Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Nest, Inga's second novel, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga's third novel, the acclaimed Where the Trees Were, was published in 2016.
Inga was awarded the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and has obtained a second PhD, exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga's account of her love of Australian nature and life with trees, Understory, was published in 2017. Her first book for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson, was published in 2021. The Last Woman in the World, her critically acclaimed environmental thriller, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for the 2022 Fiction Indie Book Award. Her bestselling and critically acclaimed 2022 novel Willowman was shortlisted for the BookPeople Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2023 and in 2024 was selected by Australia's leading booksellers in BookPeople's 100 Must-Read Australian Novels.
Inga lives on the New South Wales south coast among trees.
Read an extract from The Thinning
Book club questions for The Thinning
Local Summer Fling: Australian Fiction You'll Love
Inga Simpson on Tour
10 books to read this International Women's Day
5 Minutes With ... Inga Simpson
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her favourite nature place to write
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her writing technique for her memoir
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her love for the Ironbark Tree
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her new book UNDERSTORY
Miles Franklin Literary Award Longlist 2017
Green Carnation Longlist 2016
ABIA Awards 2017 Longlist
Inga Simpson (Part 4) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 3) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 2) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 1) | #PassionShared
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her favourite nature place to write
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her writing technique for her memoir
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her love for the Ironbark Tree
UNDERSTORY by Inga Simpson | About her new book UNDERSTORY
Inga Simpson (Part 4) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 3) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 2) | #PassionShared
Inga Simpson (Part 1) | #PassionShared
Read an extract from The Thinning
Book club questions for The Thinning
Local Summer Fling: Australian Fiction You'll Love
Inga Simpson on Tour
10 books to read this International Women's Day
5 Minutes With ... Inga Simpson
Miles Franklin Literary Award Longlist 2017
Green Carnation Longlist 2016
ABIA Awards 2017 Longlist