Rebecca Dowd | Children's Author

About me

My writing journey

Writing has been my lifelong companion - stories scribbled in notebooks, articles published in academic journals, poems suspended on young children’s walls.

I wrote my first ‘book’ at six about a koala who won a running race from Adelaide to Melbourne (and then ran straight back home). I won multiple awards for my stories and poems throughout my school years; I felt destined to become an author.

While I studied creative writing briefly at university, the pull towards social justice and human rights was too strong. Through sheer determination, I made my dream of working for the United Nations come true, moving to Switzerland at the age of twenty-three.

Throughout my career, I have lived in Australia, Europe, the UK and the Middle East. I have so many stories to tell, shaped by the people I have met, the tales I have heard, the inequities I have witnessed, and the resilience I have encountered.

I believe in the power of dreams. And I dream of a better world. Through my stories, I strive to challenge societal norms, celebrate our diversity, and encourage readers of all ages to delve into the wondrous world of imagination.

Rebecca Dowd writing in a notebook at a library table.

Family

I am the proud mum of two cheeky, imaginative, kind-hearted boys who both adore stories. We spend hours together snuggled on the couch or at the library, ducking and diving amongst the imaginary worlds of picture books.

My four-year-old recently came home from kindy, abuzz with excitement. ‘Mum!’ he said. ‘Did you know that people can write their own books on paper?’ My heart felt full, and within minutes I was helping him to craft his very first story.

I will always encourage my boys to read, write, imagine and dream.

And I will tell them stories, for as long as they will listen.

Travel

I have travelled to over thirty countries, experiencing a diverse array foods, cultures, lifestyles, and languages. I have met so many people, young and old, whose stories will always stay with me.

When I asked a group of young Syrian refugee boys in Lebanon what they wanted to be when they grew up, a bright-eyed seven-year-old replied, ‘An astronaut!’ At the time, he was working in construction to support his family, as his father could not find work.

Every place I have visited has one thing in common: the playfulness, innocence and curiosity of children. All children imagine. All children dream. And all children deserve to be exposed to stories.

Creative writing

Creative writing is part of who I am, and I see stories everywhere. I see book characters in the people I meet; plots in the conversations I have; settings in the places I go. I often jot down quirky names or interesting quotes, then weave them into my future writing.

My writing extends beyond my polished work. I write poems for friends’ birthdays and rhyming speeches for events. I create magical tales for my kids while waiting at the bus stop or walking to the playground. When I make family photo books, I weave together the photos with rhyming couplets.

While the current focus of my writing is children’s stories, I have written multiple short stories and poems for adults over the years. I won many writing competitions in my youth, including the SA/NT category of the Somerset Novella Competition. In 2015, my story ‘Rafiq and Jumana’ won a nation-wide Pan MacMillan short story competition, with the theme of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Through my micro business, ‘Wall Tales,’ I write personalised poems for young children to hang on their bedroom walls. Each poem is based on the meaning of the child’s name. I receive heartwarming feedback from parents, with children proudly reciting their poems by heart.

A colourful Wall Tales poem titled 'The Boy You'll Become' surrounded by illustrated animals.

Professional

Writing

I spent six years working for the United Nations in Europe and the Middle East, predominantly for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. In Australia, I have worked for State and Commonwealth Government agencies, academic institutions and non-government organisations. I currently work in the disability sector.

In every role, I have always been drawn upon to write. Through articles, book chapters, speeches and high-level reports, I have honed my ability to engage, educate and influence using the written word.

I have been published in reputable sources such as the Oxford Handbook on Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, the International Journal of Refugee Law, and the International and Comparative Law Quarterly (among others).

Editing

Editing has always become a part of my work. I am often the one who is called upon to cut a report back by half; combine several people’s contributions into one document; or edit/re-write written resources. I am consistently recognised for my attention to detail, succinct writing style, and ability to adapt my voice to suit the audience.

In 2018, I was engaged by American writer/film producer Christopher Beckman to edit his book, ‘A Twist in the Tail’. This entailed tightening the language, cutting back the length and restructuring chapters. The book was published by Hurst Publishers in 2024.

I am currently working with Christopher on a middle grade fiction book.

What’s next?

I have written several picture book manuscripts, with more in the works.

Watch this space!

Rebecca Dowd smiling in front of library shelves.

Contact me

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