Elaine was born and grew up in central London. She has a BA Hons degree in English Literature from Bristol University.

 

After graduating she returned to London and worked in advertising sales for Woman’s Weekly Magazine, eventually making the shift to magazine publishing which she did for a decade. After meeting her future spouse, a New Zealander, she left London in 2005 to see what New Zealand might have to offer. Now, 20 years later, she is settled in Wellington, married, and the mother of three children. Elaine returns to the UK as much as possible to see family and friends. 

 

In New Zealand a career in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi was an unexpected twist. It was a rigorous environment both creatively and commercially and gave Elaine a thick skin and a work ethic like no other! Once the children came along, she took the opportunity to leave the corporate career behind and after the birth of their third child Elaine picked up her pencil and finally began doing what she’d always wanted to do – write picture books for children. 

 

Success followed quite quickly with a shortlist for the Joy Cowley award in 2017 and then winning it in 2018. The winning book, The Little Ghost who Lost her Boo! went on to travel the world. In addition to New Zealand and Australia it has also been published in the USA and Canada and was a New York Times bestseller in 2020. It has also been translated into French and German and published in those markets. 

 

In 2021 Starfish the Star was published by Scholastic NZ and in 2024 a companion book to The Little Ghost, The Little Witch who lost her Broom! was published in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada and Germany.

 

Next up is humorous picture book series ‘Keith vs Queenie’ about a rivalrous sibling relationship between a chihuahua and a cat. Keith and the Kitten is first up in October 2025. 

 

Elaine spends much of her time bringing up her three busy children. Her spare time is dedicated to writing picture books for children along with some voluntary work. Her passions outside of being an author are football, which she played for many years while her knees were good, and being outdoors. She’s a keen tramper and loves getting out and exploring the staggering natural beauty New Zealand has to offer. 

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Website: www.elainebickell.com