So you want to be a children's author? Before I became a children's author, I think, like most people, I thought it was just a matter of writing a children's book. Write a great book and, voila!, you're a children's author. And it's true. But also not true. You...
There's been a lot of discussion in the media, online and, well, everywhere of late about gender, specifically gender identity. As with most discussions about most subjects, I'm a big believer that understanding is the key and that books can go a long way to fostering...
Creativity and change. The two things go hand in hand... In case you missed it, I am no longer co-hosting the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast. Call it a seven-year itch, if you like, but after 462 episodes the love had gone out of my labour of love, and so I had to...
'Consent' is a word we've heard a lot about over the past few years and it's a word that parents know they need to discuss with their kids from an early age. But how? In her brand-new picture book, From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes, Australian author Charlotte...
"What's the one thing you wish you'd known when you started out as an author?" It's a big question, and one I've been toying with over the past week. The problem is, there are just SO many things I wish I'd known. Narrowing it down to one seems impossible. So I...
As all the 'best books of 2021' lists begin to storm the internet and various other media channels, I decided that it was time the Your Kid's Next Read community got in on the action. So I challenged our members to help me create The Ultimate Your Kid's Next Read Best...
Useful writing tips are not that easy to come by. There's a lot of 'read widely' and 'write lots' in the writing advice given out – and for good reason. Those two tips are the cornerstone of any writer's career. But when it comes to the nitty gritty, the really useful...
When it comes to picture books, Australia's multicultural nature hasn't always been easy to find. Fortunately, things are changing, with more culturally diverse picture books being published. One author who is part of that welcome renaissance is Inda Ahmad Zahri, with...
"I’m wondering if there are any books aimed at an 8 year old (autistic child) with preferably with main character that is autistic?" "I have recently started working with children and teens who have been diagnosed with ASD / ADHD / OCD / ODD / Intellectual...
Looking for an extra-special Christmas gift for a young reader? A personally signed novel could be just the thing! In case you missed it, I'm offering signed copies of all A. L. Tait novels – The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher and the Maven & Reeve...
One of the most popular requests in the Your Kid's Next Read community is for YA novels suitable for tweens. Or books for 10-year-olds who want to 'read up'. So much so that Megan Daley and I have already devoted an episode of the Your Kid's Next Read podcast to the...
Having decided it was that time of year – that is, book list time of year – I put my mind to thinking about the Your Kid's Next Read community and the books they were requesting for their kids. Science books, I decided. STEM books for kids of all ages. And then,...
What do you do when a kid won't read? It's a question asked regularly, in various forms, in the Your Kid's Next Read Facebook group, particularly as young readers approach the end of primary school and the beginning of high school. At that point, it seems, the world...
One of the best things that children can do to help develop their creative writing skills is to read – and read widely. By 'read widely', I mean reading beyond their usual favourite kinds of stories and into other areas on the bookshelf, including non-fiction. For...
Well, you asked for it ... Your Kid's Next Read merchandise is go! The Facebook community that spawned a podcast has now got a t-shirt! In fact, we've got Your Kid's Next Read t-shirts for adults (shown below) and kids, as well as a tote that is librarian-blessed...
I've done a lot of talking about inspiration since The Wolf's Howl (Maven & Reeve #2) launched in August. "Where did the inspiration from?" is one of the most common questions asked in any interview, radio, podcast or print (tip for aspiring and new authors: have...
THE WOLF'S HOWL (Maven & Reeve #2) has been out for a month and, despite the fact I've been unable to leave home, I'm only just catching my breath. The pandemic may have changed the way a book launch has to operate, but it seems it's no less busy. So I felt it was...
Book Week 2021 is shaping up to be similar to Book Week 2020 for many – which is to say that parades and author talks are being held online. But that's not to say that dressing up as your favourite character is out of vogue. Not at all. Nothing breaks up the monotony...
I'm so thrilled to announce that THE WOLF'S HOWL (A Maven & Reeve Mystery #2) hits bookshops around Australia today. So thrilled in fact, that I made a little video to celebrate the #dreamvsreality of book release day:...
![[News] Festivals, podcasts, and a longlist](png/festivals-podcasts-longlist-400x250.png)
It's always easy to tell when I'm super-busy – I stop blogging. So I'm thrilled to be back in a small window of peace for a quick news update. Festivals: dates for your diary •All going well, I'm heading to Queensland next week for the Capricorn Coast Writers'...
