Penny Macoun was born in Sydney, Australia, and has been writing since when her story about a funnel web spider was printed in a school newsletter. Ever since, Penny has loved the ‘other worlds’ that words create, and hopes to continue to create these worlds for many years to come. Gorkle is her first book, and her second picture book, Rollo’s Wet Surprise, was published in 2021. When she is not writing or editing, Penny dabbles in various forms of visual arts and enjoys being in the garden.

Penny was a member of an amateur theatre for 9 years. During this time, she was a stage manager for children’s shows and standard plays, actor, prompt and committee member for three years, where she was front of house co-ordinator, newsletter editor and social secretary. When she’s not writing she is a casual primary school teacher.

Penny has also travelled extensively, having visited the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand and parts of Australia. She hopes to continue her exploration of the world when it is safe to do so.