Author Morris Gleitzman (left) is happy to sign a copy of his new book, Grace, for Sunshine Coast Grammar School student Brent King at the annual Voices on the Coast literary festival at the University of the Sunshine Coast. .

Brett Wortman

MORRIS Gleitzman is a boy who has spent 10 of the past 20 years as a girl. But it is all in his head.

As one of Australia's foremost children's writers, Mr Gleitzman likes his books to appeal to both sexes and for that reason creates male and female lead characters.

While writing, he likes to become his characters, though he has never put on a dress.

“I like to get inside the head of my characters - think like they think and behave like they would,” he said.

“If you look at it like that I've spent a fair amount of time as a girl, probably about 10 years.”

Yesterday, Mr Gleitzman spent time with some of his young Sunshine Coast fans when he appeared at the University of the Sunshine Coast as part of the Voices on the Coast youth literature festival.

Lucky fans who attended the session also got a special surprise - they were the first people in the world to be able to buy copies of his new book, Grace, about a young girl challenging the beliefs of her fundamentalist Christian upbringing.

Brent King, a Year 7 student from Sunshine Coast Grammar, is a Morris Gleitzman fan from way back, and did not miss the chance to get his copy of Grace signed by the author.

“It was great going to watch him speak about his books. They're some of my favourites,” Brent said.

“I really enjoy reading and I write adventure stories.

“When I get older, I'd consider becoming a writer.”

This year the week-long festival, which is in its 14th year, has attracted a total of about 4500 students from 57 schools across the region.

The festival is run jointly by Immanuel Lutheran College and the USC and began on Tuesday night with an evening hosted by Daily editor Mark Furler, including a Blokes in Books panel discussion.

Voices ends on Saturday. Other authors presenting include Zac Power author Hilary Badger, James Moloney, Leigh Hobbs, Kim Toft and Shaun Tan.

For session information, visit www.immanuel.qld.edu.au/voices/