Maureen Crisp

Biography

Maureen Crisp lives in New Zealand where she dreams up stories to get her out of any boring things she has to do. She loves writing for children and has published plays and junior fiction in the New Zealand School Journal and for Penguin. Maureen is a primary school teacher by trade and a geek by inclination. She writes a mix of contemporary and science fiction stories to disguise the fact that she is overly fascinated by Mars, the robot landers and space exploration.
Maureen is active in the New Zealand children’s writing community where she has planned and run two national conferences for children’s writers. She has been writing a weekly blog on publishing news from around the world along with writing and marketing tips for authors for over ten years. Maureen is a member of the FaBo collective of writers who write competition story prompts for children in New Zealand schools and the Convener of the Wellington Children’s Book Association.
In 2017 her peers awarded her the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding services to Children’s Literature. In 2018 Maureen was on the judging panel for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Where to find Maureen Crisp online

Series

Starlight
The Starlight series follows the adventures of the Fraser family as they discover they are caught between worlds, hunted by aliens, and somehow hold the key to the survival of Earth. Each book follows a different member of the family.
Star Light
Price: $0.99 USD.
Star Bright
Price: $2.99 USD.
The First Star
Price: $3.99 USD.
Circus Quest
The Circus Quest series follows a traveling circus on tour as they hunt down and solve clues to become Circus Challenge Champions. With codes, circus stunts and slapstick humour these books are sure to delight beginning independent readers. Children's Fiction: Chapter book, Age 6 upwards. 10 books planned in the series. 1. The Playbill 2. Magician's Moustache 3.Performing Poodles 4. Tumbling Town 5. Accidental Aerial 6. Uneeda Unicycle 7. Clown Chaos (coming) 8 Candyfleeced (coming) 9 Fire Friendly (coming) 10. The Finale (coming)

Books

The First Star
Series: Starlight, Book 3. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 60,010. Language: English. Published: December 12, 2022 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Children’s books » Family / Siblings
Noah can’t wait to go home. He doesn’t fit in and his family won’t miss him. He never dreamed he would end up living in a nightmare. Who can he trust? The pirates who take him in, his protector who abandoned him, or is he just bait in an elaborate trap? The 3rd book in the Starlight series. The Fraser family, caught between worlds, hunted by aliens, and holding the key to the survival of Earth.
Star Bright
Series: Starlight, Book 2. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 48,350. Language: English. Published: December 12, 2022 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Family / Siblings, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
Staying hidden is the price of survival. Rachel’s dreams have come true, a tropical island, a music studio, school, and friends for the first time in her life. Then she finds out the cost. Can she escape or is she trapped by the power inside her? Star Bright continues the story of the Fraser family, caught between worlds, hunted by aliens, and holding the key to the survival of Earth.
Uneeda Unicycle
Series: Circus Quest. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 7,270. Language: English. Published: August 10, 2021 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Readers / Chapter Books, Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus
Circus life is a balancing act. One moment you’re up. The next moment you’re down. The future of Circus Charles is in the balance. Are they up or are they down in Badenbon? Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains, and DANGER The Circus Quest Series follows a traveling circus on tour as they hunt down and solve clues to become Circus Challenge Champions.
Star Light
Series: Starlight, Book 1. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 43,160. Language: English. Published: December 13, 2020 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Action & Adventure / Survival Stories, Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Hidden away, four children are being kept from the outside world. Why are their lives in danger if they are discovered? Caleb’s world begins to crumble, he hears voices that no one else can hear. The answers challenge everything he thought he knew. The Fraser family are caught between worlds, hunted by aliens and hold the key to the survival of Earth. Age 10 +
Accidental Aerial (Circus Quest Series Book 5)
Series: Circus Quest. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 7,670. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2020 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Readers / Chapter Books, Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus
Why does saying ‘Break a Leg’ mean ‘Good Luck’ in show business? When the Circus is plagued with accidents, everyone is on edge. They need Good Luck but is it worth the cost? Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains, and danger. Book Five in the Circus Quest series. Each book contains clues, codes, gags, and black & white illustrations. Age 6+
Circus Quest Boxset Books 1-3
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 19,270. Language: English. Published: August 22, 2020 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus, Fiction » Children’s books » Readers / Chapter Books
Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains, and DANGER! A strange letter and code propels the circus into a tour they will never forget. Circus Charles is competing to find the best circus in the world. But not everyone wants them to win. Will they be stopped like last time? Read the first three books in the Circus Quest Series.
Tumbling Town (Circus Quest Series Book 4)
Series: Circus Quest. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 7,220. Language: English. Published: January 16, 2020 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Readers / Chapter Books, Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus
Circus Quest Series Book 4 Tumbles, trips, and falls. The circus games are here. Kestrel and Skye face their biggest challenge when Circus Charles bumps into The Rainbow Revels. May the best circus win. Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains and danger. Follow a traveling circus on tour as they hunt down and solve clues to become Circus Challenge Champions!
Performing Poodles (Circus Quest Series Book 3)
Series: Circus Quest. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 7,080. Language: English. Published: May 9, 2019 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus, Fiction » Adventure » General
Kestrel is outperformed by a poodle? The clues are getting harder. When Pepper, the performing poodle is dog-napped, Kestrel races to the rescue. Is he out of luck as well as out of time? Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains and danger.
Magician's Moustache (Circus Quest Series Book 2)
Series: Circus Quest. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 6,880. Language: English. Published: July 16, 2018 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth
Magician’s Moustache - Circus Quest Series Book Two Skye discovers that hanging upside down isn’t always magic. With a guide rope on the Big Top snapped, the first show of the new tour is off to a bad start. The next clue is hidden in a clock. Unfortunately the town of Papenton is filled with clocks. Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains and danger!
The Playbill (Circus Quest Series Book 1)
Series: Circus Quest. Price: Free! Words: 7,120. Language: English. Published: July 16, 2018 by Marmac Media. Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Performing Arts / Circus
Circus Quest Series- Book One: The Playbill A strange letter and code propels the circus into a tour they will never forget. The mysterious Puzzle Master has invited Circus Charles to once again compete to find the best circus in the world. But not everyone wants them to win. Will they be stopped like last time? Join Kestrel and Skye on a circus tour filled with codes, villains and danger!