Devils in Danger by Samantha Wheeler

Devils in Danger by Samantha Wheeler Writing Devils in Danger, published by UQP, 2021 I was in Tasmania a few years ago on a fund raising walk for the Wilderness Society. We were spending 7 days in the Tarkine, an area of pristine wilderness where I hoped to see plenty of Tassie wildlife. We saw […]

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 […]

One Potoroo by Penny Jaye & Alicia Rogerson

One Potoroo: A Story of Survival by Penny Jaye & Alicia Rogerson, published CSIRO Publishing Penny Jaye tells us about her new book One Potoroo, as well as some of her other books. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Penny. Thank you for having me here. Where are you based and what is your involvement […]

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. […]

Abdulrazak Gurnah wins the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature

In exciting news Abdulrazak Gurnah has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. I was ‘in conversation’ with him at the 2011 Brisbane Writers Festival. He had been nominated for the Booker Prize for Paradise by then (and also the Whitbread) and we discussed his new novel (at the time), The Last Gift (published Bloomsbury) in […]

Follow Your Feelings by Kitty Black and Jess Rose

Kitty Black and Jess Rose talk about the two picture books in their new ‘Follow Your Feelings’ series: Max and Worry and Lucy and Sad (published Affirm Press) Kitty Black, author: Follow Your Feelings began its physical life as a form of procrastination, but I suspect it had been taking shape in the back of […]

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (published by Candlewick Press & Walker Books Australia) Author Interview “There will one day come a girl child who will unseat A king and bring about a great change.” (The Beatryce Prophecy) Kate DiCamillo’s books for children are amongst the best in the world. Titles […]

The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie, published Lothian Children’s Books Author & Illustrator Interview “Miro could swim with the stars and tickle the songs from the earth. He could whisper up waves and weave clouds to make stories for the wind.” (The Curiosities) Perfect confluence of words and illustrations makes The Curiosities […]