Mary K. Pershall Mary K. Pershall i(A13143 works by) (a.k.a. Mary Katherine Pershall)
Born: Established: 1951
c
United States of America (USA),
c
Americas,
;
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: 1974
Heritage: American
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Pershall grew up on a farm in Iowa, USA, and came to Australia as a new teacher graduate in 1974. From 1974 to 1988 she edited and wrote articles for several magazines published by the Victorian Education Department. From 1994 to 1999 she worked as a relieving assistant principal in Melbourne state schools, and at the end of 2000 she resigned from the Victorian Education Department and became a full-time writer. Her earlier books included Shopkeepers (1980), a career guide for children, and Oz Rock (1987), a children's reader about rock music. She has also written books with both her daughters, Katherine and Anna (qq.v.)

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Gorgeous Girl : A Mother's Memoir of Madness and Murder Melbourne : Viking , 2018 14175772 2018 single work autobiography

'‘The only way to comprehend this tragic story of mine is to write it.’

'On the 10th of February 2017, there was a sentencing hearing for murder in the Victorian Supreme Court. The young woman in the dock, who sat quietly with her hands in her lap, had perfect skin and light-brown hair tied back as neatly as a private school prefect’s. When the judge asked her to confirm her plea, the young woman answered in a clear and polite voice. ‘Guilty, your Honour.’

'That killer is Mary K. Pershall’s beloved daughter Anna. She is twenty-eight years old, tall and beautiful, with an effervescent wit and a university degree in psychology. She also hears the voices of demons. After Anna finished uni, she just could not meet the demands of adulthood, and the voices became overwhelming. She attempted to silence them with alcohol and weed, with the abuse of her prescribed medication, and with ice. But the evil howling would not stop.

'Award-winning author Mary K. Pershall brings a unique and insightful perspective to a story that is at once devastating and uplifting, and proves that a mother’s love – even in its darkest hour – can shed light and provide hope to families in crisis.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2019 shortlisted Davitt Award Best Debut
2019 shortlisted Davitt Award Best True Crime Book
y separately published work icon A Term in Year Seven Camberwell : Puffin , 2005 Z1219391 2005 single work children's fiction children's
2006 nominated Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Best Language Development Book for Upper Primary Children (2005-2013)
y separately published work icon Two Weeks in Grade Six Camberwell : Puffin , 2003 Z1038833 2003 single work children's fiction children's

'"I'm not sitting at a table with them,' Ashleigh protests. 'They're the top five losers at the school!"

'It is the third term, grade six and Kaitlin's teacher has switched table groups around. Now Kaitlin's on a table with stuck-up Ashleigh, Mathew the Mouth and Stephen, a curly-haired nerd who only cares about marine life. Thank goodness she still has Shelley, her best and only friend, by her side. But when Ashleigh decides it would be fun to break up their friendship, Kaitlin could be in for the hardest two weeks of her life.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2003 shortlisted Children's Peace Literature Award
Last amended 8 May 2007 16:58:35
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X