Podcast

21 November 2023

The Stories Behind Your Favourite Kids and YA Books

The Stories Behind Your Favourite Kids and YA Books

Explore this treasure trove of podcasts featuring the phenomenal authors and illustrators behind some of our favourite kids and YA books! Tune in and be inspired…

Craig Silvey on Exploring the Bonds Between Dogs and Humans

Craig Silvey talks about the bond between dogs and humans, and what they can teach us about life. His debut children’s book, Runt, topped the 2023 Better Reading Top 50 Kids list.

Emily Rodda on The Joy of Children’s Books

Bestselling children’s and YA author Emily Rodda discusses the importance of children’s fiction, and shares how she came to be a successful writer.

Zeno Sworder on Illustrating the Story of His Parents’ Migrant Experience

Zeno Sworder shares how his family’s immigration story inspired his CBCA award-winning picture book, My Strange Shrinking Parents.

Zoulfa Katouh on Giving a Voice to Young Syrian Women

Zoulfa Katouh discusses embracing her identity and how she used her YA novel, As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow, to shine a light on the conflict in Syria.

Levi Pinfold on Harry Potter, Illustrating and Picture Books

Levi Pinfold describes his illustration process and his experience working collaboratively on The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, which is out now.

Mariah Sweetman on Being Inspired by the Fastest Man in Australia (Her Great-Great Grandfather)

Mariah Sweetman tells the story of how her great-great-grandfather and the Deebing Creek Massacre inspired her YA novel, Robert Runs.

Kate Foster on Raising a Neurodiverse Child

Kate Foster talks about her debut children’s book Paws, and how her own experience with a neurodiverse child inspired her to write it.

Reece Carter on Exploring Darker Themes in Gothic Children’s Fiction

Reece Carter opens up about writing his debut novel and balancing humour with darker themes in children’s fiction.

Lucy Leonardi on Food Waste and Becoming Food Wise

Photographer and food blogger Lucy Leonardi talks about fighting food waste, saving the planet, and her new children’s book, Foodwise, written with Lucy Bell.

Sami Bayly on Her Love of the Natural World

Sami Bayly shares her love of nature and how she became a natural history author-illustrator.

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              Mariah Sweetman
              About the author

              Mariah Sweetman

              Mariah Sweetman is a proud descendant of the Ugarapul people. She is passionate about First Nations histories and engaging young people with stories. She loves to create with words and paint; often writing poetry and painting in her free time. She is a teacher by trade with Bachelor in Education and Arts, Master of Education, specialising in Indigenous Education.

              Books by Mariah Sweetman

              Robert Runs
              Mariah Sweetman

              Robert Runs

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              Lucy Leonardi
              About the author

              Lucy Leonardi

              Lucy Leonardi is a prolific photographer with over a decade of experience, Lucy finds joy in all aspects of her creative pursuits, from her popular food blog Who Does the Dishes – a visual documentary of home cooks – to her most recent project of creating waste-free recipes for OzHarvest social media’s Fight Food Waste campaign, where she takes charge of cooking the dishes, writing the recipes, styling and photographing them. She is passionate about promoting a practical and healthy eating approach for a better environment.

              Books by Lucy Leonardi

              Foodwise
              Lucy Bell, Lucy Leonardi

              Foodwise

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              Zoulfa Katouh
              About the author

              Zoulfa Katouh

              Zoulfa Katouh is a Canadian writer with Syrian roots. A trilingual pharmacist, currently pursuing a master’s in drug sciences, Zoulfa is the first Syrian author to be published in both the US and the UK in the young adult category. When she's not talking to herself in the woodland forest, she's drinking iced coffee, baking aesthetic cookies and cakes, and telling everyone who will listen about how BTS paved the way. A dream of hers is to get Kim Nam-joon to read one of her books. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is her debut novel.

              Books by Zoulfa Katouh

              As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow
              Zoulfa Katouh

              As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow

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              Zoulfa Katouh

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              The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue
              Zoulfa Katouh

              The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue

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              Reece Carter
              About the author

              Reece Carter

              Reece Carter grew up on his family farm in Tammin, Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts on the farm though, and so Reece had to find them in books instead. Roald Dahl, Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda were some of his first favourite authors. When Reece moved away to boarding school at the age of eleven, he could regularly be found hiding in the library, tucked away in the corner with a good book, or else seeking out new recommendations from the school librarians. With the encouragement of his English teacher, Reece started writing his own stories too - although back then they never got much further than character outlines and first chapters! After a few years spent travelling overseas, Reece moved to Melbourne to study health science. But even while working as a nutritionist by day, Reece maintained a secret double life, continuing to write middle-grade novels and short stories by night. Now, Reece lives in Sydney and writes kids' fiction full-time. When not reading or writing, Reece can usually be found talking to his dog Hagrid - and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back. A Girl Called Corpse is his debut novel.

              Books by Reece Carter

              A Girl Called Corpse
              Reece Carter

              A Girl Called Corpse

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              The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright
              Reece Carter, Simon Howe

              The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

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              The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners: An Elston-Fright Tale
              Reece Carter

              The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners: An Elston-Fright Tale

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              Kate Foster
              About the author

              Kate Foster

              Kate writes children's books about friends, family, and dogs. Originally from the south east of England, she now lives on the beautiful Gold Coast in Australia with her family and rescue dogs. She loves eating cake, reading books, and watching cooking programmes on TV!

              Books by Kate Foster

              Paws
              Kate Foster

              Paws

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              The Bravest Word
              Kate Foster

              The Bravest Word

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              Small Acts
              Kate Foster, Kate Gordon

              Small Acts

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              Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees
              Kate Foster

              Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees

              Retail partners

              Zeno Sworder
              About the author

              Zeno Sworder

              Zeno Sworder is a writer and artist who lives in Melbourne with his young family. After studying Chinese literature and migration law at university, he ended up as a dish washer. Later, he went on to work as a journalist, an English language teacher, a consular officer, an advocate for refugees and immigrants and a jewellery designer. He is a lover of all stationery but has a particular soft spot for pencils. This is his first book for children.

              Books by Zeno Sworder

              This Small Blue Dot
              Zeno Sworder

              This Small Blue Dot

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              My Strange Shrinking Parents
              Zeno Sworder

              My Strange Shrinking Parents

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              Sami Bayly
              About the author

              Sami Bayly

              Sami Bayly is a natural history illustrator based in Newcastle, who loves all things weird and wonderful. She finds the beauty and importance of all animals regardless of their appearance, and hopes to share her appreciation with others.After recently completing her University degree, she is eager to see what the world has instore for her and her quirky subject matter.The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals is her first book.To keep up to date you can follow Sami on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samibayly/

              Books by Sami Bayly

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals
              Sami Bayly

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals

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              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature
              Sami Bayly

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature

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              How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures
              Sami Bayly

              How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures

              Retail partners

              How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry
              Sami Bayly

              How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry

              Retail partners

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals
              Sami Bayly

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals

              Retail partners

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Fast and Slow Animals
              Sami Bayly

              The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Fast and Slow Animals

              Retail partners

              Levi Pinfold
              About the author

              Levi Pinfold

              Levi Pinfold has been drawing from imagination for as long as he can remember. His published picture books are The Django, Black Dog and Greenling. Black Dog won the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 2013. Born in the Forest of Dean, he has somehow found himself living in northern NSW, Australia. He likes paintings, books, music, and some cats.

              Books by Levi Pinfold

              The Song From Somewhere Else
              A. F. Harrold, Levi Pinfold

              The Song From Somewhere Else

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              Emily Rodda
              About the author

              Emily Rodda

              Emily Rodda's first book, Something Special, was published with Angus & Robertson in 1984. It marked the beginning of a career that has seen her become one of the most successful, prolific and versatile writers in Australia.Since then, Emily has written or co-authored over ninety books for children. Her children's books range from picture books to YA novels, and include the award-winning Rowan of Rin series as well as the outstandingly successful Deltora Quest fantasy series.A full-time writer since 1994, Emily has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year award a record five times and seems to instinctively know what children want to read.

              Books by Emily Rodda

              The Golden Door: The Three Doors series
              Emily Rodda

              The Golden Door: The Three Doors series

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                Bungawitta
                Emily Rodda

                Bungawitta

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                  Deltora Quest Series 1 Bind-Up
                  Emily Rodda

                  Deltora Quest Series 1 Bind-Up

                  Retail partners

                    Rowan of Rin: Rowan of Rin #1
                    Emily Rodda

                    Rowan of Rin: Rowan of Rin #1

                    Retail partners

                      Rowan and the Travellers: Rowan of Rin #2
                      Emily Rodda

                      Rowan and the Travellers: Rowan of Rin #2

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                        Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal: Rowan of Rin #3
                        Emily Rodda

                        Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal: Rowan of Rin #3

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                          Rowan and the Zebak: Rowan of Rin #4
                          Emily Rodda

                          Rowan and the Zebak: Rowan of Rin #4

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                            Rowan of the Bukshah: Rowan of Rin #5
                            Emily Rodda

                            Rowan of the Bukshah: Rowan of Rin #5

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                              Shadows of the Master (Star of Deltora #)1
                              Emily Rodda

                              Shadows of the Master (Star of Deltora #)1

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                              Towers of Illica (Star of Deltora #3)
                              Emily Rodda

                              Towers of Illica (Star of Deltora #3)

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