawyer in Sydney, but her passion for young adult fiction took over. Her debut novel, Feeling Sorry for Celia, caught the eye of author Garth Nix, who helped her find publishers, launching her full-time writing career.
Jaclyn Moriarty’s Unforgettable Stories
Moriarty’s Ashbury/Brookfield series, starting with Feeling Sorry for Celia (2000), is a standout, told through letters, postcards, and notes. It follows Elizabeth navigating friendship and a quirky pen-pal project, blending humor with emotional depth. The Year of Secret Assignments (2003) continues the epistolary style, diving into rival schools and secret missions. Becoming Bindy Mackenzie (2006) showcases Bindy, a brilliant but unraveling teen, while Dreaming of Amelia (2009) adds a haunting, mysterious vibe. Her Colours of Madeleine trilogy, beginning with A Corner of White (2013), weaves fantasy and parallel worlds, earning critical acclaim.
Moriarty’s style is a delightful mix of witty dialogue, unreliable narrators, and genre-blending—think contemporary teen drama with a dash of fantasy. Her epistolary format lets characters’ voices shine, keeping readers guessing with subversive plot twists. She also explores middle-grade fiction with the Kingdoms and Empires series, like The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone (2018), packed with whimsy and adventure.
Why Jaclyn Moriarty Matters
Jaclyn Moriarty’s impact lies in her ability to capture the messy, hilarious, and poignant moments of youth. Her innovative storytelling resonates with teens and adults alike, earning her awards like the NSW Premier’s Literary Award and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. By blending humor, mystery, and fantasy, she’s carved a unique space in young adult literature, inspiring readers to embrace their quirks. Her work, translated into over ten languages, continues to charm a global audience.
- Born: 1968, Perth, Australia
- Key Works: Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Year of Secret Assignments, A Corner of White
- Awards: Aurealis Award, NSW Premier’s Literary Award
- Fun Fact: Her sisters, Liane and Nicola Moriarty, are also bestselling authors!
Ready for a dose of witty, heartfelt storytelling? Snag Feeling Sorry for Celia and dive into Jaclyn Moriarty’s vibrant world of young adult fiction!