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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              Podcast: Sami Bayly on Her Love of the Natural World

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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

                Retail partners

                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

                Retail partners

                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

                Retail partners

                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

                Retail partners

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

                The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

                Retail partners

                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

                Retail partners

                The Bravest Word
                Kate Foster

                The Bravest Word

                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

                Retail partners

                My Strange Shrinking Parents
                Zeno Sworder

                My Strange Shrinking Parents

                Retail partners

                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

                Retail partners

                The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature
                Sami Bayly

                The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature

                Retail partners

                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

                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

                Retail partners

                Craig Silvey
                About the author

                Craig Silvey

                Craig Silvey is an author and screenwriter from Fremantle, Western Australia. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Rhubarb, was published in 2004. His bestselling second novel, Jasper Jones, was released in 2009 and is considered a modern Australian classic. Published in over a dozen territories, Jasper Jones has won plaudits in three continents, including an International Dublin Literary Award shortlisting, a Michael J. Printz Award Honor, and a Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlisting. Jasper Jones was the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year for 2010. Honeybee is his third novel.

                Books by Craig Silvey

                Rhubarb
                Craig Silvey

                Rhubarb

                Retail partners

                  Jasper Jones
                  Craig Silvey

                  Jasper Jones

                  Retail partners

                  Jasper Jones (Film Tie-In)
                  Craig Silvey

                  Jasper Jones (Film Tie-In)

                  Retail partners

                  Honeybee
                  Craig Silvey

                  Honeybee

                  Retail partners

                  Runt
                  Craig Silvey

                  Runt

                  Retail partners

                  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

                  Retail partners

                    Bungawitta
                    Emily Rodda

                    Bungawitta

                    Retail partners

                      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

                          Retail partners

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

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

                            Retail partners

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

                              Rowan and the Zebak: Rowan of Rin #4

                              Retail partners

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

                                Rowan of the Bukshah: Rowan of Rin #5

                                Retail partners

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

                                  Shadows of the Master (Star of Deltora #)1

                                  Retail partners

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

                                  Towers of Illica (Star of Deltora #3)

                                  Retail partners

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