Tessa was born in 1940 in Auckland. As Tessa Staveley, she was a silver medallist in swimming at the 1958 Cardiff Empire Games (later the Commonwealth Games), national butterfly and medley record holder (1958-59) and the first New Zealand Swimmer of the Year (1959).
Her first novel for children was Night race to Kawau, published in 1982. Her most famous works are the Alex quartet of novels, drawing upon her experience at the Empire Games. Her novels feature strong female characters.
Tessa's honour of the Katherine Mansfield Scholarship was particularly outstanding, as she's the first children's/young adult author to receive this award.
Some of her books:
Alex is determined to represent New Zealand at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. But life has a way of interfering. After the games Alex's life continues with university looming large. Her story is told in four books:
- Alex
- Alex in winter
- Alessandra: Alex in Rome
- Songs for Alex
Tessa's newest character is Tiggie, her story is told in three books:
What's life really like for the non-entity daughter of a very famous mother?
While researching her role as Eliza in a 19th century drama for television, Tiggie finds herself increasingly caught up in Eliza's character.
Tiggie's now filming - but her life begins to mirror Eliza's - and that's not necessarily a good thing.
How can the family cope when the father, an experienced sailor, is knocked unconscious at the beginning of the race, leaving the rest of them to crew the boat?
Co-written with William Taylor
In November 1998 an email relationship begins between Dan and Jess. Dan lives in a small Northland town, and Jess is sailing around the Pacific with her mother, stepfather, and a small crew. From an antagonistic beginning, a very strong friendship develops. One that sustains both of them during moments of crisis. Everything from School C. to a hurricane.
A collection of old and new short stories.
A play about Joan of Arc.
Tessa's also edited, or co-edited, a number of short story collections:
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