Hello, my name is Shirley Marr (馬雪莉) and I’m a multi-award winning and internationally published author of Young Adult and Children’s literature. My latest Middle Grade novel, Countdown to Yesterday is out now!
I’m currently unavailable for manuscript consultations, but open for authenticity reading.
Based in Perth, Western Australia, but my roots belong in Malaysia and Christmas Island.
A first generation Chinese-Australian and a child migrant, my authentic experiences helped inform my Middle Grade novel A Glasshouse of Stars, winner of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2022 and the WA Premiers Book Awards for Writing for Children 2021. It was also nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 and shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Award - Children’s Book 2022 and the Readings Book Prize - Children’s 2022.
My follow-up novels, All Four Quarters of the Moon was awarded a CBCA Notable Book in 2023 and Countdown to Yesterday was awarded a CBCA Notable Book in 2025.
I Believe In
Representation. In Chinese-Australian children and youth seeing themselves on the covers of my books and the transformative power of sharing experiences. My works will always provide mirrors in which to reflect this, and also windows and doors into my lived experiences, accessible to everyone. Welcome to my house. Welcome home.
I Am Proud
To be a board member for The ASLA DANZ Children’s Book Awards. This means I relinquish all opportunities for my books to be nominated - past, present and future - as to be a champion of diverse books means so much more to me. Please do nominate your own diverse books, or if you’re a young person, sign up to be a judge!
'Heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic.' Jessica Townsend, NYT bestselling author.
'Poignant and beautifully told.' Melina Marchetta, Deadset Australian Legend.
'Endearing, raw, and highlights the realities of change in an intimate way.' Better Reading
ANZ - Penguin Random House Australia
UK - Usborne Books
USA - Simon & Schuster
Award winning creators Shirley Marr and Michael Speechley have crafted a story that inspires us to look at things differently, to live life to the fullest, and to seize the day, every day.
Early one morning, a mayfly takes flight. Her one day is the day, and is a day filled with possibility. There are things to see, places to go, and friends to meet. Mayfly makes the most of every single moment, marvelling at what her life has to offer.
ANZ - Walker Studio
USA - Candlewick Press
From the incredible mind of Shirley Marr comes a beautiful story for young readers about memories, family, friendship, The Australian Women’s Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, David Bowie and time travel!
ANZ - Penguin Random House Australia
UK - Usborne Books
USA - Simon & Schuster
‘An enchanting, touching, perfectly crafted story that will live in my heart for a very long time. A novel of family, friendship, culture, honour and identity that is both timely and timeless. I laughed and cried so many times, and felt as if my soul and my worldview were both expanding. An instant classic.’ Kate Gordon, CBCA award-winning author.
ANZ - Penguin Random House Australia
UK - Usborne Books
USA - Simon & Schuster
My favourite moment as an author was receiving a Starred Review (bucket list item unlocked!) from Kirkus Reviews for Countdown to Yesterday, which describes my book as, ‘An exceptionally lovely and uplifting exploration of change, memories, and relationships’ and ‘an original take on time travel, and perfectly imperfect characters just doing their best all create a vivid sense of place’.
Young Adult
I have two oldish titles, Preloved (2012) and the notorious Fury (2010) which became a BookTok even before BookTok was invented. But the teen Chinese goth princess inside of me never died and I’m currently working on a new intersectional Oz YA.
Adult Books
My micro memoir appears in Ourselves: 100 Micro Memoirs published by Night Parrot Press - the challenge to write a life story in 750 words or less really whet my appetite, so I am currently working on my debut Adult novel and enjoying having the conversation around mental health and migrant experiences on a grown-up level with the blank page. And also using swears.
