Toby Hammerschlag is the newest author on the Australian young adult literary scene. 

Toby was born in South Africa and lived there until immigrating to Australia in 1986 with her husband and two daughters. She has lived in Sydney ever since. Toby was a special education teacher for many years specialising in literacy before becoming an author.

The writing of “Looking Out and Beyond” took five years. The author did extensive research for the book, including spending time in the archives of the War Memorial in Canberra reading the diaries of Australian soldiers who fought in North Africa during the Second World War.