Looking for more in Author Directory?

Julie Bertagna

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that Scottish Book Trust cannot carry out Disclosure checks on Live Literature authors for most events. It is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.
Contact: [email protected]
Local authority: Glasgow City
Languages: English
Author type: Comics Writer, Writer
Julie Bertagna's headshot

I am an award-winning author for young adult and children, published for over 20 years in many countries. I am an experienced creative writing mentor for adults and teenagers, and speaker at events for all ages for schools, libraries, conferences and festivals.

My books (specifically the Exodus trilogy and John Muir graphic novel) can be used as powerful fictional doorways into environmental themes, the climate emergency, and the global refugee crisis, and also to show how real issues, news topics and scientific ideas can spark vivid creative writing.

I like to bring my books alive with strong visual content and encourage interactive discussion and Q&A. My most popular talks and workshops feature thought-provoking images from fiction and real events that illustrate the ideas which sparked Exodus, Zenith and Aurora, to engage imaginations and stimulate ideas, discussion, and creative writing with cross-curricular links to other subject areas such as geography, science, IT, art and design, dance. Also experienced in readings and events for younger children.

Websites featuring the author

Local authorities will visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Chairing events; Mentoring; Panel event; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop

Audience will work with

Adult learners; Reluctant readers

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adolescence; Adventure; Coasts, seas & oceans; Contemporary fiction; Editing & editing your own work; Emigration & immigration; Environment & climate; Nature; Science fiction

Age groups published for

Children; Teens

Age groups will work with

6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500