• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE2706

Alexander, Goldie

(1936 – )
  • Born 1 January, 1936, Melbourne Victoria Australia
  • Occupation Author

Summary

Goldie Alexander is an author of books, short stories and articles for adults and children of all ages. Her book Mavis Road Medley (1991) was chosen by the State Library of Victoria and the Australian Centre for Youth Literature as one of their 150 ‘treasures’ to celebrate 150 years of their library.

Details

Goldie was born in Melbourne just before the 2nd World War. Her parents had migrated from Poland in the late 1920’s, and when she was small, she hardly spoke any English. Her earliest memories are of a time when young children were allowed to wander the streets without anyone worrying too much about them getting into trouble.

Her first four Young Adult books were ‘Dolly Fiction’ novels published under the pseudonym of Gerri Lapin. Her first book under her own name, Mavis Road Medley, is a time travel fiction exploring the world of Princes Hill and her parents’ struggles to survive the Depression. Since then Goldie has written more than 35 books, and many short stories and articles.

These days Goldie works full time as a writer, teaches creative writing and lectures and takes workshops in Universities, TAFE colleges, clubs and schools.

She has been a co-winner in the 2000 and 2001 Mary Grant Bruce Award for two long short stories, and is known for her historical, science fiction and mystery novels, plus her short stories and non fiction work.

When Goldie isn’t writing and revising, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, watching DVD’s, walking – both in the city and the country – cooking and knitting. She says knitting is a great way to meditate and come up with new ideas.

Publications not listed below include Unkind Cut, Transported, Killer Virus (2002), Easternport Bay, Cowpat$, Starship Q, Trapeze, The Little Big School, 6788, Seawall, Astronet (1996), Shape-Shifters, Captain Gallant, A Hairy Story, An Interview with Cindy Centipede, Children’s Rights, Australia’s National Identity, The Importance of Technology in People’s Lives, The History of Bread. Slim Pickings, Understanding Jack, Everything Changes, and Working It Out were written under the pseudonym of Gerri Lapin. With Hazel Edwards, Alexander co-wrote Excuse Me! Outrageous Plays, Right and Wrong (5 plays), Email Murder Mystery and The Primary Drama Resource Book. She also co-wrote Thrills and Spills with Allan Baillie and Michael Hyde.

Read

Published resources

  • Book
    • Body and Soul, Alexander, Goldie, 2003
    • The Business of Writing for Young People, Edwards, Hazel and Goldie Alexander, 1998
    • Mavis Road Medley, Alexander, Goldie, 1991
    • Unjust Desserts, Alexander, Goldie, 2003
    • Surviving Sydney Cove: the diary of Elizabeth Harvey, Alexander, Goldie, 2006
  • Resource