Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin, illustrated by Pip Kruger

Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin, illustrated Pip Kruger Guest author: Caz Goodwin Could you tell us about your new picture book, Grace and Mr Milligan? Grace lives next door to old Mr Milligan and his goat Charlie. They are the best of friends. But when Charlie passes away, everything changes. Grace is disturbed […]

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong Author Interview ‘I’ll tell you another secret … about Simta. Everyone in this city wears a mask. They pretend they’re someone braver, smarter, more cunning: whatever mask best suits them. Wear it well and no one will see you – not the real you. They’ll only see what you want […]

Gus and the Starlight by Victoria Carless

Gus and the Starlight by Victoria Carless Published by HarperCollins Australia Guest author: Victoria Carless Victoria Carless writes about her wonderful middle-fiction novel, Gus and the Starlight for PaperbarkWords. Christmas gift idea Gus and the Starlight is a story about family, friendships and second chances. It’s set in a haunted drive-in movie theatre and features […]

Evie and Rhino

Evie and Rhino by Neridah McMullin, illustrated by Astred Hicks Published by Walker Books Australia Evie and Rhino is a beautifully written middle-fiction novel about a most unusual and significant friendship. Neridah McMullin tells us about Evie and Rhino and about her writing craft at PaperbarkWords: Why a Rhino? Until recently, rhinos weren’t really an […]

The Museum of Broken Things Lauren Draper

The Museum of Broken Things by Lauren Draper “Gideon crosses his arms behind his head. He looks tired again, I realise. And softer, somehow. Lifeguard Gideon is all hard edges and shrewd lines. Party Gideon is a little looser, his smile a little wider. I hesitate before I settle down beside him at last, gazing […]

RUNT by Craig Silvey

Runt by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (published by Allen & Unwin) Author interview with Craig Silvey “’I just wanted to tell you that I don’t think Runt is afraid. In fact, he looks like a very brave dog indeed. For a long time he didn’t have anyone. And then you found each other, […]

Egg by Clare Atkins & Harrison Vial

Egg by Clare Atkins, illustrated by Harrison Vial Clare Atkins is an exceptional Australian author who writes across a range of platforms, including YA novels, scriptwriting and now a stunning picture book, Egg (University of Queensland Press). Clare has a big heart and is able to embody her characters and their situations thoughtfully to create […]

Cranky Chicken: Party Animals by Katherine Battersby

Cranky Chicken: Party Animals by Katherine Battersby Author / Illustrator Interview Congratulations Katherine on Cranky Chicken, your graphic novel for children being so successful that there is now a sequel, Cranky Chicken: Party Animals (published by Lothian Children’s Books/Hachette Australia). Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords. I have loved your picture […]

August & Jones by Pip Harry

August & Jones by Pip Harry Pip Harry is the much-loved and awarded author of ground-breaking YA (Because of You, Head of the River and I’ll Tell You Mine) and middle-fiction (The Little Wave and Are You There, Buddha?). Her books are original, thought-provoking and beautifully crafted. Her lovely new middle-fiction novel August and Jones […]

How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood “Our word of the week is participation. More like ‘exclusion’ for me, not that anyone seems to care.” (How to Spell Catastrophe) Fiona Wood is one of Australia’s best contemporary writers of YA literature, evinced by the many awards her books have won. In fact, her three most […]