IBBY 2022 HONOUR BOOKS

The IBBY (Australia) Honour Books have been announced. These two books – one for Writing and one for Illustration – will be Australia’s nominations in the prestigious biennial international awards. The recipients are the extraordinary Vikki Wakefield for Writing and Philip Bunting for Illustration. Vikki’s award is for her YA novel This is How We […]

The Break by Phillip Gwynne

The Break by Phillip Gwynne Author Interview “But nobody had made Kimbo smuggle those drugs, had they? He’d known the penalty. How could he not, there were signs all over the airport.” (The Break) The Break is a high-octaneYA tale that will be remembered for a long while. Phillip Gwynne skilfully incorporates the angst his […]

Can’t Say It Went To Plan by Gabrielle Tozer

I’ve read and enjoyed Gabrielle Tozer’s books from the start of her career. She has become a pivotal part of Australia’s YA author community. Gabrielle writes about her new novel, Can’t Say It Went To Plan for PaperbarkWords. Gabrielle Tozer on Can’t Say It Went To Plan: The idea for Can’t Say It Went To Plan arrived […]

If Not Us by Mark Smith

“Social licence … It’s what enables a company to operate with the acceptance of the community. A local campaign can undermine the social licence if the town starts to question whether it really wants … any … company – here.” (If Not Us) It is a pleasure to speak to Mark Smith on the blog. […]

Social Queue by Kay Kerr

Kay Kerr made a splash in 2020 with her YA debut novel Please Don’t Hug Me and I interviewed her then at PaperbarkWords. Kerr has a new YA novel, Social Queue (clever title), published this month. Both novels are from Text Publishing. She tells us about it here: I started writing Social Queue, my new […]

self/less by AVIVA

self/less by AVIVA self/less is multidisciplinary artist and musician AVIVA’s debut novel. It is published by Pan Macmillan Australia. In this YA dystopia, 17-year-old Teddy lives a privileged life in Metropolis where creativity is a crime. Following her desire for freedom and change, she turns her world upside down. AVIVA writes about self/less: At its […]

Road Tripping with Pearl Nash by Poppy Nwosu

Road Tripping with Pearl Nash by Poppy Nwosu Poppy Nwosu’s new novel is Road Tripping with Pearl Nash (Wakefield Press). Pearl Nash is a slightly awkward, loveable character with an authentic voice. Her road trip doesn’t go exactly where she planned, but along the way we meet her family and friends, particularly Obi – and […]

A Weekend With Oscar by Robyn Bavati

ROBYN BAVATI WRITES: ON A WEEKEND WITH OSCAR Several years ago, I joined a local Toastmasters club and met Jacqui, a friendly and outgoing young woman with Down syndrome who attends our meetings with her dad. I have three adult children myself, and two of them had considerable difficulties at school. One of the ongoing […]

When Days Tilt by Karen Ginnane

On writing When Days Tilt by Karen Ginnane This book had the gestation of a small planet and it assumed various forms during its long development. However, a few conceptual structural beams have remained unchanged, such as: London as character. Time, and how people use it. Filling your own time on this earth as best […]

Future Girl by Asphyxia

“I accept being deaf. I know it’s my lot in life. It doesn’t bother me. I’d rather be deaf than perpetually ill or academically slow or … whatever. So … why the hell am I sniffing like mad, tears snaking down my cheeks?” (Future Girl) Future Girl is Asphyxia’s debut YA novel. It is an […]