Shelley Davidow is originally from South Africa but has spent two decades living and working all over the world. She has lived in England, Qatar, the USA and is now based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. “I wasn’t exactly aspiring to be such a globe-trotter, in fact, I coveted stability, but living in diverse places has given me a far-ranging experience of humanity which is never a bad thing for a writer,” she says.’But Australia is my fifth and final continent.’
The author of 47 books, she writes across genres. Her latest works include Writing the Radical Memoir, the memoirs Runaways with Shaimaa Khalil, Shadow Sisters, Whisperings in the Blood , the highly acclaimed parenting book Raising Stress-Proof Kids, as well as the poetic immigrant memoir The Eye of the Moon.
Shelley is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She’s a facilitator in Restorative Practice and runs national workshops in building social and emotional health. She is a founding member of Write on the Coast and runs national and international workshops in creative writing.
Latest Publication
Grounded
The off-road guide to parenting in an unstable world
By Dr Michael C. Nagel and Dr Shelley Davidow
Grounded is a beacon of wisdom for parents navigating the complex landscape of modern childhood. Drawing on their extensive research and personal experiences as parents and educators, the authors have crafted a comprehensive guide that transcends age boundaries, offering practical insights from infancy to adolescence.
Grounded provides a user-friendly introduction to neurological development and highlights that a parent’s wellbeing is integral to supporting their children effectively. Rooted in neuroscience, psychology and education, it serves as a roadmap in parents’ journey to foster optimal cognitive, emotional and physiological growth for their children.
Informed by a blend of academic rigour and real-world parenting, this ground-breaking book challenges prevailing norms and calls for discernment in assessing home environments, schools, and the broader societal context. It is a call to action for parents who aspire to raise children who are not just academically successful, but resilient, happy and healthy – and well prepared to navigate an increasingly complex world.