Oh! Hello.
I’m Gisela. I live in Central Victoria, Australia on Dja Dja Wurrung Country with my family. I grew up on a farm in Western Victoria, lived for a long time in Melbourne, and spent a decade or so living in South East Asia when I was an aid worker.
When I’m not writing, I teach children how to read. I specialise in teaching kids with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
In May 2025, my debut novel for readers 8-13 will be released by MidnightSun Publishing. It's called True South and is full of kids in sailboats trying to unravel the secrets of the treasure they find.
See the bottom of this page for a full author bio.
True South
When twelve-year-old Nell crashes her sailboat into a submerged house in the lake, she stumbles into a treasure hunt that plunges her into a generations-old family feud. Things begin to take a sinister turn as the adults get involved, and Nell has no choice but to team up with her neighbour and family rival, Charlie. As friendships begin to morph and stretch, can these two unlikely allies end the feud and work out the treasure’s secrets, or will their rivalry lead to one last epic betrayal?
What people are saying
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‘This story is a treasure submerged in character, mystery and heart.’
Nean McKenzie, Author of Cyptosight, Xenoflight and Timefire
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‘True South capsizes the notion of a sleepy rural life when friendships (and long-standing grudges) are put to the test in the race to resurface drowned secrets. As much adventure of the heart as high-stakes competition between feuding families.’with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Michael Earp, bookseller and editor of Kindred, Everything Under the Moon and Avast!
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‘A page-turning adventure, filled with mystery and heart - I adored True South!’
Anna Battese, author of the P.D McPem Mysteries
Selected Work
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Technical and Sensitivity Reading
Sensitivity and technical reading for content about learning difficulties.
Including Wild Things by Sally Rippin and Stardust School of Dance Priya by Zanni Louise.
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Short Stories in the School Magazine
Rat Rod vs Magpie
Orbit Magazine April 2022
Wriggle
Blast Off May 2023
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Educational Materials Development and Consulting
Literacy consultant on the School of Monsters educational tie-ins by Sally Rippin.
Titles included: Fun with Phonics workbook and phonics cards; Fun with Words and Fun with Letters.
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Teachers Notes
Teachers notes for Sally Rippin’s Series for Hardie Grant Childrens Publishing including select titles from:
School of Monsters
Billie B. Brown
Hey, Jack!
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Article
Article in Women’s Agenda
As Feminist As it Gets: Mothers who advocate for their children.
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Children's Book Recommendation Articles
For The Little Bookroom. Australia’s oldest specialist children’s bookshop. Topics including:
Recommendations for Reluctant Readers.
Advanced Younger Readers and Sensitive Souls
Children’s Books with Neurodiverse Characters for Kids, Parents, Teachers and Therapists
Author Bio
Gisela Ervin-Ward spends her time writing stuff for kids to read and teaching them how to read it.
She grew up on a farm in Western Victoria and moved to South-East Asia to be an aid worker for many years before returning to Australia with her family to live in the Macedon Ranges. She’s now a writer of children’s tales and a specialist literacy teacher, teaching neurodivergent children how to read.
Gisela loves writing and reading stories with rural settings where children are free to have real adventures. Gisela has had short stories published in the School Magazine, won an Australian Society of Authors Mentorship prize and has been a literacy and learning difficulties advisor for several children’s publications. She also writes educational materials for Sally Rippin’s books.
True South is her debut novel.