Clare Harris

Biography

Clare Harris lives in Perth, Western Australia (one of the most isolated cities in the world!). Writing ESL readers draws on her three favourite things: writing, teaching English and drinking coffee.

Clare has taught English as a volunteer tutor in the UK, as a migrant English teacher in Australia, in refugee camps in Thailand, and in workplaces and factories. Now she publishes ESL materials at The Book Next Door and here, online.

Her little (but always taller) sister Emma Laybourn is a children’s author (Megamouse Books).

Smashwords Interview

What are your five favorite books, and why?
Are we talking about ESL readers? If so, there are many that I've been inspired by, including Stephen Rabley's 'Marcel' books, Bernard Smith's 'The Blue Cat Club', and (oldie but goodie) Norman Whitney's 'The Truth Machine'.
What do you read for pleasure?
I've just bought 'The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon' (Alexander McCall Smith) - love his Mma Ramotswe books. And I'm halfway through 'Longbourn' (Jo Baker) - the servants' side of Pride and Prejudice.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Clare Harris online

Where to buy in print

Books

A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia in 1852-53 (Abridged): An ESL Easy Read
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 9,950. Language: Australian English. Published: May 26, 2014 . Categories: Nonfiction » Language Instruction » English as a second language, Nonfiction » History » Australia & New Zealand
Twenty-year old Ellen Clacy and her brother travelled from England to the Australian goldfields at the start of the ‘gold rush’ in 1852, when thousands of people from around the world were arriving at the gold ‘diggings’. This is a short, Easy-Read adaptation of Ellen Clacy’s best-selling book.
The English Chip: An ESL Easy Read
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 6,100. Language: Australian English. Published: May 25, 2014 . Categories: Nonfiction » Language Instruction » English as a second language, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Drama
Charlie's in Australia, studying English, but English is so hard. He just wants to have fun, not to study all day! Then he sees a notice: INSTANT ENGLISH! VOLUNTEER NEEDED. Instant English? It all sounds so easy. Soon Charlie is part of an experiment—but experiments can go wrong… This ESL Easy Read is original fiction for Intermediate learners of English.
Blood Kind: An ESL Easy Read
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 5,230. Language: Australian English. Published: September 20, 2012 . Categories: Nonfiction » Language Instruction » English as a second language, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Drama
His name is Josh – or is that Ben? When you make fake passports and ID cards for a living, you need a few different names, right? Ben doesn’t like people much, and he certainly doesn’t believe in kindness. Then he has an accident, gets a blood transfusion – and things begin to change. Ben starts to feel kind, but that creates big problems in his life… (Original fiction, intermediate level)

Clare Harris' tag cloud