Authors & Illustrators
Teo Tissue, Dora’s BIG Idea
Teo Tissue is well known to Netflix audiences for her part in the Grammy Award winning Love on the Spectrum (series 2). Teo lives in the Blue Mountains, although she began life in Romania, where she was orphaned and then adopted by her American family – Sandy, David and older daughter Avalon. The family lived in Texas before moving to Australia. Teo is an outgoing young woman living with autism and Crohn’s disease. She’s passionate about advocating for adoptees, people with autism and chronic illness. Dora’s BIG Idea is her first book. It’s a great adventure, based, in part, on her real life story.
Jaydin Cole, Saving Sam
Jaydin Cole is a visual artist who’s had successful exhibitions in the Blue Mountains. At only 24, he has authored Saving Sam because he is passionate about saving koalas. Jaydin has autism and faces literacy and attention challenges but is never short of ideas and interests. Saving Sam is a charmingly illustrated story with a subtle message about the importance of looking after our native Australians animals.
Domenic Grego, Tom’s Space Adventure
Domenic Grego is in his early 30s. He’s currently training in hospitality and lives part time on site and part time with his family, whom he is very close to. Dom lives with a big imagination and with mild physical and cognitive impairments, which can make actual speaking difficult for him. His first book, Tom's Space Adventure is a delightful story that will resonate with all children and adults who’ve ever looked out at the stars.
Holly Brown, Milo and Angel and the shoe that ‘flewed’
Holly Brown, using voice and performance rather than on-the-page writing, authored Milo and Angel and the shoe that ‘flewed’ as a testament to team work, family connections and having fun with people you care about. These are all aspects of life very dear to Holly. She’s also a keen bushwalker, loves beach holidays, has an active social network and is an excellent researcher. Holly loves drawing and Milo and Angel and the shoe that ‘flewed’ is complimented by Holly’s collaborative illustrations with Sarah Mares. The story is an engrossing imaginative take on the real life of a child who has mild learning and communication difficulties.
Carly Boyd, Dora’s BIG Idea
Carly came to the Dancing Wombat workshops to volunteer for a few hours and ended up staying and becoming a full-on illustrator. Carly is currently studying art therapy and her illustration and interpersonal skills shine in the word she has done for Dora’s BIG Idea. Carly lives with her husband in the upper Blue Mountains.
Steven Ma, Saving Sam
Steven has had a stellar career in the corporate world. Now, still a young man, he is working a little less and turning his mind and his hand to writing and illustrating books for children. He, too, has generously donated his time and skills to illustrate Saving Sam. Steven has two young children for whom he has written and illustrated delightful books detailing moments in their lives. Steven is now encouraging his young daughter and son in creative pursuits.
Lucy Keirle, Tom’s Space Adventure
Lucy is a recent graduate of the prestigious National Art School in Sydney. She was the first volunteer to put up her hand and agree to illustrate a book for the Dancing Wombat workshops that resulted in Tom’s Space Adventure and the other three Rocking Boat books. Lucy is young, at the beginning of her career and very talented. Her whimsical style is sure to be seen in more publications in the near future.
Sarah Mares, Milo and Angel and the shoe that ‘flewed’
Sarah is a collaborator. She collaborated with author and illustrator, Holly Brown, on the drawings for Milo and Angel and the shoe that ‘flewed’. She has a history of both collaborating and volunteering her time, thoughtfulness and expertise to a range of projects advocating for people who are marginalised. Sarah is a child and family psychiatrist, mother and grandmother.