Allison Tait, who also writes under the pen name A. L. Tait, is an Australian freelance writer and children's author. She writes children’s literature and non-fiction, and is a blogger. She is best known for her middle grade series The Mapmaker Chronicles. Her work has been published in various magazines, newspapers, and online over the last 20 years. Her freelance writing is varied covering topics like finance, furniture, parenting, philosophy, social trends, sex, and others. She currently co-hosts the Your Kid's Next Read podcast with Megan Daley, and previously co-hosted the Australian Writers' Centre branded podcast So You Want To Be A Writer with Valerie Khoo.
Biography Tait grew up with two sisters and a brother. She now lives in a small country town in Shoalhaven on the south coast of NSW. Tait's son is Joe Visser, a singer-songwriter. Tait often speaks of her Border Collie, Scout, who she refers to as ‘procrastipup’.
Career As well as writing, Tait is currently an online tutor for writing-based courses. She also engages in a range of public speaking and workshopping events targeting both adults and children with subject matter on writing, blogging, social media, and work/life balance. In the past, Tait has worked for Cleo (magazine), House & Garden, and Vogue (magazine)(Australia).
The Mapmaker Chronicles The Mapmaker Chronicles consists of three books. The first novel, Race to the End of the World, was shortlisted for: Readings Children’s Book Prize 2015, 2016 YABBA Awards, 2016 KOALA Awards, 2016 KROC Awards, 2017 WAYRBA Awards, and was a notable book for Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year 2015. The second, Prisoner of the Black Hawk, was shortlisted for the 2015 Aurealis Award. The chronicles were also optioned for film in 2015.
Bibliography Series Mapmaker Chronicles Year No. Title Publisher ISBN Notes 20141. Race to the End of the WorldLothian Children's BooksShortlisted for the Readings Children's Book Prize 201520152. Prisoner of the Black HawkLothian Children's Books3. Breath of the DragonLothian Children's Books20174. Beyond the Edge of the MapLothian Children's Books Ateban Cipher Chronicles Year No. Title Publisher ISBN20171. The Book of SecretsLothians Children's Books 20182. The Book of AnswersLothians Children's Books Maven and Reeve Mysteries Year No. Title Publisher ISBN 20201. The Fire StarPenguin 20212. The Wolf's HowlPenguin Standalone Works Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes 2009 Credit Card Stressbusters: Slash your Credit Card Debt in 90 daysJohn Wiley and Sons 2012 Career MumsPenguinCo-written with Kate Sykes 2019 So You Want To Be A WriterAustralian Writer's CentreCo-written with Valerie Khoo2023The First Summer of Callie McGeeScholastic Australia2025Willow Bright's Secret PlotsScholastic AustraliaDanger RoadScholastic Australia2026Last WordScholastic Australia
References