Susannah McFarlane


Photo of Susannah McFarlane
Susannah McFarlane is a successful children's book author who, after many years working as a publisher, now spends her time writing and creating stories that kids love to read.She is the creator and writer of the awarding-winning EJ12 Girl Hero and EJ Spy School series, the creator and co-author of the hugely popular series for boys, Boy vs Beast, the author of the Little Mates series of alphabet books for under fives, and the series editor for Stuff Happens!, a great new series for boys about the everyday challenges they face.

Susannah, who was also the original concept creator of two of Australia’s leading tween fiction series Go Girl! and Zac Power, understands kids and loves creating stories they enjoy to read. Her understanding and belief in the need for age-appropriate but fun content for kids comes from over twenty years experience as a children’s book publisher and from having worked with some of the world’s leading brands and writers.

She was previously the managing director of Egmont Books UK; the vice-president of the Egmont Group; the co‐owner, managing director and publisher of Hardie Grant Egmont; a contributor to the UK trade journal Publishing News; and the Convenor of the Children’s Publishing Committee and Board Director of the Australian Publishers’ Association.

Author's Comment:
What inspired you to become a writer?

For a long time I didn’t want to be a writer at all. I loved working in publishing – with authors as a publicist, in marketing, and then as a publisher – and I enjoyed writing for fun, but I didn’t think of myself as a writer. But then my daughter inspired me to write my own story: I wanted to write a story that showed her she – and all girls – could do anything!



Nationality: Australian

Featured series by Susannah McFarlane


Stuff Happens - Age 7 & up