Bernie Thinks in Boxes by Jess Horn, ill. Zoe Bennett

Bernie Thinks in Boxes written by Jess Horn, illustrated by Zoe Bennett Picture book published by Affirm Press “Bernie liked boxes. When things fit into boxes, they made sense.” (Bernie Thinks in Boxes) Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a poignant yet positive tale about neurodivergence, told ingeniously and with pefect age-appropriateness. Guest author post about […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews

Inside the CBCA Shortlist “I had nowhere to go, he wants to say. I’m the boy of nothing and nowhere. I’m invisible and forgotten, a thief of dust and cobwebs and house keys.” (The Boy Who Steals Houses) The Boy Who Steals House by C.G. Drews (Orchard Books/Hachette Australia) has been nominated for the prestigious […]

The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly

Inside the CBCA Shortlist “This new life doesn’t really feel like it fits.” The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly (Wombat Books) is shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia in the Book of the Year: Younger Readers category. The Thing About Oliver is an appealing, although heart-wrenching, story for children told through the […]

Please Don’t Hug Me by Kay Kerr

“You see the world in a different way, Erin, and I think people might be interested in hearing about it.” (Please Don’t Hug Me) Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Kay. Thank you for having me, Joy. Your title, Please Don’t Hug Me (Text Publishing) is eye-catching and memorable. Why have you chosen it? I […]

The Space We’re In by Katya Balen

Katya Balen’s debut novel for young readers The Space We’re In (Bloomsbury) is an exquisite rendition of a family who, while buffeted by life’s trials, look to each other and the beauty and intricacy of the universe for comfort. Frank lost much of his loving parents’ time and attention when he was five and his […]

Laura Bloom and Mika & Max

Mika & Max (Walker Books) is distinctive because of Laura Bloom’s superb writing, excellent characterisation and evocation of place. It is likely to be nominated for awards. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Laura. It’s a pleasure, Joy. Thanks so much for having me. Could you begin by telling us about some of your previous […]