Author: joylawn

Book advocate. Joy Lawn is a freelance book reviewer and book judge specialising in literary fiction and children's and YA literature. She has recently judged the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Qld Literary Awards - Fiction & Non-Fiction Book Award (chair), IBBY Australia Honour Books for Writing & Illustration, and has judged the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Russell Prize for Humour Writing, CBCA, Davitt Women's Crime Book awards & Aurealis Awards. Joy loves moderating sessions at Writers’ Festivals, including Brisbane, Byron, Sydney & Central Coast, reviews theatre & books for ArtsHub, books for Books + Publishing & writes the editorial and feature articles for Magpies magazine. Joy promotes Australian literature here and overseas. 'A great book compels you to reread your own soul.' — Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books A hat-trick for talented natural history illustrator Sami Bayly who has her third book, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature commended by the CBCA awards in the Eve Pownall non-fiction category. […]

Round the Twist with Paul Jennings

Round the Twist with Paul Jennings (and my review of The Lorikeet Tree by Paul Jennings after the interview) It’s time for some nostalgia with much-loved, iconic Australian writer Paul Jennings taking us Round the Twist. Thanks for speaking with Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords, Paul. Round the Twist was originally a children’s TV series […]

The owl who got left behind by Martine Murray, illustrated Anna Read

Author Interview & Book Review The owl who got left behind by Martine Murray, illustrated by Anna Read, published Parachute Press. Martine Murray has a backlist of thoughtful, affirming children’s books with a touch of whimsy, among them the wondrous and idiosyncratic The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley and its sequel The Slightly […]

The River by sally Morgan & Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr

The River by Sally Morgan & Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books “I love the river near my home. I look with my eyes, I listen with my ears, I learn about the life of the river.” (The River) Picture book review and ideas on how to use The River by Joy […]

Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children’s Laureate

Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children’s Laureate “A winged beast had lifted him high in the air. Everything was tiny – the people, the houses, even the mountains. He found a dream trail and followed it in. Now he was looking down upon a golden pavilion floating on a bed of mist.” (The Hidden Monastery) Gabrielle Wang […]

Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths by Julie Murphy, illustrated Ben Clifford

Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths (CSIRO Publishing) Author Julie Murphy and illustrator Ben Clifford write about their non-fiction book for children, Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths for Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog. Author Julie Murphy writes about Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths: Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths follows a year […]

The Torrent by Dinuka McKenzie

Author Interview for Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords I am very interested in reading Australian crime, particularly novels by women, since becoming a judge of the Davitt Crime Awards. The Torrent is Dinuka McKenzie’s debut novel. It is well constructed and written and is also unputdownable. Protagonist Detective Sergeant Kate Miles is an original character […]

Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast by Sue Whiting

Much-loved and prolific author, Sue Whiting tells PaperbarkWords about her new children’s novel Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast (published by Walker Books Australia). Sue writes about Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast: Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast is a page-turning adventure story set in Antarctica that blends […]

When You’re Older by Sofie Laguna, illustrated Judy Watson

When You’re Older Illustrator Interview Judy Watson is an exceptional illustrator. She won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Children’s Fiction) in 2012 for Good Night, Mice! (written by Frances Watts) and has excelled in other collaborations with Frances and also Lesley Gibbes, Lisa Shanahan and other notable Australian authors. Her new picture book, When You’re […]

The tree of ecstasy and unbearable sadness

The Sydney Launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley It was both a privilege and heartrending joy to attend the launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney’s Paddington last night. The movie of the work, composed by Matt and performed by a full […]