Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton

Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) “ ‘Hello? Is this Organised Grime?’ Fluff says into the phone. ‘I’m looking for someone to clean our caravan. Yes, it’s urgent. There’s been an accidental food fight and … well, we have a fish with a poop problem.’ ” (Fluff: Mess Up!) Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt […]

The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn

The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn Hachette, Australia Finding a Wounded Foal by Robbie Coburn I have often read that the first novel an author writes is largely autobiographical; in our lives, we have arrived at a point where we can explore our history through the lens of our characters. I have been […]

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold Thames & Hudson “We live in a bus and we stop whenever we like.” (We Live in a Bus) We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold is a 2025 CBCA shortlisted Picture Book of the Year. Congratulations on your warm, joyous book and its CBCA shortlisting, […]

Hey Zazou! by Tony Thompson

Hey Zazou! by Tony Thompson Published by Ford St Guest author post by Tony Thompson for Paperbark Words Hey, Zazou! is my new novel. It is set in Paris during the Second World War. To introduce it, I thought I would answer some questions that I’ve been asked over the years at schools, libraries, and […]

Saturation by William Lane

Saturation by William Lane Saturation by William Lane (Transit Lounge) is a gripping, easy-to-read dystopia for adults that explores issues of climate and other anxieties. On writing Saturation by William Lane It seems every second person wrote a novel during the Covid lockdowns. Saturation is one of these novels. The Covid crisis, along with the […]

Our Dance by Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton, ill. Janelle Burger

Our Dance by Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton, ill. Janelle Burger Lothian Books, Hachette Australia Finding Our Rhythm: The Journey of Writing ‘Our Dance’ Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton write about creating their exuberant interactive picture book, Our Dance with Janelle Burger for PaperbarkWords blog: Taylor Hampton is a proud Ngiyampaa/Wiradjuri man and Jacinta Daniher is an early […]

Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit

Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit Author/illustrator Interview at PaperbarkWords “There was no one. Just us. ‘Never lose hope,’ Grandma said. ‘Life can be meaningful even in the darkest of days.’ “ (Higher Ground) New Frontier Publishing Thank you for speaking to ‘Joy in Books’ at PaperbarkWords, Tull. You must be thrilled with the final […]

Poem: Know a River by Gregory Day

‘Know a River’ Poem by Gregory Day from Southsightedness Published by Transit Lounge, 2025 Southsightedness is a beautiful book and artefact. Know A River Know a river any river but know a river. Know that life passes at the river’s pace that staunch limbs get snagged till they twist and easy lissome fronds go floating […]

My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui, ill. Evie Barrow

My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui, ill. Evie Barrow Guest Author Post by Angie Cui Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about your imaginative, affirming picture book My Mum is a Bird, Angie. As a debut author, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I first began writing My Mum is a Bird. […]

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna UQP Author Interview with Sandy Bigna about Little Bones “Keep going, Nico whispers as I get higher and higher. My legs are shaking so hard I don’t know how they’re even Supporting me. ‘Keep going,’ Bird echos Nico from inside my bag. My chest wants to explode from the thrashing […]