Libby Hathorn was born Elizabeth Hathorn in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She was brought up in the Sydney suburbs of Maroubra and then Tamarama Beach. Hathorn received her eduation at Maroubra Junction Primary School, Sydney Girls High School, Balmain Teachers College, and Macquarie University. She's held past jobs as a lab assistant, teacher, teacher-librarian, senior education officer, producer, and antique-spotter.
Hathorn's title, Way Home, was the recipient of the Kate Greenaway medal and has been translated into several languages. As well as her twenty fiction titles, Hathorn has also written educational books and video scripts currently in use in Australia and Canada.
Several of her children's books have won awards in the Children's Book of the Year Awards, including The Tram to Bondi Beach and Thunderwith. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in the year 2003. Hallmark Hall of Fame made a movie of her bestselling young adult novel, Thunderwith, re-titled The Echo of Thunder. It starred Judy Davis, who was nominated for an Emmy Award. Hathorn has also been awarded a partnership grant with illustrator Celia Bride to work with Olivetti Australia to produce a hybrid CD/Internet project called The Wishing Cupboard based on an Asian tale.
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