Cynthia Collins
Cynthia Collins has spent more than 36 years teaching and inspiring young minds across South Australia and Queensland. Now retired, she brings her wealth of classroom experience to the world of children’s literature, creating stories that are both engaging and educational for young readers and teachers alike.
Renowned for her ability to bring stories to life with dramatic flair, Cynthia draws inspiration from her years of writing poetry and songs. A proud grandmother of two, she finds creative fuel in her family, community, and travels around the world.
When she’s not writing, Cynthia enjoys performing, singing (especially karaoke), and playing guitar. As she embarks on new adventures house and pet sitting across Australia, she continues to gather ideas and inspiration for her growing collection of children’s picture books.
Behind every Wonderwhirl book is a little team of humans (and a lot of magic) — illustrators, editing, and support assisting to weave the stories together with heart, imagination, and care.
Janet Turner is a Brisbane-based children’s book illustrator who brings stories to life with bright, colourful, and delightfully sweet digital artwork. With a background in visual communication, she offers full-service book creation, from illustrations to cover and layout design.
Janet is passionate about telling meaningful stories and sparking a sense of wonder in the world around us. When she’s not drawing, you’ll find her wandering through nature, snapping photos, and daydreaming about road trips around Australia.
Olena Stasiuk is an artist and illustrator whose work centers on warmth, empathy, and meaningful human connection. She has illustrated several books for Cynthia Collins, bringing stories to life through soft watercolor textures and emotionally rich imagery. Alongside her illustration practice, Olena is an English language and literature teacher and a psychologist. This unique combination deeply influences her visual storytelling, allowing her to create illustrations that are sensitive, thoughtful, and attuned to the inner world of children.
Olena lives in Ukraine, near Lviv, with her husband—also an artist and children’s book illustrator—and their two children. Even in challenging times, she continues to create with the belief that kindness, creativity, and storytelling have the power to support, heal, and bring people together.
Shannon Cox supports Wonderwhirl Books as each story moves from creation into the world, helping it reach the people it’s meant for through website, online sharing, and behind-the-scenes support. She brings a blend of creativity and practicality, helping stories not just be created — but truly seen.