The Sunshine House: Recent Episodes
Zanni Louise
Australian children's author Zanni Louise chats to fellow children's book creators about process, getting published, and everything in-between.
Elizabeth ‘Biffy’ James has been an avid fan of Young Adult fiction ever since she picked up her first ‘Sweet Valley High’ book at the local second-hand bookshop. Now, over twenty years later, she has come to terms with the fact that if she hasn’t grown out of reading about teenagers experiencing the ups and downs of adolescence by now, she probably never will.
Biffy holds a Masters degree in Creative Writing from RMIT and her past experience working as a house mother at a local boarding school has provided her with a unique and authentic voice. She is dedicated to writing realistic and contemporary fiction that captures the heartbreaking and hilarious day-to-day life of the modern teenager.
When she’s not glued to her thesaurus and reference books such as ’1001 Baby Names,’ Elizabeth spends her time freelancing in production and casting, and working as a copywriter and editor.
Completely Normal (and Other Lies) is Biffy's debut novel.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Katrina Nannestad is an award-winning Australian author. Her books include the CBCA-shortlisted We Are Wolves, The Girl Who Brought Mischief, the Travelling Bookshop series, the Girl, the Dog and the Writer series, the Olive of Groves series, the Red Dirt Diaries series, the Lottie Perkins series, and the historical novels Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, Waiting for the Storks, and her latest book,Silver Linings.
Katrina grew up in country New South Wales in a neighbourhood stuffed full of happy children. Her adult years have been spent raising boys, teaching, daydreaming and pursuing her love of stories. Katrina celebrates family, friendship and belonging in her writing. She also loves creating stories that bring joy or hope to other people's lives.
Katrina now lives on a hillside in central Victoria with her husband, a silly whippet called Olive and a mob of kangaroos.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Fiona Lloyd was born in the beautiful North-East of England near picturesque countryside, windswept beaches and the vibrant cultural city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She dreamed of writing in a cosy country cottage and of life as a theatre actress but, as it often does, life got in the way.
Working and travelling instead, Fiona floated in the Dead Sea, climbed the Sydney Harbour bridge, gave guided tours in Holland and fell in love with all things Greek during her two years in Athens and Skiathos. Her most special travel experience was in Myanmar where she visited the place where her Granny was born.
Amongst her myriad of interesting jobs, Fiona worked as a television colourist on Home & Away, This is Greece and Secrets of Britain’s Great Cathedrals. She has works in several anthologies for children, is a role model for Books in Homes, coach with the Harding Miller Education Foundation and Schools Program Coordinator for the Words on the Waves Writers Festival.
Fiona loves storytelling in all forms, especially theatre, television and books. Now settled near Sydney with her husband and three children, she mostly travels in her head to marvellous, magical places.
Being Jimmy Baxter is her debut middle-grade novel.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Rory H. Mather is an extroverted rhyme loving picture book author…with a beard.
For ten years he worked in public libraries and for three of those years he delivered kidlit programs such as Story Time and Baby Rhyme Time.
He has a passion for funny picture books and reading and shares his passion with anyone who will listen.
He also loves puns so watch out!
His latest book, My Little Star, is out now.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Rebecca Stead is a bestselling author of seven novels for young people: When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, Bob (with Wendy Mass), The Lost Library (ditto) and The List of Things That Will Not Change.
Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Fiction Award and Fiction Honor, and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize; shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, Waterstone’s Book Prize, Barnes & Noble Children’s Book Award, and Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazza; and named New York Times Notable Books for Children, NPR’s Books We Love, and a Time magazine Top Ten of the Year.
She’s not a fast writer but has learned to embrace her process and urges you to do the same.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Sara Shepard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series, The Lying Game series, The Heiresses, The Elizas, The Perfectionists series, and Reputation. She is also the author of the Penny Draws series for middle grade readers.
She graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Eva Amores is an author and designer/photographer who has worked for the Sydney Opera House and the ABC. She was born in The Philippines and moved to Australia in high school. She likes shoes, travelling and more shoes.
Matt Cosgrove is the best-selling author/illustrator of Macca the Alpaca and the Epic Fail Tales series. He was born and raised in Western Sydney. He likes chocolate, avoiding social interactions and more chocolate.
Eva and Matt met when they were randomly placed together for a group assignment at University twenty-five years ago and they’ve been collaborating ever since. They’ve made dinner, cakes, a mess, the bed, mistakes, memories, poor fashion decisions and two actual humans, but The Worst Week is their first book series together.
✨ This episode was generously sponsored by Book Fair Australia!
Book Fair Australia presents a literary festival that celebrates stories of all genres. We welcome traditionally and independently published authors alike to share their diverse range through dedicated stalls, discussion panels, workshops and more. A thrilling weekend fit for any book lover, come by with friends and family to get your books signed and explore a world of storytelling right in Sydney.
The team at Book Fair Australia commit ourselves to bringing the fun back into a timeless hobby through engaging with local authors, focusing on our love for books, and connecting readers and writers.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Megan Daley is passionate about children’s literature and is the author of the bestselling book 'Raising Readers', published by UQP and the upcoming title 'The Beehive', to be published by Walker Books.
She is the editor of Teacher, Teacher: an Anthology about Inspirational Educators.
She is a Teacher Librarian in Brisbane and has been awarded the Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year, as well as the national Dromkeen Librarian’s Award.
A former national vice-president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Megan is also a sought after public speaker, literary judge, creator of the popular website Children's Books Daily and co-host of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast.
She also has a few more books in the pipeline. She also thinks sleep is overrated.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Apsara Baldovino spent most of her career in magazine publishing - working for marie claire, Girlfriend and David Jones magazines in advertising sales before taking the leap into the start-up world. By day, she is the Senior Brand Partnerships Manager for Australia’s newest gifting tech unicorn, and by night, Apsara writes stories for children who dream of owning a real unicorn!
Most of her writing career has been spent putting together very serious sales pitches for very serious clients, so when she was on maternity leave with her second child she reconnected with her inner child to begin her journey with writing picture books.
Nature, the seasons, and the tiny wonders of our incredible world inspire her writing. Apsara’s passion is to dream up memorable characters, experiment with perspectives and create books that will be treasured for years to come.
Apsara lives with her family by the sea in Sydney and also calls Melbourne home. The Lucky Shack is Apsara's debut picture book, published by HarperCollins.
Amanda Lieber found a box stuffed with notebooks, scraps of paper, old menus, bits torn out of magazines and crumpled serviettes covered with her scribbles, observations, characters, plots and stories. That’s when she realised she was passionate about storytelling and needed to share her characters and their stories with the world.
So far being an actress has been Amanda’s favourite career, she hopes that writing stories for children will be her next new favourite career.
My Giant Sea Shell is available now, published by Little Pink Dog Books.
Claire Thompson is an Australian children’s writer with a passion – and nose – for sniffing out true stories to empower and inspire.
Driven by her background in journalism, real people with extraordinary tales sit at the heart of Claire’s books.
Growing up in Beatrix Potter’s English countryside, Claire has always loved inspiring books of courage and adventure. Pitching her first book idea to a publisher at 12 years old, she proudly received a hand-typed response encouraging her to keep following her dreams.
Revisiting a love of children’s books in recent years, Claire completed The Australian Writers’ Centre picture book course.
Claire’s debut picture book Lily The Inventor is out with Redback Publishing in 2023. Lily The Inventor is the remarkable true story of Lily Born, who invents a cup to help her Grandpa.
Claire now lives in a coastal village, tucked away in northern Sydney. Over 20 years’ experience working in media and public relations has taught Claire the importance of marketing and networking.
She is an active voice on author socials and regularly attends courses, conferences and catch-ups in the Australian kid lit community.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Anna Fienberg is the author of many popular and award-winning books for children of all ages. Her well-loved Tashi book series, illustrated by Kim Gamble, have inspired an animated series for television.
Anna began writing stories when she was only eight years old. She says, 'I've always had a passion for words. I used to collect them, like some people collect stamps. Certain words gave me a special, billionaire feeling, and when uttered, seemed to have a magical effect.'
She also gets her ideas from her dreams, people she meets, and snatches of overheard conversation.
Anna was once Editor of School Magazine, where she read over a thousand books a year. She wrote plays and stories for the magazine, and then began writing her own stories. She has written picture books, short stories, junior novels, and fiction for young adults.
Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth is Anna's latest book.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
In this special Saturday episode, Zanni chats to Jess McGeachin and Remy Lai, whose books have been shortlisted for the Environment Awards! Congratulations!
Remy Lai writes and draws for kids. She is the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed PIE IN THE SKY, FLY ON THE WALL, PAWCASSO, and the junior graphic novel series SURVIVING THE WILD.
Her latest book is the spooky graphic novel GHOST BOOK, out on August 15th, 2023.
She lives in Brisbane, Australia, where she can often be found exploring the woods with her two dogs—Poop Roller and Bossy Boots.
Sometimes, she eats ice cream for breakfast.
Jess McGeachin grew up in regional Victoria where he spent lots of time in the local library pouring over well-loved DK eyewitness books.
He has fond memories of visiting the old Melbourne Museum where his mum worked as a scientific illustrator, meticulously drawing strange sea-creatures in glass jars.
Jess studied Communication Design at RMIT and worked as a graphic designer before turning his hand to writing and illustrating picture books.
He loves telling stories about hidden places, like the underground world beneath your feet or a secret library waiting to be found.
He is the author and illustrator of many beautiful books such as Deep, Kind, The Tree at Number 43, and High.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Allison Tait (A.L. Tait) is the internationally published bestselling author of middle-grade adventure seriesThe Mapmaker ChroniclestheAteban Ciphernovels, and theMaven & Reeve Mysteries.
Her latest novel, THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE, is a ‘cosy middle-grade mystery’.
A multi-genre writer, creative writing teacher and speaker with many years’ experience in magazines, newspapers and online publishing, Allison is co-host of the top-rating Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and former co-host of the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast.
She lives on the south coast of NSW (Australia) with her family.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Reece Carter is the best-selling author of A Girl Called Corpse.His love for stories — especially those filled with whimsy, magic, and a little bit of weirdness — began as a child growing up in rural Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts on his family farm, and so Reece had to find them in books instead.
It wasn’t until high school though that Reece thought to try his hand at writing his own stories. He loved it, and never looked back.
Reece now lives in Sydney. When not reading or writing, he can usually be found talking to his dog, Hagrid, and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back.
His next book, The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright, will be out this October.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His new book for August 2023 is a suspense-thriller, Scar Town, for age 10+.
His other books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Cop & Robber, Ginger Meggs and the Tom Weekly series. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, and the YABBA children’s choice book awards.
Tristan is an author-advocate for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create.
Sarah Armstrong grew up in a family with no television, which meant she was a voracious (if fairly indiscriminate) reader, and was determined to be a writer.
She became a journalist at ABC Radio where she won a Walkley Award.
In the late 90s, she left the ABC and moved to the hills outside Byron Bay to devote herself to writing fiction. She wrote three acclaimed novels, including Salt Rain which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.
Her first children’s novel isBig Magic, for readers aged 9+ (published by Hardie Grant in May 2022). Big Magic is a rip-roaring mix of modern day adventure, family drama, and magical realism, set in a travelling circus.
The sequel, Magic Awry, is out in August 2023.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Click here to watch the video Karen mentions: Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great by Michael Arndt.
Karen Comer is a writer and freelance editor. She’s represented by Danielle Binks at Jacinta di Mase Management. She teaches a ten-month online writing course and presents writing workshops to schools and holiday programs. Her work as a freelance editor includes fiction for adults and children, as well as personal development, memoir, health, wellbeing and general business books.
Karen’s young adult verse novel, Grace Notes, was published by Hachette in February 2023. She wrote this during Melbourne’s six lockdowns – nowhere to go, time to write!
Her middle-grade verse novel, Sunshine on Vinegar Street, was published by Allen & Unwin in June. This book took her thirteen years to write and metamorphosed from a picture book to a middle-grade prose novel to a middle-grade verse novel.
Karen hopes to introduce more readers to the lyrical wonders of verse novels.
She lives in Melbourne with her family.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
In this episode, Zanni sits down for a chat with Nick Stella.
Nick lives in Sydney, where he works as a public servant. A Giant’s Trek, which started out as a bedtime story for his children, is his first novel.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Sean E Avery is a teacher, writer-illustrator, sculptor and designer born in South Africa; living in Perth, Western Australia. Locally, he’s best known as the writer-illustrator of best-selling children’s picture book, All Monkeys Love Bananas, published by Fremantle Press.
His last picture book, Happy as a Hog Out of Mud, won the 2022 WAYRBA Picture Book of the Year Award and his latest book, Frank’s Red Hat, is shortlisted for the 2023 Indie Book of the Year Award and already a hit with kids in Australia, Korea, France and Denmark.
His latest graphic novel, Friendly Bee and Friends, is out now.
Internationally, he’s best known as a sculptor who uses CDs and DVDs to create breathtaking works of art that reside in galleries and private collections all around the world. He is curious, enthusiastic and ready to work hard for the things he believes in.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Dani Vee is host of the popular literary podcast Words and Nerds. With over 52,000 listeners every month and more than 500 episodes, the podcast has become a significant part of the Australian literary community. She has interviewed Matthew Reilly, Trent Dalton, Jackie French, Tara Moss, Andy Griffiths and many many more.
Dani also works in publicity and acquisitions at Larrikin House. You can find her facilitating panels or presenting at literary festivals such as Somerset Storyfest, BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Kids YA Festival and The Sutherland Shire Writers' Festival, as well as podcasting at literary events.
Dani loves nothing more than reading Oscar Wilde with a cup of camomile tea and dark chocolate.
Book 2 of Dani's Epic Dad series, My Epic Dad! Takes us Fishing comes out on July 1.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Internationally published children’s author Amelia McInerney was born and raised in Melbourne but has spent her adult life living in the US, UK, Canada, as well as in four states of Australia. She has finally come to a stop in Canberra, where she spends most days writing kids' books, staring out the window thinking about kids' books, and occasionally just plain staring out the window. When she's not writing, thinking or staring, Amelia likes to help people while simultaneously playing with slime; an unusual combination that makes her other job doing ultrasounds highly suitable. She also enjoys yoga and snorkelling, although not simultaneously.
Amelia’s first picture book, The Book Chook, was a CBCA Notable Book 2020 and was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Picture Book of the Year. Her subsequent titles include: Bad Crab, My Bird Bertie, Mary Had a Little Lamb: What Really Happened and Who Fed Zed? (the latter also shortlisted for SPA Book of the Year and long listed for ABDA Book of the Year.)
By far, Amelia's favourite vegetable is the potato and she has a penchant for it in all cooked forms. She also has three kids, two hermit crabs and a husband.
Neil, The Amazing Sea Cucumberis out now, and you should totally add it to your bookshelf!
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Mary Anastasiou has been telling stories her whole life. From the outlandish and silly tales she told as a child growing up in Melbourne, Australia, to the response–driven marketing campaigns she delivers in her career as a freelance book designer for Larrikin House.
The arrival of her son Luke in 2008 inspired Mary to fulfil her lifelong dream of writing fun, inspiring, and motivating stories that made him “giggle ‘til his belly hurt.” She hopes her books inspire your little ones to do the same.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
If Vikki seems distracted, it's probably because she's thinking about a new story. She writes most nights and is constantly updating the notes app on her phone to keep track of new ideas.
So far, three of Vikki's stories are being made into real-life picture books. Her first book, Poppy, The Queen and The Seat is published by Red Paper Kite and is available to buy now. Her second book will follow soon after.
Vikki is largely inspired by her two children, who give her most of the ideas for her stories.
She currently splits her time between Milton Keynes, UK and Melbourne, Australia.
Caterina is a self-taught artist who studied science before deciding to pursue a career in illustration. She paints using gouache, but she also loves working with graphite.
Her illustration style ‘is a work in progress’, and her work is inspired by street photographers and French artists.
When she is not illustrating, Caterina likes cooking, singing, reading and... drawing. She is interested in the little things of life.
Snoozette, her first picture book is being adapted for stage performance by the French Theatre in Perth, Australia.
She lives near Florence, Italy.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Allison Rushby writes about all sorts of things. Today it’s tinsel jackets and therapy pom poms, sisters who can wish and wonderfully odd authoress aunts. Tomorrow you might find her writing about haunted houses, cursed lockets, doppelgängers and bewitched kittens. Allison does all of this fuelled by copious cups of tea.
When she's not writing, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also find her adminning (surely that’s a word?!) over at Your Kid’s Next Read, the fabulous Facebook group all about putting the perfect book into little readers’ hands.
Allison has two personal assistants, Harry and Titus, who you can follow on Instagram as well.
Learn more about the SEVEN amazing books she will be releasing this year through her website.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Sarah Speedie lives in beautiful beachside Melbourne with her husband, two children and their bulldog. After working with numbers for way too many years, following the birth of her two children, Sarah re-discovered her childhood love of writing.
She has a particular passion for stories that make you giggle, and when she isn't lost in a sea of words working on a new story, she can usually be found dreaming up her next big idea.
Jacinta Froud has been writing stories and poems since she was knee high to a grasshopper. That’s old people speak for kind of tiny. She is a teacher and a Mum to three children, who love listening to her silly stories and provide constructive criticism when poked.
Jacinta has been working with local primary school students as an ‘Author in Residence’. She often posts updates and inspirations on her instagram page. She is enthusiastic about inspiring young people to write great stories.
Her second book, The Perfect Book, stars Finn and Mr Persnickety in their endeavours to find best friend Ginny, the perfect book for her birthday. It was designed by Ozan Tortop from Tadaa Book and illustrated by Gökçe Yavas Önal.
Toni D’Alia is a Melbourne-based author of children’s books and contemporary fiction. With a background in primary education, Toni writes heartwarming stories to inspire, educate, empower and entertain. Her children’s stories have humour, heart and a gentle focus on wellbeing and the environment.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Cassy Polimeni is a freelance editor and children’s/YA author who has always loved words and faraway places. Her past jobs include travel writer, magazine editor, TV book reviewer and airport chauffeur.
The Garden at the End of the World is her first picture book. In 2022 she was awarded an Australian Society of Authors/Copyright Australia Mentorship to develop a middle grade novel, also set in Norway.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Lauren Draper is a writer and marketing professional from Melbourne, Australia. Her debut young adult novel, The Museum of Broken Things, was released in 2022 by Text Publishing, and shortlisted for the Readings Prize. She is currently represented by the Annabel Barker Literary Agency.
Her work has appeared in Kill Your Darlings, Dumbo Feather and various publications from Hardie Grant Media. Her contemporary fiction manuscript was long-listed in the 2019 Richell Prize from Hachette.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
In this episode, Zanni chats to Janeen Brian and Cherie Dignam about The Fix-it Princess, published by Walker Books.
Janeen Brian is an award-winning, children’s author and poet with over 100 books published in both trade and educational publishing. She enjoys writing picture books, junior fiction, poetry, novels and non-fiction.
Janeen was the recipient of the 2012 Adelaide Festival of Literature Carclew Fellowship and in 2009 also received a May Gibbs’ Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship.
She loves reading, creating mosaics, aqua-aerobics, Yoga, walking, gardening, travelling, craft work, singing, watching theatre and films and spending time with her family and friends.
Janeen lives in the seaside city of Glenelg, in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband. She has two daughters and four grandchildren.
Cherie Dignam was born in North Dublin, Ireland and now lives in Perth, Western Australia. Cherie originally studied Animation Drawing Studies at Ballyfermot Senior College Dublin before completing her BA Hons in Creative Illustration at Cranfield University in the UK.
Cherie previously worked in Animation studios in Dublin, working on feature films like All Dogs go to Heaven, Rockadoodle, and A Troll in Central Park. Cherie also freelanced at Aardman Studios, Bristol, just after completing her Arts degree and still enjoys creating 3D objects as part of her drawing process. More recently, she has been illustrating children’s books.
Cherie is an aspiring illustrator who enjoys the challenge of a wide range of subjects. Inspired by lots of things, street life, curious commuters, office oddballs and everyday household items, she enjoys creating weird and engaging characters.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Lian Tanner has worked as a teacher, a tourist bus driver, a juggler, an editor and a professional actor. She has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. It took her a while to realise that all this was preparation for becoming a writer.
Lian’s books include the best-selling Keepers trilogy, the Hidden series, the Rogues trilogy, A Clue for Clara, Rita’s Revenge, and picture book Ella and the Ocean (illustrated by Jonathan Bentley).
Her books have been translated into eleven languages and won many awards, including two Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children’s Fantasy, a NSW Premier’s Literary Award, a Tasmanian Literary Award, and a Sisters-in-Crime Davitt Award for Best Children’s Crime Novel.
New releases in 2023 are Spellhound, a whimsical fantasy for 7-11 year olds, and When the Lights Went Out, a picture book illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Allayne is an internationally published Children's and Young Adult author who lives in South Australia. She plays the guitar, sings, and sometimes she illustrates. Allayne is a multiple arts grant recipient and a South Australian Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador. She's served on literary boards, and her novels have been listed for various awards.
Paper Planes (Scholastic) was a 2016 CBCA Notable, shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, and is included in the Australian Heritage Literary Project Untapped Collection. A Cardboard Palace (MidnightSun Publishing) was a 2018 CBCA Notable, published in Sweden. Our Little Secret (Scholastic) was listed for the Golden Inkys, and in 2022 a new edition was released by Ligature Press. The Centre of My Everything (Penguin RandomHouse) was listed in the 2019 Davitt Awards and shortlisted in the 2020 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. Sensitive (UQP) is published in Russia, and was shortlisted in the 2020 Australian Speech Pathology Awards, and is a 2023 Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities - awarded by IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People. That Thing I Did was released March 2022 and has received rave reviews, including five stars in the Australian Book Review. Selfie - YA novel (Text Publishing) is out April 2023.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Jeremy Lachlan was born and raised on Wiradjuri country, in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia. A former bookseller, he completed his honours degree in creative writing at the University of Canberra in 2004, and now calls Sydney home.
His debut novel, Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds, has been published in over 15 countries around the world, translated into nine languages, and was the 2019 Australian Book Industry Award winner for Book of the Year for Older Children. Its second part, Jane Doe and the Key of All Souls, was shortlisted for the same award in 2021, but all of this pales in comparison to the $100 he once took home in a karaoke competition.
He came up with the idea for the Jane Doe Chronicles while lost in the Cairo Museum. Book three in the series, Jane Doe and the Quill of All Tales - the start of a new epic duology - hits shelves this month.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Zanni sits down to catch up with Rory H Mather, Ashleigh Barton, and Amy Dunjey to learn all about their process, what they're working on, and what they're looking forward to in the coming year.
Special mention: Wild Things by Bruce Handy, a book about classic American children's books, and revisiting them as an adult.
Rory H. Mather, like most small children, enjoys a good picture book…the thing is Rory is not small, or a child, in fact he is 6ft tall (which basically means he is a giant) and recently entered his 30s (which almost certainly means he is old).
He lives in Toowoomba, Qld where his hobbies are reading, writing and table tennis – some say he could have gone pro. He is also quite partial to dogs, cake, pies and his lovely wife Georgia – although he only eats the cakes and pies.
For a time, Rory worked in public libraries where his role was delivering kidlit programs such as story time and baby rhyme time…he even got to play with some robots.
Amy Dunjey is a children’s author with a love for all things quirky and whimsical. She writes picture books, short stories and poetry for children and has a strong hankering for rhyme.
Through her work as a speech pathologist and lecturer, Amy endeavours to pass on her love for words. Amy aspires to write stories that ignite little imaginations and instil the same love for words and adventure that she treasures.
Amy hails from Western Australia, where she lives with her husband, twin daughters and sandwich-thief greyhound.
As a child, Ashleigh Barton would borrow ten library books at a time and decided, at precisely age six, that she wanted to be a writer. Several years, a law degree and a couple of full-time jobs later, Ashleigh has finally made her six-year-old self proud.
Now the author of the picture books What Do You Call Your Grandpa?, What Do You Call Your Grandma? and What Do You Do To Celebrate?, Ashleigh loves writing stories for children of all ages. She also works as a freelance copywriter, and prior to this worked in marketing and publicity for children's books at a major publisher, running campaigns for internationally renowned authors and illustrators.
Ashleigh lives in Sydney with her husband, dog, and three little bookworms.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Andrea Rowe is a best-selling award-winning picture book author, freelance writer and nationally awarded writer of short stories,and late night book reader. Her debut picture book Jetty Jumping, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville was awarded the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood.
Andrea writes books for children, young adults and grown-ups too. She combines her nostalgic celebration of culture, family diversity, and the environment in our everyday lives with the questions and conversations that draw us together.
Andrea believes in the power of stories, of reading out loud and in secret spots surrounded by cushions and stacks of books. She lives on Bunurong Country, in the sand dunes of the Mornington Peninsula, where her writing days are fuelled by a secret stash of Cherry Ripes.
Andrea and Hannah have teamed up once again with their next book Sunday Skating released in June 2023.
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In the first episode of Season 2, Zanni chats to close friend and co-brainstormer, Kiah Thomas, who started telling stories when she was a kid; reimagining the endings in books she read. She rediscovered her love of kids books when she had children of her own, and started writing beginnings as well as endings. Kiah is passionate about books that kids and adults can enjoy together. She lives on the south coast of NSW with her husband, three children and at least seven stuffed toy penguins.
Links: Check out Jessica Brody's book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and here is a link to a blog article Jessica wrote about using the Save the Cat beat sheet.
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Nova Weetman lives in Melbourne with her family. She has written for TV and is the author of many middle grade and young adult novels. The Secrets We Keep was shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize, the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards and the ABIA Awards. The sequel, The Secrets We Share, was a 2018 CBCA Notable Book and won the KROC Kids Reading Oz Choice Awards, NT – Best Fiction for Years 7 to 9. It was also shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards. Nova’s middle grade novel Sick Bay was a CBCA Notable Book and shortlisted for the ABIA Awards. In 2022, The Edge of Thirteen was shortlisted for the ABIAs Small Publishers' Children's Book of the Year and was a CBCA Notable Book: Younger Readers.
Her latest book, The Jammer, is a poignant story about broken bones and healing hearts.
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Andy Griffiths is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 33 bestselling books since their first title, Just Tricking, was published in 1997.
In Australia, Andy and Terry’s books have sold over 10 million copies, won 80 children’s choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015.
Their much-loved Treehouse Series has been embraced by children around the world and is now published in more than 35 countries. Five of the books in the series have been adapted for the stage and have all had sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera house, as well as highly successful seasons in the Netherlands, New Zealand and America.
Andy is a passionate advocate for literacy and in 2015 was awarded the Dromkeen Medal to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. He is also an ambassador for both The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation.
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Pip Harry is an Australian children’s author and journalist. Her middle grade novel, The Little Wave, won the CBCA 2020 Book of the Year Award and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year. It wasshortlisted for the 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards – Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature. Her young adult novels include I’ll Tell You Mine, Head of the River, and Because of You, shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards: Older Reader, Victorian Premier's Literary Award and Queensland Literary Awards. Her latest novels include Are You There, Buddha? a CBCA Notable and shortlisted for the 2022 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and August & Jones.
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Dara Read was born in Australia in the 80s and was adopted by her mum and dad who love parties as much as she does. Did we mention that Dara loves parties? She does, especially if she can dance!
When Dara met her birth parents and their families, she danced for joy - on the inside! Her latest book, We Love You Hundreds and Thousands is all about foster care, adoption, and growing up in a diverse family.
Dara now lives by the beach in Sydney with her family. Her favourite things are cuddles with her kids, being in the ocean and almost anything that sparkles. On the more serious side, Dara is a writer and social justice lawyer. She has worked as a children’s lawyer and youth worker. She has also been a senior ministerial adviser for children who are adopted and in out-of-home care.
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When Sally Rippin discovered her child was struggling to read, the best-selling children’s author assumed it would sort itself out over time. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Her son’s dyslexia and ADHD went undiagnosed for years, leaving him further and further behind his peers, and labelled as ‘difficult’ by an education system that couldn’t easily cater to neurodivergent kids. And by the time Sally learned how to advocate for her child, it was – almost – too late.
Sally's newest book, Wild Things, is about how we learn to read and what can happen if we don’t, through the eyes of a parent who did everything the wrong way. Through meticulous research, interviews with educational experts and conversations with neurodivergent adults, Rippin shares her brilliant and eye-opening insights into how we can help all kids find the joy in reading, and advocate for them within the limited mainstream schooling system – and maybe even help shift the system entirely. After all, they say school isn’t for everyone, but if everyone must go to school – then why not?
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Tobias is an author and editor from Sydney, Australia. His debut young adult fiction novel, the ABIA Award-shortlisted ANYTHING BUT FINE, is out now in Australia and New Zealand (Penguin Teen) and in the US (Page Street YA). His second YA novel, TAKE A BOW, NOAH MITCHELL, is out now in Aus/NZ and coming to the US Jan 3, 2023.
Originally from Ballarat, Tobias worked for ten years as a performer, touring Australia and New Zealand with musicals such as Mary Poppins, CATS, Singin' in the Rain, and Guys and Dolls. In 2019, he edited and published UNDERDOG, the first #LoveOzYA short story anthology for previously unpublished Aussie young adult fiction writers. Also in 2019, he wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Tobias is a passionate member of the #LoveOzYA and LGBTQ+ communities, and currently works part-time in theatre marketing.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Alice Boyle is a teacher and author living in Naarm/Melbourne.
She has written for SBS Voices and the Stella Prize, and her short story ‘The Exchange’ was published in the Black Inc. anthology Growing Up Queer in Australia. In 2019 she was highly commended for the Wheeler Centre’s Next Chapter program, and in 2021 she won the Text Prize for her debut novel Dancing Barefoot.
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Originally from Taradale, Victoria, Rhiannon Williams writes magical books for kids.
Her Ampersand Prize-winning debut novel, Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt, was named a CBCA Notable Book, an Aurealis Awards finalist, and shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize and the Speech Pathology Australia book awards.
Her latest middle-grade novel is Dusty in the Outwilds.
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This podcast episode is produced by Jen Pitch: @virtualcreatrix
Emily Gale has worked in the children’s book industry for 25 years in various roles: in-house editor, consultant to a literary agent, children’s book buyer, award judge, reviewer, freelance manuscript assessor, and as a writer-in-residence in a high school library.
Emily’s writing includes the Young Adult novels Girl, Aloud (2009), Steal My Sunshine (2013) and I Am Out With Lanterns (2018). For late primary/early high school readers she has written The Other Side of Summer (2016; a companion novel to I Am Out With Lanterns) and Aussie Stem Stars: Gisela Kaplan (2021). She wrote Eliza Boom’s Diary books 1 & 2 in 2014, for younger readers. Her latest novels are Elsewhere Girls (2021), with Nova Weetman, and The Goodbye Year (2022).
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Miranda is an award winning fiction writer. Her debut, Text Prize-shortlisted young adult novel Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over is out now with Text Publishing. Her short stories have been published by Bloomsbury and Margaret River Press and she has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize.
Miranda has worked as a lifestyle journalist and editor for News Corp magazines and a Senior Reporter for Zoos Victoria. You may remember her from game shows such as Deal or No Deal and Family Feud and her three minutes of fame on Channel 7's Sunrise.
Miranda's work and passions have taken her to more than 50 countries but she calls the Surf Coast in Victoria home. You can find her bodyboarding whenever the surf's good.
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Nina Kenwood is an award-winning author living in Melbourne.
Her debut YA novel It Sounded Better in My Head won the Text Prize and was a finalist for the American Library Association’s William C. Morris Award, as well as being shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Queensland Literary Awards, Russell Prize for Humour Writing, Indie Book Awards and Australian Book Industry Awards.
It Sounded Better in My Head has been published in six languages and optioned to be adapted for the screen.
Her second novel, Unnecessary Drama, will be published in October 2022.
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch @virtualcreatrix
Adrian Beck writes, funny, action-packed stories for kids. His latest book, Furball: Spy Cat, which he wrote AND illustrated is out on October 1st, 2022!
He is the author of the Derek Dool series, the Champion Charlies series, plus Alien Zoo 1 and 2 and he is the co-author of the Little Legends series with Nicole Hayes plus the Kick it to Nick series with AFL hall-of-famer Shane Crawford. As well as being an author, Adrian is a TV producer and a lover of very bad ‘dad jokes’. Together with Sally Rippin, Adrian edited the Total Quack Up! & Total Quack Up Again! books which contain an awesome line-up of writers who each provided hilarious short stories to raise money for Dymocks Children’s Charities! Adrian draws on his showbiz roots to create engaging, interactive school presentations and is passionate about fostering a love of reading amongst the next generation.
Adrian was born in Hobart, Tasmania but is not related to Princess Mary. (As far as he knows). He is passionate about raising childhood literacy levels across the country and is a fierce supporter of the endangered teacher-librarian species.
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Kate Temple has had many dangerous jobs - from making hatpins out of darts to climbing ladders at midnight. Now Kate is in the dangerous business of writing books for children.
She has written more than twenty books with her writing partner, Jol, and The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat is her first solo book. Kate lives in Sydney with her two children. When she is not writing, Kate enjoys eating cake, and so do the characters in this book.
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Dee wanted to be a writer since she was seven-years old. She has published more than 20 books for children and young adults and many articles, short stories and poems.
She has been lucky enough to combine her loves of writing and travel into a career which takes her all over the world writing, researching and presenting workshops. She got to spend a WHOLE MONTH in Paris doing the research and writing one of her latest books, Beyond Belief. Her writing and writing workshops have taken her to Sharjah and Amsterdam and she is prepared to go almost anywhere (even do a tour of Paris sewers) to track down a good story.
Apart from skydiving and hot air ballooning, the craziest thing she ever did was travel around Australia in tents for nearly two years with her two children under three, her husband and the family dog.
She is a certified writing teacher and mentor, passionate about encouraging new writers. Her blogs Writing Classes for Kids and DeeScribe Writing are full of career and writing tips for writers of all ages.
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch @virtualcreatrix
Coral Vass is an award-winning Australian Children’s Author with several books published with Scholastic Books Australia, National Library of Australia and Penguin Random House Australia.
Her book, Sorry Day won the 2018 Speech Pathology Awards Book of the Year for Language and Literacy Development Indigenous Children and the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year - Eve Pownall Award. Coral has also been shortlisted for the REAL AWARDS (CROC, KOALA and YABBA Awards) voted by the children of Australia.
Coral loves to visit schools, often running writing workshops and inspiring young people with a love for literature. She is an ambassador for Reading Out of Poverty and is passionate about giving all children an equal opportunity to read.
Her signature writing style has a splash of rhythm, a dash of rhyme and is stirred with fun! As well as children's books, Coral loves dark chocolate, good coffee, the theatre and the beach.
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch @virtualcreatrix
A Words and Nerds/The Sunshine House podcast crossover! What a treat!
Dani's debut picture book 'My EXTRAordinary Mum', published by Larrikin House is OUT NOW. Her 'Unlucky Dad' six picture book series and a short story in a crime fiction anthology are coming in 2023!
Dani Vee is host of the popular literary podcast Words and Nerds. With over 52,000 listeners every month and more than 500 episodes, the podcast has become a significant part of the Australian literary community. She has interviewed Matthew Reilly, Trent Dalton, Jackie French, Tara Moss, Andy Griffiths and many many more.
Dani also works in publicity and acquisitions at Larrikin House. You can find her facilitating panels or presenting at literary festivals such as Somerset Storyfest, BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Kids YA Festival and The Sutherland Shire Writers' Festival, as well as podcasting at literary events.
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch @virtualcreatrix
In this episode, Tristan Bancks comes back for another great chat.
Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall and the Tom Weekly series. Two Wolves won Honour Book in the 2015 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. It also won the YABBA and KOALA Children’s Choice Awards, as did his latest thriller, The Fall. Detention, a gripping new novel about a daring escape and a lockdown in a school, is out July 2019.
Tristan is currently working with producers to develop several of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can connect with him, learn more about his books, play games, watch videos and help him try to change the world at www.tristanbancks.com
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch @virtualcreatrix
Maryam Master was born in Iran and moved to Australia when she was nine. She is a screenwriter and playwright who loves creating shows for young audiences.
Maryam has adapted three of David Walliams' books for the stage - Mr Stink, Billionaire Boy and The Midnight Gang - as well as Oliver Jeffers' The Incredible Book Eating Boy, all of which premiered at the Sydney Opera House and toured across Australia. She also collaborated with Australian Children's Laureate Leigh Hobbs on Horrible Harriet: Live on Stage.
She began her career in TV, writing for shows like Home and Away, Blinky Bill and the Jim Henson Company's Bambaloo. In 2011 she was selected by Sesame Workshop as the writer for Elmo's tour of Australia.
Maryam is the author of Exit Through the Gift Shop. No Words is her second novel.
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In today's episode, Zanni chats to Tabitha Bird.
Tabitha is a writer and poet who lives and works in the rural township of Boonah, Queensland.
She has written 2 adult novels: A Lifetime of Impossible Days—winner of the Queensland Literary Award 2020's People's Choice Book of the Year, and The Emporium of Imagination.
Tabitha is also a budding picture book author, and is no doubt on her way to writing and illustrating some fantastic picture books!
By day Tabitha may be found painting, working on her next book or with her husband, three beautiful boys and Chihuahua.
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In this episode, Zanni chat's to her good friend Deborah Abela.
After training as a teacher, Deb travelled to Africa where she was harassed by monkeys, caught in a desert sandstorm and thrown in jail . . . twice!
She has since become an internationally published and awarded author of 28 books including her cranky climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm.
Her family’s survival in WW2 and migration to Australia inspired Teresa A New Australian. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery were inspired by her fantabulous Grade 4 teacher, Ms Gray. She’s also written picture books: Wolfie, An Unlikely Heroand the 2021 CBCA Notable, Bear in Space.
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is her love letter to books, booksellers, librarians and readers. Deb’s won awards for her work but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters.
She’s a proud ambassador for the charities, Room to Read and Books in Homes.
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This podcast was produced by Jen Pitch.
Sandhya Parappukkaran writes stories which are inspired by her multicultural experience. Scrumptious food and glimpses of nature from her Kerala Indian heritage feature heavily when she sits down to write. Sandhya resides in Brisbane with her husband, three children and a backyard brimming with mango trees, curry leaves, and green chillies.
Her debut picture book, The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name, illustrated by Michelle Pereira and published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing (Imprint: Bright Light), was released in August 2021.
Her second picture book, Amma’s Saree was published in April 2022.
Sandhya believes exploring and owning your cultural identity cultivates happy holistic people who are capable of mutual respect, empathy, and connection in this diverse world we live in.
Carter Higgins is the author of many books for young readers, including Everything You Need for a Treehouse, an NPR Best Book of the Year, This is Not a Valentine, a Kids' Indie Next List selection, and the chapter book series, Audrey L & Audrey W: Best Friends-ish. Her first book as both author and illustrator, Circle Under Berry, was named a Best Book of 2021 by Publisher’s Weekly, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
Carter is a creative storyteller who designs playful experiences around visual literacy and believes the wit of kids' language is the best poetry of all. She is an Emmy-winning visual effects and motion graphics artist and spent a decade as an elementary school librarian. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @carterhiggins.
She lives in Las Vegas.
Sue Whiting is an award-winning children’s and YA author and editor who has worked in publishing for twenty+ years. Sue was senior commissioning editor and publishing manager for Walker Books Australia for many years before leaving in 2016 to concentrate on her writing.
As a storyteller and schools’ performer, Sue has informed, inspired and entertained thousands of kids across the country. She is also a freelance children’s book editor and writing coach, and the author of numerous books, including the bestselling Missing, the acclaimed The Book of Chance and a number of CBCA Notable Books.
Sue’s latest books are Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast, the first in a new junior fiction series, and the narrative nonfiction picture book The Echidna Near my Place, illustrated by Cate James. Her book Tilda, loosely based on the story of her grandmother, will be released in September.
Lian Tanner has worked as a teacher, a tourist bus driver, a juggler, an editor and a professional actor. She has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. It took her a while to realise that all this was preparation for becoming a writer.
Lian’s best-selling Keepers Trilogy has been translated into eleven languages and won two consecutive Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children’s Fantasy. The Hidden series was shortlisted for two Aurealis Awards and received three starred reviews from School Library Journal (USA). The Rogues trilogy has also been shortlisted for two Aurealis Awards.
Lian’s first picture book,Ella and the Ocean, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley, won the 2020 Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature, as part of the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Her latest novel, A Clue for Clara, won the 2021 Sisters-in-Crime Davitt Award for Best Children’s Crime Novel. A companion novel, Rita’s Revenge, will be published by Allen & Unwin in July 2022.
Zanni chats to illustrator Anil Tortop.
This was a super special episode because, not only did Anil illustrate Zanni's book Pigasus, but this was the first time they had ever met!
Anil also works as an animator and character/concept designer, but has been called away from this affair as her relationship with children’s books becomes more serious.
She was born and raised in Turkey, then moved to Australia in early 2011 and has been trying to get used to the local eight-legged house intruders and slithering visitors to her garden ever since.
Nowadays, Anil live in Brisbane with her husband. In their small home studio together, they're playing “Children’s Booksmithing” at Tadaa.
In this episode, Zanni chats to Nat Amoore—a Sydney-based writer and kidlit podcast host (One More Page) whose debut novel came out in 2019 with Penguin Random House. It had great success as both Dymocks and QBD's 'Kids Book Of The Month', becoming Australia's #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019 and has now sold into the UK, US, Italy, China, Estonia and Romania.
Nat's second book The Power Of Positive Pranking was released in 2020, and was shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize and REAL Children’s Choice Book Awards. It went on to win the 2021 Environment Award for Children’s Literature. The Right Way To Rock came out in June 2021 and Nat’s fourth book We Run Tomorrow will hit stands in May 2022.
In 2021, Nat wrote a 5-part fiction podcast series called PROJECT ARI for Nova Entertainment and the Australian Government as part of the #StopItAtTheStart campaign.
Nat's Links & Socials:
Website: natamoore.com
Presenting to Kids course: writerscentre.com.au/store/courses/presenting-to-kids/
Instagram: @nat_amoore
Twitter: @nat_amoore
FB: @NatAmooreWriter
YouTube: youtube.com/c/NatAmooreWriter
In episode 11, Zanni chats to Sarah Speedie, author of Mozzies VS Flies, which was published in 2021, and Meowster Chef will be out in July.
She has always loved words. As a child, when she didn't have her head in a book reading, she had a pen in her hand, writing. Later, as an adult, she gave working with numbers a try. But, while numbers do have their own magic, she missed words way too much! So she tossed the calculator far, far away and picked up a pen and paper again (although these days it's her laptop).
She hasn't looked back!
In this episode, Zanni speaks to Australian novelist, Karen Foxlee.
Karen Foxlee is an Australian author who writes for both kids and grown-ups. She grew up in the outback mining town Mount Isa and still frequently dreams she is walking barefoot along the dry Leichhardt River there.
Her first novel The Anatomy of Wings was published in 2007. The story of the sudden death of a teenage girl in a desert mining town won numerous awards including, the Dobbie Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book. Her second novel about the disappearance of a girl in tropical north Queensland, The Midnight Dress, won the Sisters in Crime Best YA Debut Crime Novel in 2014.
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, Karen’s first novel for children was published internationally in 2014 to much acclaim. It was an E.B. White Read Aloud finalist that year. Her second novel for younger readers, A Most Magical Girl was published in 2016 and won the Readings Children's Fiction Prize 2017 and was CBCA shortlisted the same year. Lenny's Book of Everything, was the children’s / young adult publishing sensation of 2019 winning multiple awards, including Children’s Book of the Year at the Indie Book Awards and the Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Literature at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
Karen lives in South East Queensland with her daughter and several animals, including two wicked parrots, who frequently eat parts of her laptop when she isn’t looking. Her passions are her daughter, writing, day-dreaming, baking, running and swimming in the sea.
Maggie Hutchings is the award-winning author of Your Birthday Was The Best, Enough Love, The Magic Box Set Collection, and Happy Hearts. She is a counsellor, family-dispute mediator, and artist who spends her weekends covered in paint and scribbling lists that are never completed. She is a famously mad aunt, nanna and mother who talks to herself out loud and falls over a lot in the garden at her house in northern New South Wales.
Maggie writes stories with heart and soul for children and adults that encourage kindness, hope and resilience.
Follow Maggie on her instagram: @maggie_hutchings_writes
Zanni's guest on this episode is Rory H. Mather.
When Rory was a kid he had difficulty reading and because of that he didn’t enjoy it. A few good books cough Harry Potter cough changed this and now you won’t find him without a book – usually a historical fiction. Because of this Rory tries to write books that will engage young readers so that they too will grow up with a love of reading.
Rory has 5 picture books currently published with more coming very soon. His latest book is called Monster School Rules.
He lives in Toowoomba with his wife and their two dogs Hugo and Cooper who can be spotted over on his Instagram @roryhmatherauthor.
In this episode, Zanni chats to Anna McGregor, who is a creator of modern, quirky and conceptual stories with humour and heart. Beginning her career as a graphic designer, Anna is now emerging as an award-winning picture book author/illustrator.
Anna’s driving purpose is to delight and entertain children through timeless storytelling. With them, she explores evergreen issues through a child’s lens and allows them to interpret the stories in their own way and draw their own conclusions.
Anna has a deep curiosity of all things and finds her ideas by turning the mundane on its head, merging ideas or exploring wordplay — but always with a story that connects to the human experience.
Sarah Armstrong was an award-winning journalist at the ABC before writing three novels for adults, including Salt Rain which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.
Big Magic is her first book for children. She lives with her partner, Alan, and their daughter, Amelia, in the NSW town of Mullumbimby, which features (if slightly disguised!) in all her novels, including Big Magic.
Follow Sarah's instagram for updates!
In episode 5, Zanni chats to Tristan Bancks, who did not slow down during the pandemic!
Tristan tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, the Tom Weekly series, and Nit Boy. Ginger Meggs, Tristan’s 100th anniversary book of short stories, is based on characters created by his great-great uncle, Jimmy Bancks, in 1921. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, ABIA, YABBA, KOALA, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Queensland Literary Awards. His new release for July 2022 is Cop & Robber, a nailbiting crime story for age 10+.
Tristan is a writer-ambassador for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world here on his website.
In this episode, Zanni chats to her good friend and mentor, Anna Pignataro.
Anna Pignataro has created more than seventy books for children. Her first picture book won the Crichton Award for Book Illustration and many of her books have been shortlisted and have received Notable Book Commendations from The Children’s Book Council. Anna’s book “The Heart Of A Whale” was the Winner in the Children’s Picture Book Category of the International Book Awards.
Anna’s books have featured on children’s television programmes such as Play School, Humphrey and Warrawy and are published all over the world. You can find her books in UK, USA, North America, Canada, France, The Netherlands, Romania, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Turkey, Portugal and Argentina and they are translated into thirteen different languages. She is also the author of a junior fiction series, “Butterfly Girls” and paints images for greeting cards, stationary and wellness books.
Anna is a keen dream interpreter and astrologer, an enthusiastic potter and a devoted movie watcher.
For more information on Zanni visit her website and follow her on instagram.
In Episode 3, Zanni chats to Allison Tait.
Allison Tait (A.L. Tait) is the internationally published bestselling author of middle-grade adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles the Ateban Cipher novels, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. Her latest novel THE WOLF’S HOWL (A Maven & Reeve Mystery #2) is out now.
A multi-genre writer, teacher and speaker with many years’ experience in magazines, newspapers and online publishing, Allison is co-host of two podcasts: So You Want To Be A Writer and Your Kid’s Next Read.
She lives on the south coast of NSW (Australia) with her family.
In episode 2 Zanni chats to Inda Ahmad Zari. Inda writes and illustrates for children and adults. Her stories are inspired by natural and cultural gems curated from her travels and lovingly added to her Malaysian heritage. She is also a surgical doctor, swapping her writer’s hat and paintbrush for scrubs and scalpel when duty calls.
Inda currently has two books published: Night Lights— a celebration of nature, wonder and memories, and Salih— a touching story about a young refugee's perilous journey and offers a message of hope.
Welcome to My Little Sunshine House!
In this first episode, Zanni chats to her dear friend Kiah Thomas.
Kiah loves writing funny picture books like Allergic Alpaca, Foothand Elbownose, and Madeline Talbot Has a Bunny on Her Head.
Her debut middle grade novel, The Callers, has just been released in the USA, and will be released in Australia in May.