Author/Editor Episode #08: Gary Lonesborough & Elise Jones

Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin man, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. Growing up a massive Kylie Minogue and North Queensland Cowboys fan, Gary was always writing as a child, and continued his creative journey when he moved to Sydney to study at film school. Gary has experience working in Aboriginal health, the disability sector (including experience working in the Youth Justice System), and the film industry. The Boy from the Mish is Gary's debut YA novel. 

Elise Jones is an Acting Commissioning Editor of books for kids and teens with Allen & Unwin, where she’s worked since 2000, first managing submissions, then as an editor (and for 2022, publisher) for sixteen years. Elise has won the FAW Barbara Ramsden Award for Excellence in Editing, judged the Aurealis Awards, served on the Express Media Board, completed the Varuna Residential Editorial Program, and participated in events like KidLitVic, Writers from the Intersection pitching day, ACAF, Melbourne Writers’ Festival, and Homecooked Comics Festival. In 2019 she was thrilled to do a two-week professional development stint at Magabala Books in Broome. In non-pandemic times, she is also Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin’s Melbourne Manager. Elise works with some of Australia’s best-loved young adult and children’s book creators, including Alison Lester, Leigh Hobbs, Boori Monty Pryor, Trace Balla, Sofie Laguna, Gregory Mackay, H Hayek, Kim Kane, Gary Lonesborough, Asphyxia, Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Gabrielle Williams and many more.