Karen Sparnon's first novel, Madonna of the Eucalypts, was published by Text Publishing in 2006, and in 2007 won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for writing about Italians in Australia (The Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize). She has a PhD in Professional Writing and Editing, and over twenty five years teaching experience across all educational sectors - university, TAFE and secondary schools. She now works as a freelance writer and editor and teaches creative writing classes. She lives in Ballarat, Victoria.
