We were deeply saddened to learn of Australian YA author Steph Bowe's death at age 25 due to complications from an aggressive form of leukemia. Bowe published her debut novel Girl Saves Boy in 2010 at age 16. She wrote a further two novels All This Could End and Night Swimming which were longlisted for the 2014 Gold Inky Award and CBCA Older Reader Book of the Year 2018 respectively. She was a May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust fellow in 2016 and a Schools Ambassador for the Stella Prize. Her editor Penny Hueston at Text Publishing wrote:

‘Everyone at Text Publishing is completely devastated by the death of the extraordinary YA writer Steph Bowe. We will miss her compassionate, wise, generous spirit and her wit, humour and intelligence. She wasn’t just a brilliant writer, whose first novel Girl Saves Boy was published when she was just 16, and who wrote two more wonderfully original books: All this Could End and Night Swimming. She was also a truly good person, and was always a joy to work with. She loved doing school and library sessions and her books touched the lives of countless readers of all ages. Our hearts go out to her family and friends and to all the YA community who knew and loved this very special young woman.

‘Donations can be directed to the Leukaemia Foundation, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital or Gold Coast University Hospital all of which have been integral in supporting the Bowe family.’

The Sydney Morning Herald has published an obituary.

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