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Felice Arena | |
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| Born | Kyabram, Victoria, Australia |
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| Years active | 1991– |
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| felicearena | |
Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator. He created and co-wrote the bestselling football-themed Specky Magee series; the acclaimed historical novels The Boy and the Spy, Fearless Frederic, A Great Escape and The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan; and the picture books Pasta!, Cheese! and My Big Secret.
Arena was born in Kyabram, Victoria. [1] He studied teaching at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Victoria and graduated in 1990. [2] He decided to pursue a career in acting and writing. [3] In 1992, he was cast as Marco Alessi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours . A year later, he relocated to the UK and was appearing in the West End when he began writing his first book in his dressing room. [2]
When he returned to Australia, Arena asked friend and Australian rules football player Garry Lyon for football advice for a book idea. Lyon told Arena that he would like to help write the book and they worked together to create Specky Magee. [2] Eight books in the Specky Magee series were published between 2002 and 2011. [2] Arena adapted his 2017 novel The Boy and the Spy for the stage in Geneva, before it was performed at St Margaret's Berwick Grammar School. [2] His four-part series Besties was released in 2020. From 2018 - 2022 Arena released his CBCA notable middle-grade historical books Fearless Frederic and A Great Escape. His historical novel The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan was long-listed for the ARA Historical Awards. Most recently Arena's picture books Pasta!,Cheese! and My Big Secret were released. [2]
The Specky Magee series, written by Arena and his former schoolmate and Melbourne Football Club star Garry Lyon, [1] [4] have also been shortlisted for Australian Children Choice awards—including three-time winner of the Young Australian Best Book Award. There are eight books in the series. [5]
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