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 […]

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 […]

The Prison Healer trilogy by Lynette Noni

The Prison Healer trilogy by Lynette Noni Author Interview “You say you became the darkness, that it consumed you … but … I’ve never met anyone who shines as brightly as you do.” (The Gilded Cage) Lynette Noni has written exceptionally popular and high-selling fantasy series, the Medoran Chronicles and the Whisper duology. Here I’ll […]

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Gilded by Marissa Meyer Author Interview “Serilda’s stories take our dull existence and transform it into something special. It’s like … like spinning straw into gold.” (Gilded) Gilded by Marissa Meyer (Text Publishing) is a fantasy retelling of a fairy tale. It is a YA novel that will be relished by adults as well. It […]

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 […]

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 […]

Road Tripping with Pearl Nash by Poppy Nwosu

Road Tripping with Pearl Nash by Poppy Nwosu Poppy Nwosu’s new novel is Road Tripping with Pearl Nash (Wakefield Press). Pearl Nash is a slightly awkward, loveable character with an authentic voice. Her road trip doesn’t go exactly where she planned, but along the way we meet her family and friends, particularly Obi – and […]

Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

“I believe I’m a good person. But what if I’m not?” (Instant Karma) Marissa Meyer is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of my favourite international YA writers. She is based in Washington. I reviewed her novels Heartless and The Renegades trilogy in the Weekend Australian: Heartless is an excellent imagining of […]

The F Team by Rawah Arja

“You’re an Arab from Punchbowl. No one will believe you.” (The F Team) The F Team is a compelling new YA novel set mainly in Western Sydney by Rawah Arja (published by Giramondo). It is impossible to put down because of its portrayal of a visceral masculinity and physicality inhabited by authentic, lively characters. It […]

The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

The Other Side of the Sky is another stunning collaboration between Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner. It is published by Allen & Unwin. It is a dual narrative featuring a duel between science and magic. It traverses power and politics, climate change, romance, identity, prophesy, colour, music and light. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, […]