Josie’s an award-winning author with over 20 years experience and 65 resources internationally published within a variety of genres. She writes under pseudonyms, fiction ‘Montano’ and Autism ‘Santomauro’.
Awards include:- Shortlisted ‘Adaptable’ QWC program – Gold Coast Film Festival; The Secret Science Spectacular Experiment : 2nd place Cat 2, Forevability Book Awards; writing residency-May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust; FRIENDLY FACTS –Mom’s Choice Gold Award – USA; LITTLE PENGUIN Picture Book of the Year-CBCA Notable Book, THE BUBBLE-English Awards Best Children’s Illus Books, UK; POP STARLETS – SA Kanga Awards.
From age 9 she wanted to be an author, receiving her first rejection letter from Golden Books at 13. Josie grew up in rural Australia within an Italian community, incorporating within her writing many of her experiences as a 1st generation Australian.
Josie’s a storyteller who strives to advocate as well as celebrate diversity within her works.
