Protector of Beyond by Shara Curlett

Protector of Beyond by Shara Curlett (Penguin Books) “ ‘Today, you will have the honour of touching an Oath Stone,’ Charleston announces. ‘For those of you who produce a spark, you will leave this realm forever, entering into a training programme to fulfil your lifelong duty as a Protector of Beyond.’ ” (Protector of Beyond) […]

Wild Darling by Alexandra Moody

Wild Darling by Alexandra Moody (HarperCollins Australia) ‘Something about her expression hit me square in the chest. She never smiled or laughed when I was around. The way her eyes were sparkling now felt like discovering a rare hidden treasure. The thought stopped me short. Did I actually like making her laugh? She shook her […]

The Secret Landscapes by Clara Brack

The Secret Landscapes: On Not Pleasing Your Mother by Clara Brack Upswell Publishing Clara Brack, daughter of Australian art royalty, audaciously reinvents her parents’ lives in The Secret Landscapes. In an alternate reality, her father, renowned painter John Brack (Collins St 5pm), reveals his inner thoughts to a therapist, T. Her mother, overlooked cerebral artist […]

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd, illustrated by Peter Cheong Published by UQP Seetha Dodd writes a guest author post about her impressive debut children’s novel, Myra in the Middle for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words. When my sister was born, I was exactly three years and eleven months old. I had been […]

The Season for Flying Saucers by Brendan Colley

The Season for Flying Saucers by Brendan Colley (Transit Lounge) Brendan Colley writes about the inspiration behind The Season for Flying Saucers, his artful, left-field novel for adults, for Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog. In 2014 I was playing around with some narrative poetry, like I usually do as a warm-up before I […]

Muttonfish Magic by Aunty Ruth Simms & Lucy Robertson, illustrated by Jasmine Seymour

Muttonfish Magic by Aunty Ruth Simms & Lucy Robertson ill. by Jasmine Seymour Published by Magabala Books “Muttonfish Magic honours the Kameragyl and Bidjigal people, the traditional custodians of the land around Kamay (Botany Bay) and Guriwal (La Perouse). With sensory lyricism, Bidjigal Elder Ruth Simms and Lucy Robertson depict a loving First Nations family inspired […]

My Brother Otto by Ingrid Laguna

My Brother Otto by Ingrid Laguna (Text Publishing) “In the middle of her desk was her laptop. She had whole folders of stories on there. She opened to a screen she had titled The Invisible Girl and added some notes. No one sees the girl. Her colours are fading. She hides behind her cowgirl boots.” […]

e. Lockhart & We Fell Apart Interview

We Fell Apart by e. lockhart Interview with e. lockhart about We Fell Apart “It was a bad place to fall in love. On the property called Hidden Beach, a wooden castle stood on a monstrous cliff. It was a place of barbecues, sunblock, acoustic guitars, and midnight swims. Oil paint, intrusive briars. Hungry dogs. […]

Debra Dank Interview: Ankami – to give life to –

Ankami – to give life to – by Debra Dank (Echo Publishing) “So this is a story about time and words and ways because though many of the stories that lived here for thousands of years still wait to be told and freed to travel with the wind, other stories need attention now. These newer […]

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, ill. Alice Lindstrom

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, illustrated by Alice Lindstrom Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster Another Year Around the Sun – Creators’ Inspiration Katrina Germein In thinking about the inspiration for Another Year Around the Sun, I can’t pinpoint one moment; even revisiting my drafts doesn’t help. It’s just there. A story about […]