Jacinta di Mase Management and agent Danielle Binks are thrilled to welcome Allison Rocca to the agency!

Allison is a primary school teacher who has taught in classrooms from the ‘burbs of Australia, to remote villages in Asia and Hogwarts-like academies in Oxford. She is a descendant of Wakka Wakka and Kaanju people and her upbringing was rich in storytelling. Allison likes to draw on the stories passed down by her highly respected Elder grandparents to write fiction for children and young adults. She lives and writes on Yuggera/Turrbal country, Brisbane.

Danielle met Allison thanks to the 2024 Children, Young Adult, and Adult Writers’ and Illustrators’ Conference (CYA) back in July, where Allison was part of the online assessments meeting agents and publishers. Danielle read her middle grade novel – The Little Folk of Woolaroo Creek – and was immediately captured by the tender and terrifically fun and funny nature of the story, which pays homage to an Australian Aboriginal legend of little hairy people. It is folklore from debut author Allison’s First Nations upbringing, and she has permission to share this tale as part of an engaging and eclectic story for children.

On joining JdM, Allison says; ‘I am thrilled to debut as a children’s author with Danielle from Jacinta di Mase Agency, an exciting outcome from participating in the invaluable CYA Conference. It is a “pinch me” moment to join the high calibre of authors and illustrators handpicked by the JdM team. Danielle is a dream agent, the perfect balance of cheerleader and industry leader. There is no one I would rather have alongside me as I embark on a rewarding writing career in partnership with JdM Agency. Watch this space!’

Welcome, Allison!