Alison Robertson

ABOUT

In Brief

Alison Robertson writes fiction for young readers. Her first book, Knocked for Six, was published in 2001 after having won the 2000 Tom Fitzgibbon Award. She has a background in journalism and applied arts, and has worked as a sports reporter for radio, and as a freelance writer. Her novel for young adults, Finding Isabella, was published in 2005. Alison Robertson is available to talk to intermediate and secondary students as part of the Writers in Schools programme.  

In Detail

Alison Robertson (born in 1958) is a children's fiction writer. Her first book, Knocked For Six, was published in 2001 after having won the 2000 Tom Fitzgibbon Award.

Robertson was born and raised in Napier. She received a diploma in Journalism from the Wellington Polytechnic (1976). She later received a certificate in Writing (1998) and a diploma in Applied Arts (2001) from Whitireia Polytechnic.

Professionally, Roberston worked as a sports reporter for Radio New Zealand until 1986, when she became a freelance writer. Before publishing Knocked For Six, Roberston published Connecting Cultures (1999) and Know You’re Talking (2000) for the ESOL Home Tutor Scheme.

Magpies New Zealand found Knocked For Six 'an ambitious novel [that] touches on some serious family issues but always remembers to spice the plot with a little humour'. Jill Holt in the NZ Listener comments that the novel is as 'sparky' as it is 'clever and amusing at several levels'. The novel also received the Esther Glen Award at the 2002 LIANZA Children's Book Awards, , and was listed as a 2002 Storylines Notable Junior Fiction Book.

Robertson's most recent novel for young adults is Finding Isabella, published by Scholastic in 2005.

She currently lives and works in Hamilton.