About

Ailsa Wild is acrobat and whip-cracker who ran away from the circus to become a writer. She is now an author, performer and community artist with a history of deep collaboration.

Ailsa’s most recent book, ‘You’ll be a Wonderful Dad: advice on becoming the best father you can be’ is a kind and practical guide to fatherhood based on a letter Ailsa wrote to one of her dear friends when he was about to become a father. Her first non-fiction book for adults, ‘The Care Factor: a story of nursing and connection in the time of social distancing’, is a snapshot biography of her friend Simone Sheridan, who worked as a nurse during the 2020 coronavirus waves in Melbourne.

Ailsa has written two junior fiction series: ‘Squishy Taylor’ and ‘The Naughtiest Pixie.’ She is the lead writer of Small Friends Books where she works with microbiologists, virologists and other scientists to translate complex science into compelling illustrated narrative picture-books. Of these ‘Zobi and the Zoox – a story of coral bleaching’ was the first ever children’s book to win the Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitely Medal.

Ailsa’s science-based YA graphic novel The Invisible War was a CBCA notable and won several awards. Ailsa’s books have been published in Spain, Brazil, US, UK, Egypt, Korea, Israel and China.

Ailsa’s work has appeared in Meanjin, The Monthly, ABC online and #METOO: stories from the Australian movement. She has spoken at many festivals including Melbourne Writers Festival and the World Science Festival Brisbane. She has also guest lectured at several universities and presented at more than 250 schools around Australia. She has collaborated on and performed in several circus and physical theatre productions, which have toured Australia.

Ailsa lives in Melbourne with her partner, her son and two little fish…