Picture an Australian storyteller who whisks readers into worlds where courage and rebellion spark adventure—meet Lian Tanner! Born in Tasmania in 1951, this children’s fantasy author has enchanted young minds with her award-winning Keepers Trilogy, weaving tales that challenge authority and celebrate bravery. With a life as colorful as her stories, Tanner’s journey from teacher to acclaimed writer is a tale worth telling.
The Making of Lian Tanner
Growing up in Tasmania, Lian Tanner was a shy child, dreaming of boldness she now gifts her characters. Her eclectic career—teacher in Papua New Guinea, journalist, actor, and even a stint in the feminist folk band The Ovarian Sisters—shaped her storytelling. Experiences like being dynamited while scuba diving or arrested while busking fueled her knack for crafting unpredictable narratives. Tanner’s time teaching in Papua New Guinea’s jungles, surrounded by volcanoes and vibrant communities, sparked her love for vivid settings and resilient characters.
Her shift to writing came later, inspired by a mix of her wild adventures and a desire to explore themes of freedom. Tanner’s background in drama and journalism honed her ability to craft dialogue and action, making her stories leap off the page. Living by the beach in southern Tasmania, she draws inspiration from coastal walks, where ideas for her fantastical worlds take shape.
Lian Tanner’s Unforgettable Stories
Tanner’s Keepers Trilogy—Museum of Thieves (2010), City of Lies (2011), and Path of Beasts (2012)—is her crown jewel, earning two Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children’s Fantasy. Set in the city of Jewel, where children are chained for safety, the trilogy follows Goldie Roth, a bold girl navigating a magical, shifting museum. Tanner’s prose blends suspense, humor, and heart, tackling themes of overprotection and autonomy with a fairy-tale flair.
Beyond the Keepers, Tanner’s Hidden Trilogy (Icebreaker, Sunker’s Deep, Fetcher’s Song) explores loyalty and resilience in a nautical fantasy world, while The Rogues Trilogy dives back into the Keepers’ universe with fresh characters. Her picture book Ella and the Ocean, co-created with Jonathan Bentley, won the 2020 NSW Premier’s Literary Award, painting a hopeful tale of drought and renewal. Tanner’s detective novel A Clue for Clara, starring a crime-solving chook, showcases her playful versatility, earning the 2021 Davitt Award.
Her writing style—fast-paced, richly imaginative, and layered with moral complexity—appeals to readers aged 9–13. Tanner’s worlds, filled with brizzlehounds and slaughterbirds, feel alive, urging kids to question rules and embrace their inner strength. Her ability to balance adventure with deeper themes makes her books timeless.
Why Lian Tanner Matters
Lian Tanner’s impact lies in her ability to empower young readers. Through characters like Goldie and Petrel, she challenges societal norms, encouraging kids to think critically and act bravely. Her stories resonate globally, translated into eleven languages, from German to Bulgarian, proving her universal appeal. Awards like the Aurealis and NSW Premier’s Literary honors cement her as a cornerstone of Australian children’s literature.
Tanner’s legacy also shines in her engagement with readers. Her workshops inspire young writers to build their own fantasy worlds, reflecting her belief in creativity’s power. For a shy Tasmanian girl turned global storyteller, Tanner’s journey reminds us that boldness can be learned—and shared—through stories that linger long after the final page.
- Born: March 17, 1951, Tasmania, Australia
- Key Works: Keepers Trilogy, Hidden Trilogy, Ella and the Ocean, A Clue for Clara
- Awards: Two Aurealis Awards, NSW Premier’s Literary Award, Davitt Award
- Fun Fact: Tanner once hunted for a WWII soldier in Papua New Guinea’s jungles!
Snag Museum of Thieves and dive into Lian Tanner’s thrilling fantasy worlds—you’ll be hooked!