Kristina Olsson was born in Brisbane, of Swedish and Australian descent. She is an award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction and journalism. Her 2009 novel The China Garden won the Barbara Jefferis Award and was shortlisted for the Kibble Prize. Her 2013 memoir, Boy, Lost, the story of her mother and the child stolen from her arms, garnered multiple awards including the Queensland, New South Wales and West Australian Premiers awards for non-fiction and the Kibble Prize. It was also shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s award. 

Her most recent novel, Shell, launched the legendary Scribner Australia literary imprint and was shortlisted in several major literary awards. Her work in progress traces another lost child: her father’s son Lennart. The story takes her to Sweden and Norway in the 1940s, and looks at the notion of honour in its modern context as well as our changing ideas around the sanctity of childhood. Kristina’s previous work includes the novel In One Skin and the biography Kilroy Was Here. She has had a long career as a journalist for newspapers including The Australian and The Courier-Mail, and has contributed to various magazines around Australia. She has also worked as an advisor to government, a teacher of creative writing and a mentor.