Jennifer Beck

Jennifer Beck was born in Auckland and attended Waipu District High School before going on to Auckland Teachers’ College and graduating with an MA (Hons) DipClinPsych from the University of Auckland.

Being a teacher, psychologist and parent has taken up much of Jennifer’s adult life, but writing has always been a cherished occupation. Encouraged by her parents, she began writing at nine years of age and in her twenties had articles published in newspapers. The 1980s saw her first books published and she hasn’t stopped since. In 2003 Jennifer became a full-time writer, producing ever more children’s books, magazine articles and short stories.

Jennifer’s advice to young authors and illustrators is: ‘Just get started, do it and enjoy it. Don’t feel that only work which is published is worthwhile. Value everything you create, as well as the process of doing so.’