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 […]

100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze

100 REMARKABLE FEATS OF XANDER MAZE by Clayton Zane Comber (HarperCollins) The 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary awards shortlisted books were announced this week. As a judge in prior years I appreciate how much work and expertise is required by the judges, and work and liaison by coordinators and those submitting books for awards. Congratulations to […]

Words on the Waves Writers Festival 2022

Words on the Waves Writers Festival 2022 The second Words on the Waves Writers Festival was held on Darkinjung Country on the NSW Central Coast during the first weekend in June 2022. The festival expanded over two venues, Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Umina SLSC (both at Umina Beach) and was marked by […]

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 […]

Christmas Always Comes by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley

Christmas Picture Book Book Review Christmas Always Comes is the tale of a very Australian Christmas. As always, former Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French tells the story expertly, here with the narrative enhanced through dialogue and lyrical descriptions. Bruce Whatley’s illustrations depict the size, vast distance, colours and dryness of the Australian countryside, with splashes […]

The Boy and the Elephant by freya blackwood

The Boy and the Elephant by Freya Blackwood Picture Book Review Freya Blackwood is indisputably one of Australia and the world’s best picture book creators. Her works continually appear on the CBCA awards and winners lists and she has also won the international 2010 Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration. All of her books are standouts. […]

Can’t Say It Went To Plan by Gabrielle Tozer

I’ve read and enjoyed Gabrielle Tozer’s books from the start of her career. She has become a pivotal part of Australia’s YA author community. Gabrielle writes about her new novel, Can’t Say It Went To Plan for PaperbarkWords. Gabrielle Tozer on Can’t Say It Went To Plan: The idea for Can’t Say It Went To Plan arrived […]

Hello World by Lisa Shanahan & Leila Rudge

Hello World by Lisa Shanahan & Leila Rudge ABC Books, HarperCollins Publishers LISA: Picture books often grow out of a wild hotchpotch of memory, keen observation and deeply felt emotion. With regards to Hello World, I was certainly inspired by my own memories of parenting little ones. Like most kids, my three boys were often […]

Heroes of the Secret Underground by Susanne Gervay

“You’re free too … You’re not trapped by the secrets of the past. You’re now a witness to the past. To honour those who have suffered and let no one ever forget so it cannot happen again. You’re free to create your future now.” (Heroes of the Secret Underground) Any introduction of Australian children’s author […]

The Unwilling Twin by Freya Blackwood

Inside the CBCA Shortlist The Unwilling Twin by Freya Blackwood (HarperCollins Publishers) is shortlisted for the CBCA 2021 Picture Book of the Year. Credit to the judges of the picture book category because of their outstanding list (although I can’t imagine how they will select the winner and honour books from these deserving titles), and […]