Zora Cross

Zora Bernice May Cross was an Australian poet, best-selling novelist and journalist.

Zora Bernice May Cross was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, to Earnest William Cross and Mary Louisa Eliza Ann. Her father was a Sydney born accountant.[1] Cross published and was known for her serialised novels, books of poems and children's verse and inherited her love for literature from both her parents. She was educated at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, Burwood Public School, Sydney Girls' High School and then Sydney Teachers' College from 1909 to 1910. As a child Zora was a prolific contributor to the Children's Corner in the Australian Town and Country Journal, where she attracted the attention of the editor, writer Ethel Turner, who went on to be a significant friend and mentor throughout Zora's writing career.

Zora combined her teaching career with writing and acting, including tours with the Cherry Abraham's Comedy Costume Company in Queensland and with JC Williamson's theatre company. On 11 March 1911, she married fellow actor Stuart Smith but later refused to live with him. The marriage was dissolved on 10 September 1922. In September 1914 she gave birth to a son, Normand (later known as Teddy), at Lauriston Private Hospital, Mosman, but no father was listed on the birth certificate. She taught for three years and then worked as a journalist, for the Boomerang and subsequently as a freelance writer.

By this time Zora had formed a lasting relationship with the writer David McKee Wright, whom she married in 1923. They lived in the Blue Mountains village of Glenbrook where they had two daughters, Davidina and Maeve (known as April).

Cross Street in the Canberra suburb of Cook is named in her honour.