Kristen Alexander

I was born and grew up in Orange NSW, Australia. After time spent in Armidale and Sydney I moved to Canberra in 1993 with my soon-to-become husband, David.

I am a former public servant (personal and human resource management, administrative law/freedom of information and project work). I left this in 1996 and in 1997 David and I purchased a small suburban post office in Canberra, ACT, which soon became Hughes Post Office and Secondhand Books. David and I now own and operate Alexander Fax Booksellers, an on-line and shop front book shop, specialising in quality Australian second hand and selected new military books. I rarely set foot in the shop, leaving that to David, but I manage our inventory and produce regular catalogues which we send out to our mail order customers.

As well as a bookseller, I am a researcher and writer with a keen interest in Australia's aviation history. My Clive Caldwell, Air Ace (2006) and Jack Davenport, Beaufighter Leader (2009) were published by Allen & Unwin. Tsukumo published the Japanese edition of Clive Caldwell, Air Ace in 2011.

Jack Davenport, Beaufighter Leader was included in the RAAF Chief of Air Force's 2010 Reading List.

In 2013, Barrallier Books published Australian Eagles, an account of five Australian and one 'adopted' Australian in the Battle of Britain. This is a small publisher and the book is not available via Amazon. It can be ordered at http://www.alexanderfaxbooks.com.au/available-now-australian-eagles-australians-battle-britain

My articles have appeared in The Canberra Times; Sabretache, the Journal of the Military Historical Society of Australia; Aviation Heritage; Scramble, the Official Newsletter of the Battle of Britain Historical Society; Spitfire News, the Journal of the Spitfire Association; and Wings, the Journal of the Royal Australian Air Force Association.

During 2010, Wings featured my four-article series of Australian Battle of Britain pilots. Another article appeared in the Spring 2012 number.

My essay entitled 'Australian Knights of the Air and their Little Touches of Chivalry', won the Military Historical Society of Australia's 2012 Sabretache Writer's Prize. The essay was published in the December 2012 issue of Sabretache.

In 2011, I was the Australian representative of the UK-based Battle of Britain Historical Society and organised the presentation of a memorial school plaque at The Hutchins School, Hobart, in honour of Stuart Crosby Walch.

When I have a moment to myself, I like reading, watching old films, especially Cary Grant, Doris Day, Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart and of course the old musicals. I listen to 1940s swing and have a sweet tooth. I love tea of most persuasions and passionately belief a good cuppa, served in fine china (of which I have a very good collection) will cure all ills. My favourite meal, if you can call it that, is scones, jam and Darjeeling. Above all, I am potty about cats. I have been privileged to share my heart and home with many little friends over the years and my current BFF (besides David) is Millie, a little green-eyed tabby.

alexfax@alexanderfaxbooks.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/alexfax10

http://australiansinthebattleofbritain.blogspot.com.au/

Kristen Alexander