Ailsa Wild was a professional acrobat and whip-cracker who ran away from the circus to become a writer. She is now an author, performer and community artist with a history of deep collaboration.
Ailsa is the author of 23 trade published books for children and adults. These include two junior fiction series: Squishy Taylor and The Naughtiest Pixie, both full of cheekiness and adventure(Hardie Grant Children’s Books).
She is also the lead writer of Small Friends Books (CSIRO Publishing and Scale Free Network) where she works with microbiologists, virologists and other scientists to translate complex science into compelling illustrated narrative picture-books. Of these Zobi and the Zoox: A story of coral bleaching was the first ever children’s book to win the Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitely Medal. Her collaboration, the science-based YA graphic novel The Invisible War (Scale Free Network, 2016) was a CBCA Notable, published with Scribe in 2024.
Ailsa has two non-fiction books for adults: You’ll Be a Wonderful Dad: Advice on becoming the best father you can be and The Care Factor: A story of nursing and connection in the time of social distancing (Hardie Grant Books). Ailsa’s books have been published in more than eight different countries.
Ailsa’s work has appeared in Meanjin, The Monthly, ABC online and the anthology #METOO: stories from the Australian movement. She has spoken at many festivals including Melbourne Writers Festival and the World Science Festival Brisbane. She’s appeared on ABC Radio Melbourne, Life Matters, The Science Show and far too many podcasts. She has also guest lectured at several universities and presented at more than 250 schools around Australia.
Ailsa has ghost written two books and works with Hyphen, creating milestone coffee table books for businesses and organisations. Ailsa facilitates story-making with children and adults in all kinds of absurd circumstances and wildly differing genres.