How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan

How to Move a Zoo Written by Kate Simpson illustrated by Owen Swan Allen & Unwin “If the neighbours had known there was an elephant on their street, they’d have been hanging out of every window. But Jessie was silent on her soft feet. She didn’t wake them.” (How to Move a Zoo) How to […]

Emily Rodda Interview: Landovel & other books

Emily Rodda Interview: Landovel & other books Landovel is published by Allen & Unwin 2025 CBCA Notable Books “There’s more than one way to be a hero”. (Landovel: The Truth Teller) Congratulations on Landovel, your three-book fantasy masterwork, being announced as a 2025 CBCA Notable and thank you for speaking with me, Emily. I’ve read […]

Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White

Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White Allen & Unwin ‘What do you think it wants?’ Ezra was talking about the crocodile. It was the only thing they’d been talking about for the past little while. Because it had come back. Not lying around on the boat ramp […]

Isobelle Carmody and Comes the Night

Isobelle Carmody & Comes the Night Published by Allen & Unwin Author interview with Isobelle Carmody ‘Will marvelled all over again that people would try to stop their government building domes. Didn’t they know how bad the air was, how dangerous the sunlight? Domes were designed to filter both, and to screen out damaging radiation. […]

Thunderhead by Sophie Beer

Thunderhead by Sophie Beer Author Interview at PaperbarkWords “I know that what I’m going through right now is the rather unfortunate end result of a few troublesome cells. It isn’t the universe conspiring against me. It’s just bad luck, a random event in a meaningless mess. But I read somewhere that humans are programmed to […]

Sarah Bailey & Body of Lies

Sarah Bailey & Body of Lies Published by Allen & Unwin Author Interview Sarah Bailey is a prominent new Australian crime writer, known for her DS Gemma Woodstock series. The Dark Lake, first in the series won the 2018 Ned Kelly award for Best First Crime novel and the Davitt Award for Best Crime Debut. […]

South with the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin

South with the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin Author/illustrator Interview at PaperbarkWords “They came at last to an island at the edge of the world.” (South with the Seabirds) South with the Seabirds is another excellent book by Jess McGeachin. It tells a surprising tale about Macquarie Island and its history. Distinguished by Jess’s research, […]

How To Free A Jinn by Raidah Shah Idil

How To Free A Jinn by Raidah Shah Idil How To Free A Jinn is Raidah Shah Idil’s middle fiction fantasy debut. It is published by Allen & Unwin. How To Free A Jinn, A Love Letter: Guest Author post by Raidah Shah Idil When I first migrated from Singapore to Sydney, it was a tough transition. […]

Smoke & Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg

Smoke & Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg Author Interview at PaperbarkWords “ ‘I want to be a magician,’ I said. ‘That’s what I want to be. It’s all I want to be. I don’t know if I can earn a living from it. Maybe I can’t. But when I think about the future, that’s what I […]

The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet by Jaclyn Moriarty (Allen & Unwin) “ ‘And what is this world?’ I asked. ‘It’s called the Kingdoms and Empires. It’s like our world, only more old-fashioned. Plus they have magic. The main thing to remember is that Shadow Mages are good and Spellbinders can bind Shadow Magic. Genies […]