About Toni Brisland

Toni Brisland was born and educated in Wollongong NSW Australia and taught English and History at Figtree High, Kiama High and Merriwa Central before moving to Sydney to take up a teaching and counselling position at De La Salle Brothers Kingsgrove. After further study in accounting and law Toni worked as a senior human resource manager in the public sector and a solicitor and HR Manager in the private sector. Toni now writes full time for children of all ages and volunteers at her local primary school and the CBCA and SCBWI and "Books in Homes". Toni is a Director of the CBCA National Board as the NSW Delegate, is on the CBCA NSW Committee as the Sub-branches and Author and Illustrator Liaison Officer, and, is Secretary of the CBCA Northern Sydney Sub-branch. Toni is also on the SCBWI NSW Committee as the Author and Illustrator Liaison Officer.

Toni has always had a passion for children's literature and would make up stories for her only daughter, Deen, her nieces and nephews and her students. Toni's first novel (unpublished) won the CBCA NSW Aspiring Writers' Competition in 2005. This encouraged Toni to continue writing. Toni is inspired by the children in her life, her animals, her extensive travels and the Australian way of doing things.

Toni’s first published novel DemiChat and the Kent Street Mystery is a Sherlock Holmes spoof about a cat and dog detective team and is on the 2012 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge Lists for Years 5 – 6 and selected readers in Years 7 – 9. It is also on the 2011 South Australian Premier’s Reading Challenge List for Years 5 – 6. The sequel, DemiChat and the Lost Mummy, is to be published in 2013. Toni has won a number of competitions for unpublished writers and some of her poetry has been published, the most recent of which is in "Taking Flight" a Poetica Christie Anthology. See www.demichat.com

As well as writing for children, Toni loves reading, animals, walking along beaches and Sydney Harbour, and most importantly looking after her family - her husband and two Himalayan cats, Jade and Lord Flannery Persephone (the red point, a joyful boy). Her daughter, Deen, lives and works in television in Los Angeles.

Toni is available for school visits and festivals: bookings through the Syba Signs Speakers Network. Contact Jodie Wilson at jodie@sybasigns.com.au  More information is available from her publicist, Sarah Sheppard of My Marketing Manager, who can organise interviews. Contact Sarah at sarah@mymarketingmanager.com.au