Renae Hayward

Renae Hayward was born during a cyclone in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, but spent most of her formative years within walking distance of the pristine beaches of Perth’s northern suburbs. In 2009, Renae entered a work-in-progress into the “CYA Later Alligator” Writing and Illustrating Competition, and won first place in the Young Adult category. In 2011, she was awarded the inaugural Ray Koppe Young Writer’s Residency, administered by the Australian Society of Authors. When not writing, Renae works as Senior Health Promotion Officer for the WA Perinatal Mental Health Unit. She lives with her partner, author-illustrator James Foley, and a deaf bull terrier named Jasper. Barking Mad is her first book.