Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara

Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara ill. Lauren Degraaf Published by Affirm Press Author Interview with Maddy Mara Congratulations on the publication of your important, affirming picture book, Brave in Every Which Way, Maddy Mara, and thank you for speaking with Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords. Guest Author Post by Maddy Mara about Brave Every Which Way Maddy […]

The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold & Levi Pinfold

The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Levi Pinfold (published by Bloomsbury) Author interview with A.F. Harrold ‘As the day had gone by he’d been a bottle caught in the river current, bobbing and vanishing and twirling this way and that, yes and no, peace and anger, forgiveness and revenge.’ (The Worlds […]

Solomon Macaroni by Ashleigh Barton

Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton Ashleigh Barton’s picture book What do you call your Grandma? (illustrated by Martina Heiduczek) is a 2022 CBCA shortlisted book. Her new book, Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe (University of Queensland Press) is the first in a children’s series. Here she explains the genesis of […]

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett Author Interview “Most Humans do not understand us. It seems like Humans often kill things they don’t understand – things they are frightened of.” (Wandi) Favel Parrett is well known for her beautifully crafted novels for adults, Past […]

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS by Amanda Christensen & Coral Vass

Where the Magic Happens by Amanda Christensen & Coral Vass, illustrated by Nicky Johnston I found the picture book, Where the Magic Happens very moving, instructive and hopeful, not only for young children with brain cancer but also for their families. In fact, it helps all readers understand what a young cancer patient may experience. […]

The Gaps by Leanne Hall

“Yes. I can almost hear the thoughts of every single girl in my year level. We’re all scared, of almost everything.” (The Gaps) Leanne Hall is such a star writer. If her debut YA novel, This is Shyness, was her only book, she would still go into the annals of Australian YA literature. But […]

This Taste for Silence by Amanda O’Callaghan

Brisbane author Amanda O’Callaghan has crafted a thoughtful, darkly-hued work in This Taste for Silence (UQP). This, her debut collection of short stories seems to be set in both Australia and the UK. The cover, with its still-life arrangement of three flying porcelain ducks and a comfortable but empty (apart from a painting) chair in […]