Julie Watts

Julie Watts (born 1950)- author and publisher - was the 2001 winner of the Dromkeen Medal.

Watts was born in Guildford, Surrey, England. Her mother worked in a second-hand bookshop after Julie was born.

Despite being retired, Watts takes on a private job, working from my garden studio.

Her first job was Secretary to the Editor of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. She started at Penguin as Chief Editor for Fiction and thereafter was promoted to Publisher for Books for Children and Young Adults. Since 2005 Watts has worked as a freelance consultant.During this time her energies have been focused on working with authors including: Pamela Allen, Paul Jennings, Sonya Hartnett and Li Cunxin, as well as with newcomers such as Jon Bauer.

Watts is the author of the following books: The Art of Graeme Base (co-authored with Graeme Base), Murder by the Letters: 26 Terrible Tales (co-authored with Jessica M. Kirkpatrick), Honey & Hemlock.She was a contributor to the book, The Darwin Murders, Dismembered: They Had it Coming.

Watts received both the Pixie O’Harris Award for Distinguished and Dedicated Service to the Development and Reputation of Australian Children's Books and the Dromkeen Medal for her contribution to children’s literature. In February 2018 Watts won the Dorothy Hewett Award for Legacy, an unpublished manuscript of collected poems.

The Victorian Society of Editors made a presentation based on a transcript from three books and a film of Julie Watts. Bruce Beresford directed the film version.