Look What I'm Reading! Paul Collins

Paul Collins is the author of around 150 books for both children and adults. He is the publisher at Ford Street Publishing and CEO of Creative Net Speakers’ Agency. 

He organises literary festivals in schools and PD seminars. Paul’s latest book from Hybrid is James Gong – The Big Hit.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading a new book from Cheree Peters called Time Vaulter.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?

Thea must escape her enemies and the death of a beloved friend, the betrayal of someone even closer, and the destructive abuse of an enemy even more evil than Corbin.

 A war is brewing with unlikely allies, and Thea is in the middle of it.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?

It’s the final book in the trilogy. It ties up all the loose ends quite admirably.

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?

The cover’s quite brilliant. It’s by Marc McBride, the Deltora Questillustrator. Main reason for reading the book was to conclude the trilogy. First titles were Time Catcher and Time Warper.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?

I have a new picture book by Chris McKimmie called Colin Cockroach Goes to Caloundra. Quite hilarious and the art is unique. The humans have declared a state of emergency due to a cockroach infestation and roach bomb the house. So Colin joins the humans on their holiday in their suitcase.

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?

The books were sent to me by the authors for review.

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?

I prefer science fiction and fantasy, mainly because of the imagination used in writing these genres. Contemporary, for example, happens to us in real life. I like to be taken away from reality when I’m reading.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.

I won’t read on screen. People often ask if they can send me files to read via email. One reason I decline is because I look at the computer screen seven days a week. The last thing I need is to read manuscripts on screen. The amount of manuscripts that arrive every week prohibits my printing them out.

www.paulcollins.com.au 

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12 Curly Questions with author Bernadette Green

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
When I was a teenager I used to try and move things with my mind. I gave it another go just now.

2. What is your nickname?
Bern/Bernie. As a teenager I was also called Gonzo and Brutus, nobody escaped a nickname at my high school.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Aside from worrying about my children, it’s falling off a ship and no one noticing.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Plain while aiming for humour, empathy and a good rhythm.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Imaginative, honest, willingness to re-write, passionate, persistent

6. What book character would you be, and why? 
Ron Weasley, mainly because I want to be a part of his family, but also because he’s funny, he’s a wizard, Hermione falls in love with him and sometimes it’s safer to be the sidekick.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go back in time to the first architectural school and convince them to build double the number of public toilets for women as men.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
You’re so old and where is our monkey?

9. Who is your greatest influence? 
I don’t have one person in mind, but I was touched by Catherine Deveny’s ode to ordinary people, 'Just Keep Going. A Tribute to Everyday Heroes'. It makes me think of my sister, who after finishing chemotherapy for breast cancer, studied Pilates and opened a studio at her home in Kinglake.

10. What/who made you start writing? 
I’m a middle child, sandwiched between two siblings on either side. Always desperate for attention, when my teacher and mother fussed over a story I wrote as a 10-year-old, I decided I wanted to be a writer.

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
 Discombobulated because it sounds like the horrible state it describes and I find this is comforting.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
Probably a book that I decided I’d never read, like Ulysses. It’s always sounded like too much work, but that might stop me from getting bored. Then there’s The Bible, I’ve heard that writers should read all the religious texts. So really, something big, a bit difficult and hopefully rewarding.

Bernadette Green grew up loving animals and being outdoors. She dreamed of becoming a writer, but life took her in many different directions. She trained as a youth worker and shiatsu therapist before returning to writing. Bernadette lives in Melbourne with her partner and children, and their dog, Coco. For more information, see www.scribblekidsbooks.com.

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The House with Chicken Legs

This book took me by surprise. A middle grade Slavic fairy tale retelling about a house that walks around on chicken legs, a grandmother that guides the dead to the next world, and a girl struggling with her destiny, that is told with such heart and emotion that it is hard not to shed a tear.

Mariska lives with her grandmother, Baba Yaga, whose job it is to guide people who die from this world to the next. Mariska knows she is destined to one day take over from her grandmother but she doesn’t want to be a Yaga. She can’t bear the thought of listening to the dead and guiding them through the gate.

The house Mariska lives in has chicken legs and its own personality. As with all Yaga houses, it gets up and walks (or runs) to its next destination whenever it feels like it. 

The house never stays in one place long enough for Mariska to make friends. Not that she can anyway given she’s not supposed to go beyond the house’s fence.

As much as she loves Baba Yaga, Mariska is lonely and longs for a life beyond the house. She wants to explore, to meet people, to have fun. Baba keeps telling her that if she would just listen to the stories of the people that pass through their house to the next life, then she will live through them. But Mariska wants her own life experiences, not someone else’s.

This is really a story of self-discovery. Of being willing to open your eyes and understand what is in front of you, but also to follow your own path and share what’s really important to you so that others understand.

This book deals with issues of life and death but its overall message is positive. It’s a bit of a tearjerker, as Mariska has to experience hardship and push through the ramifications of her desire to break away from tradition, to come to an understanding of what her future will be. But in the process, she also changes those around her for the better.

A beautifully and sensitively written middle grade fantasy story that is surprisingly relatable to all those who love their family but yearn to forge their own path.

Title: The House with Chicken Legs
Author: Sophie Anderson
Publisher: Usborne Publishing, $14.99
Publication Date: 21 May 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781474940665
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction




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Review: The Big World of Fun Facts

Do you know what the longest word in the English language is? It will take more than a minute to write. I couldn’t even say it!

If you like facts, figures and trivia, and are curious about anything and everything, you’ll love The Big World of Fun Facts.  

Lonely Planet excels in informational books for kids and adults that love to learn stuff! This is another opportunity to discover unknown things about the world around us.

National symbols, flags, currency, language and everything connected to culture and traditions can be found here, along with snippets of social history and politics.

Historical facts abound. About 7000 languages are spoken on Earth. The Albanians have 27 different words for moustache. Learn how people are named in different countries and why. Read interesting Folklore Facts and learn about unique schools.

Unusual factual stories invite the reader to explore further. Some of them are gruesome and disgusting. Just what kids love to read.

There are music facts, sports and car facts, incredible feats, weird job facts that no one will believe, with dangerous jobs included. Arts and entertainment are also addressed. Each section is separated by individual page colours for easy identification.

Wise words and proverbs from each country that are still used today will surprise. So will the many amazing entries of things I had never heard about.

From rappers to railways; Hollywood to Bollywood, colourful photographs in a montage of colour and shapes fill the pages and complement the excellent text.

I had the best laugh with Real Place Name Facts! They were literally unbelievable!

This will certainly be one of the most entertaining and comprehensive books kids and adults will ever come across. It will be opened repeatedly and at every opportunity.

It has a listing at the end of more books of facts - hard copy and online, for those that love learning, or just reading about fun facts.

Title: The Big World of Fun Facts

Author:W. H. Poole

Publisher: Lonely Planet Kids, $29.95

Publication Date: November 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781788683326

For ages: 9 - 12

Type: Non Fiction

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Guest Post: Robert Verscio On His Inspiration Behind Happiness Is A Cloud

Giveaway: Gregory Goose Is On The Loose! Board Book Prize Pack

Review: A Trip to the Beach

A Trip to the Beach is Gwyn Perkins’ final book in the Iggy and Grandad series. His A Walk in the Bush won the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Award for Picture Book of the Year 2018. He was 76 years old.

Surfboards, Esky, beach towels, goggles, bucket and spade are packed into the car. Today best friends Iggy the cat and Grandad are leaving the city for the beach. In the car they play I Spy. Iggy sees the sea. He runs in without thought. The waves are high. They frighten him.

 They investigate what the waves have carried in. Bones, rocks, plastic bottles, a thong and bits and pieces of debris lie in a line on the sand. They decorate their sand castle. Grandad decorates his head with seaweed.

They decide to go on a boat trip. Which boat, though? They choose a canoe and put on their life vests. They stop at an inlet. No high waves here. Iggy dons his goggles and down he goes.

But surfing is what Iggy wants to learn. But he remembers the high waves that frightened him. Can Grandad teach him to surf?

This is a joyous celebration about overcoming your fears, enjoying the outdoors and the calm and comfort of close friendship in an Australian setting.

Gwyn Perkins’ illustrations lie lightly on the page. White dominates and allows the attention to focus on the two figures, their actions and setting.

Beautifully simply and simply beautiful, Perkins shows that less is more.

Title: A Trip to the Beach

Author/Illustrator: Gwyn Perkins

Publisher: Affirm Press, $24.99

Publication Date: 29 October 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925870473

For ages: 3+

Type:  Australian Picture book

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Guest Post: Zanni Louise Persistence In The Time of Corona

Meet The Illustrator: Di Spediacci

Name: Di Spediacci

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Whimsical, quirky, story telling, emotion capturing and hopefully smile making.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?

My big desk. It’s actually a kitchen bench from IKEA but it works really well as a creative space and the huge drawers are great for storage. I love my watercolours and although I like to do my own mixing the seemingly endless colour palette that Daniel Smith offers is pretty enticing.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

Definitely watercolour. I love how transparent it is on the paper. It can be quite unpredictable but I like the challenge and have learnt some tricks to manipulate the medium somewhat. I use a lot of glazing and blending to build up the colour.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Modigliani – I fell in love with his elongated emotion evoking figures and he has definitely influenced my work.
Drysdale – I just realised that he also paints lanky figures haha.
Danielle Donaldson – her story telling is wonderful

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

The Expressionism period for sure. I’d really like to watch some of those artists at work and to meet them in a café and just hang out. Did I mention that I love Modigliani’s work?

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I began studying watercolour techniques about 20 years ago with Delwynne Dwyer. With a degree in Social Science and a career working with ‘at-risk’ youth my focus shifted until about six years ago when I rediscovered my creative self and studied with numerous teachers including Jane Davenport, Juna Biagioni and Danielle Donaldson. Something about creating quirky little characters just resonated with me and I decided to move away from fine art and concentrate on developing my illustration techniques. Two years ago I met Michelle Worthington from Share Your Story and a whole new world of picture book possibilities emerged. Since then I’ve just been following the breadcrumbs and trying to learn as much as I can. It’s been a fun journey.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.

My work space is a spare bedroom so it can get a bit crowded when I’m working on a project. It needs a big sort and clean. Those drawers in the shelving hide a lot.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I love how the characters little personalities take shape as you start to put the pencil to paper and the surprises that sometimes show up. However I think my favourite part of the process is adding the colour to the illustrations. It’s where a lot of the magic happens and the images gain a heartbeat.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Find a tribe to belong to. I actually don’t mind time alone in my studio however it’s so nice to have a group of people who can celebrate your ‘wins’ but who also understand the total frustrations that come with the industry. I would also recommend Nina Rycroft’s ‘Picture Book Illustration e-Course’. I learned valuable information about the industry and gained lots of new illustration skills.

Di Spediacci is a Brisbane based illustrator. She enjoys creating unique,
whimsical characters and magical worlds for them to live in. Her aim is to
capture emotion and story to connect the viewer with the work and leave them
with something to smile about.

For more infomation please like Di's facebook page.

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Junior Review: The Phantasmic Detective Agency

Look What I'm Reading! Deborah Kelly

Deborah Kelly is an award winning children’s author of picture books, junior fiction and middle grade.

Her popular titles include Dinosaur Disco (Random House), Me and You (Penguin) and the Ruby Wishfingers series (Wombat Books).

Deborah's recent release The Thing about Oliverwas listed as a CBCA Notable. Her new picture book Dugong Magic (Hachette) is now available.

As well as writing for kids Deb works in a bookstore, is a Role Model for Books in Homes and reviews children’s books for Reading Time magazine.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

I usually have several on the go! I just finished Maddie in the Middle by Julia Lawrinson.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?

It’s a coming of age story about friendships, growing up and staying true to yourself.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?

I enjoyed this story a lot. It reminded me of the Judy Blume books I loved growing up - enjoyable reads with subtle messages, featuring real kids in real situations.

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?

I saw it listed as a CBCA notable in the same category as my novel The Thing about Oliver and it looked interesting! I read a lot of middle grade because I want to write more of it. And I have a twelve year old daughter who likes realistic middle grade fiction as much as I do!

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?

There is a whole leaning tower of them! I have almost finished Songbird by Ingrid Laguna and How to Make a Movie in 12 Days by Fiona Hardy (both CBCA Notable titles) is next. I also have some grown up books and a collection of poetry.

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?

Sometimes I get titles sent to me for reviewing by Reading Time magazine, and other times I am lucky enough to pick up reading copies of the latest books at the bookstore where I work. But most often I buy books because I like the sound of them or because my kids might be interested in reading them. We usually lend them to friends, too.

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?

At the moment I am interested in reading realistic middle grade fiction because that’s what I want to write more of. I’m also starting to read more realistic YA because that’s an age group I would like to write for eventually.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.

Printed! I think we all have too much screen time as it is.

Most kids I know prefer looking at an actual book, not a screen. This is especially true for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Being an author and working at a bookstore, I want to support the industry, my fellow authors and my local bookstore as much as I can by buying print books.

http://www.deborahkelly.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/DeborahKellyChildrensAuthor/

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Review: Good Guys, Bad Guys

12 Curly Questions with author Alison Croggon

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I once was on a poetry reality tv show in a bush town in South Australia. I had to write a poem and read to the whole town. It was a competition with another poet who is a dear friend and luckily it was a draw!

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t really have a nickname — people mostly call me Alison. But a few people call me Ali. Others call me Croggers. One person called me The Crogster.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Being buried alive.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Ouch! That’s hard. Vivid, character-centred, lyrical. I want my books to move people.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Truthful, imaginative, feeling, stubborn, accurate.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would always be me, but there are a few worlds I would like to live in. One of them being Pellinor, in my epic fantasy books, because there are places there I would really like to visit.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
To be honest, it’s usually much worse for women in historical times, so I prefer to live now, even with all the problems. I would just like the present to be better.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
You did it! (I started my first fantasy novel when I was 10)

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Ursula Le Guin. I’ve loved her books all my life.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I can’t remember. I wrote before I went to school because I liked it so much.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Dinner, because I really like eating

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hmmm. That’s also a hard one! I can’t choose, because I have too many favourite books, but it might be a book of poems. Maybe by William Blake.

Alison Croggon is an award-winning writer who lives in Melbourne. She writes novels, plays, poems and essays. She is the author of the epic fantasy series The Books of Pellinor, which has sold more than half a million copies world wide. Her most recent book is The Threads of Magic. For more information, see www.alisoncroggon.com.

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Review: The Besties Make a Splash

The Besties are back again, and this time they’re off to the beach for a swim.

When Ruby wants to stay in the water and Oliver wants to explore the rock pools, for the first time in maybe forever, the Besties decide to split up and go hang out with other kids.

But funny friend Zac and the coolest girl in school maybe aren’t who Oliver and Ruby expected them to be.

Does distance make the heart grow fonder?

The Besties is a fresh and funky series for junior readers just starting out on their independent reading journeys. 

The stories are short and fun, with lots of illustrations to help junior readers transition to longer novels. 

The text on each page is also limited to about 40 words (or less), ensuring the reading experience isn’t overwhelming for beginners.

I love that Ruby and Oliver’s adventures are real and relatable. Humour is woven into every story, but like The Besties to the Rescue and The Besties Show and Smell, Make a Splash is about the normal things kids do and the everyday emotional challenges that arise when navigating life, school and friendships.

A key feature of all the books in the series is also play, and the power and importance of letting kids immerse themselves in imaginative play. Author Felice Arena has said of his brainstorming process in coming up with the series:

“How about two best friends – besties – who share in everyday adventures at home, in their backyards, and at school? And what if I make sure that the stories are not over-complicated and weighed down in heavy narrative, or bound by over-the-top plots and jeopardy? What if the dialogue and action was entertaining and visually engaging?”

And, truly, every idea Arena mentions above has been nailed in the series. These are books about everyday life. They are not overly complicated and the dialogue and action is HIGHLY entertaining and visually engaging.

If you know junior readers just starting to read independently, I highly recommend checking out The Besties series. And to check out what else Felice Arena had to say about the series, check out his article How Play Brings Out the Best(ie) in All of Us.

Title: The Besties Make a Splash
Author: Felice Arena
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $9.99
Publication Date: 28 April 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760890964
For ages: 7 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction, Illustrated Fiction

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Winner: Sue Whiting Good Question and The Book of Chance

Our lucky winner is...

Ollie Cameron, NSW

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of both of Sue Whiting's newest releases, the picture book Good Question and the middle grade novel, The Book of Chance.

Thank you to ALL who entered. So many of you, some with really fascinating fairy tale adventures to share. Don't forget to read our KBR review of Sue Whiting's, The Book of Chance and pop back again soon for another exciting chance to win your next favourite read!

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Review: James Gong: The Big Hit

James is fourteen and has a valued opinion of himself; from the top of his shaven head to the tip of his nose-picking fingers. After four years of taekwondo (Korean karate his mum calls it), he is preparing for his black belt. He is also waiting a month, for his stinky uniform to grow legs and walk to the washing machine.

Because of the last, he is unprepared for the forgotten camera crew that arrives at his class to film a segment for a series. 

His teacher sees him as his best student. The camera focuses on James and his fluid moves.  Jumping spinning side kicks fly. They look fantastic on camera, especially when a well-executed spin drops the giant bully, Brian Tossa. A tiny camera drone captures perfect aerial shots.

This sets James on the road to acting and fame. He embraces what life offers, but some questions persist and need to be answered. His best friends, Ethan and Jay, stand by him regardless of weaknesses that others find repulsive, and strengths which surface like a rising mist.

What are the true credentials of the two women that claim to be film-makers? James can’t find any record of their production company. If they aren’t who they claim, what can they be up to?

Does James really care? After being an unpopular person (even his sister doesn’t like him) he has become a well known actor. Does it matter how he got there? Will Amber, the apple of his eye, see him differently now?

Devious moves are afoot with James the pawn. But Fate will shift and shape things to fit its plan. There are curving paths and lanes James must travel and lessons to be learnt by many. The true nature of those who matter is revealed. Reinforced is the fact that people are more than they seem and frequently, the way we see ourselves, is not how others perceive us and vice-versa.

Sudden awakenings towards the end make everything that was smoky before, clear, in an outrageous novel about personal growth, self worth, friendship and family.

Full of tongue in cheek humour and clever word play, the chapters are crammed with crazy antics, lame excuses, nonsense, grossness and laughs. But it ends as is usual in a Paul Collins novel, with a fantastic and unexpected twist!

Collins is a master of character-driven novels. Proof are his outstanding Harry Kruize, Born to Lose and The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler. He is trained in martial arts and used his knowledge to perfectly shape the reality of James Gong’s life.

Title: James Gong: The Big Hit

Author: Paul Collins

Illustrator: Matthew Lin

Publisher: FORD ST, $16.95

Publication Date: 10 May 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 978192573441

For ages: 9 - 13

Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Video: David Walliams reads from Gangsta Granny

Since 2008, David Walliams has released at least one children's novel each year, with his stories being described as having similar style to Roald Dahl. He's also written several picture books and short story collections.

One of his novels, Gangsta Granny, is the story of Ben and his grandmother. Ben has to stay with her every Friday night and thinks she's kind of boring ... until he discovers her secret. This video is a recent live reading by David of an excerpt from Gangsta Granny, followed by him answering questions from fans.



Title: Gangsta Granny
Author: David Walliams
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Harper Collins, $14.99
Publication Date: 2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780007371464
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Fiction




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Review: Super Sporty Girls

Super Sporty Girls is a celebration of Australian women and teams who participate and excel in sports all around the world.

As the main character rides, surfs, swings and runs through each page, she considers all the sports she might like to try and thinks about women who currently engage in every sport she can imagine.

Each page shows photographs of Australian women actively participating in sport with joy, strength, skill and determination. There are Paralympians, Olympians, world-leading tennis players, surfing champions, cricketing legends, football players and teams, bike riders, netballers, swimmers, sailors and many more!

This book is a fabulous encouragement to all girls to try different sports, be part of a team, and to remain engaged in sports throughout their lives.

Title: Super Sporty Girls
Illustrator: Rebecca King
Publisher: Puffin Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 28 April 2020
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781760896058
For ages: 5+
Type: Junior Non-fiction




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Review: The Threads of Magic

The Threads of Magic is a multi-layered novel with a complex plot.  This thrilling, imaginative, magical adventure comes from one of Australia’s finest writers, Alison Croggan, author of The Books of Pellinor and amongst others, Black Spring, an extraordinary retelling of Wuthering Heights. This is her first middle grade novel.

Pip is a pick pocket extraordinaire that lives with his sister El in the city of Clarel. He snatches a small silver casket covered in gems. To buy food, he sells the casket to a dealer who is later found dead. But he has removed the object inside.

Now both the children’s lives are in danger from many who seek to own the Stone Heart hidden for so long.

The Stone Heart with its magic powers was taken by a witch from crown Prince Clovis as a child.

As Pip discovers what it is he now possesses, the Stone Heart begins to communicate with him.

But it is only the Cardinal who knows how to use the magic of the Stone Heart. The Oracle of the void has shown him the spell used to create it.

Too many lives will be forfeited and much is lost, but more is ultimately gained as Pip and El struggle to determine which decisions they need to make.

Courage, resilience, trust and friendship are strong themes.

Powerful characters – good and bad, propel this exciting fantasy tale. The world Croggan has created with her scintillating prose is immense and believable with good versus evil at the core.

The entire novel is like a string of stories linked together from beginning to end. Each scene proves better than the previous one. Fast-paced and full of tension, everything builds up to a spectacular climax.  

Alison Croggan is also a poet, fantasy novelist, and playwright.

Title: The Threads of Magic

Author: Alison Croggan

Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99

Publication Date: March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781406384741

For ages: 9+

Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Go Get 'Em Tiger

Meet The illustrator: Kate Talbot

Name: Kate Talbot

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Expressive characters depicted in vibrant colours and rich textures.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?

I recently started working digitally, using Procreate on an iPad.

So as long as I can recharge every 6-hours or so and get regular refills of coffee and chocolate, I can pretty much work anywhere. It’s the number one reason I made the switch to digital.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

I work 100% digitally, although, I don’t like my work to look digital. As such, I work a lot with photographs of textures, laying them in over my drawings. As Procreate only allows a maximum of 16 layers (for double spreads) I have hundreds and hundreds of files containing separate elements – individual character, buildings, props etc. I then compile them in one master 'assembly' file. The process is time-consuming and fiddly, but it allows me a lot of control and the ability to return to previous versions if I find something new isn’t working.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
I love the way Axel Scheffler captures emotional and personality so effortlessly.

I adore Rogério Coelho’s use of colour and world building. And Chantelle and Burgen Thorne taught me how to build texture into my work so that it reflects a more traditional look. I try to borrow from each of these artists whenever I’m creating a piece. 

 
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

I’d cut off my right arm to return to the time of the impressionists. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration - my left arm. I still need to draw after all. But ever since I was a small child, I’ve been captivated by the Impressionist mastery of colour and light. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I come from a filmmaking background, so stories always come to me as scenes or sequences. For a long time, I flip-flopped on whether I had the chops to make it as an illustrator (I still struggle with this on a daily basis). However, I constantly come up against the challenge of my stories not making sense without the illustrations (even with the use of art notes). Each time I’ve made the decision to focus solely on writing (before attempting to conquer illustrating), I’ve been flooded with comments from critique partners that my writing is flat, makes no sense or is missing something. The second I show them the illustrations, they instantly get 'my vision' and the writing seems to fix itself. It’s become pretty clear that my stories came as a package, and if I’m going to make it in this business, I’m going to have to tackle writing and illustrating simultaneously. 

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.

As I work digitally I like to work all over the place. I’m temporarily living in Spain and the weather is beautiful and the food delicious, so I’m out and about a lot. As I’m a mother of two little dudes, I also have to 'create in the cracks'. The iPad is so portable that I tend to carry it with me, and when I get a few minutes to myself, I can get a little work done. 

 
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

About 1-hours (or 1-day) into any portion of the process. Basically, I HATE starting. Staring at a blank canvas or a sketch that need colouring, terrifies me. But once I get into the task, I find my groove and become absorbed. For this reason, it’s very important for me to work on multiple projects at a time – sketching thumbnails for one project while working on finals for another. I need to keep my mind active and skills sharp on all aspects of the process or I find it very difficult to get back into it.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Find another career! Something with a straightforward path - something that isn’t based on opinion and interpretation. But if you simply MUST illustrate (and I hope that you must) then NEVER give up and never listen to anyone that tells you you shouldn’t be doing it. This is a tough industry, one that I’m yet to crack, and I question whether I’ve chosen the right path all the time. But the fact of the matter is that this industry is made up of people that just kept going. So be one of those people.


 Kate is an Australian writer/illustrator whose past career in filmmaking influences her quirky writing and vibrant illustrations. She is a member of SCBWI, 12x12 and Inked Voices and a graduate of The Lyrical Language Lab, Storyteller Academy and The Children’s Book Academy. Kate recently signed with Dominic Yarabe of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency.

For more information, please visit Kate's website or follow her on instagram.

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Review: Your Birthday Was the Best

Who doesn’t love a birthday?

Friends, family, party games, cake — birthdays truly are the best.

For everyone…. including our little cockroach friends!

Your Birthday Was the Best is a boisterous and hilarious story told from a cockroach’s point of view. 

All he wants to do is join in on the fun and tell the birthday boy how much he loves his party, but he runs into a spot of trouble when the birthday boy’s dad accidentally on purpose vacuums him up and throws him in the bin.

But our little cockroach friend won’t give up. He’s determined to make sure he’s there for the birthday boy and tell him that his birthday was the best.

I love a picture book that shines with the unexpected and brings a unique spin on storytelling. And this is exactly what this book does. It has it all: a fun story filled with humour, told in a way that’s different and unique.

Actually, Maggie Hutchings has a HUGE talent for this. Check out Unicorn! and Mermaid! and you’ll see what I mean. Hutchings' delivery of story is never quite like other stories, in the most brilliant of ways. Her stories are fresh and different, and they’ll bring a smile to your face and a giggle to your heart. I guarantee!

Felicita Sala’s illustrations, too, bring so much joy to these pages. How she brings our little cockroach friend to life, I do not know, but she does! She really does.

Each page is bright and full of life. There are hilarious details peppered throughout (for adults as well as for kids), and they’re those kind of illustrations you can’t help but run your hands over again and again. Magic!

If you like a fun and quirky picture book, this one is definitely for you. And once you’ve checked it out, I really do recommend you go find Unicorn! and Mermaid!. They are also a hoot!

Title: Your Birthday Was the Best

Author: Maggie Hutchings

Illustrator: Felicita Sala

Publisher: Affirm Press, $24.99 

Publication Date: 31 March 2020

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925972535

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Ashling Kwok on Why Children's Books On Difficult Subjects Are Necessary

Review: The Vanishing Deep

Imagine a world floating on water. Little land, few trees, endless oceans. Can you see it?

Can you see the floating communities trying to cobble together a city to sit atop the water? Can you see the owners of what land is left, standing on their shores, holding all the power?

Seventeen-year-old Tempest is a diver. She searches old-world ruins for things she can trade for notes — notes she can use to pay to have her sister, Elysea, resurrected.

One catch… the dead can only be resurrected for twenty-four hours.

And while most people want to bring back their loved ones to spend one last day with them, Tempest’s motive is slightly different: Tempest is resurrecting her sister to find out the secrets she took to her grave.

This isn’t only Tempest’s story, though. The story also belong to Lor — the boy who lives in the basement of the facility that will bring Elysea back to life, even if only temporarily.

Lor has his own secrets, and when his life entwines with Tempest’s and Elysea’s, those secrets won’t stay secret for long.

The Vanishing Deep is a story of family, love and loss. It’s about clawing back hope when there is none to be found. It’s about doing the thing that your heart tells you to do, even when you know the consequences could not be higher.

The novel shows a splash of a potential future — the drowning of the world we know and the emergence of a new world filled with survivors trying to make it a better place. This ocean world is there on every page, in the jobs of the people, in the things they say and the celebrations they hold. But the story isn’t really about this fascinating future world. Not really.

It’s about Tempest.

It’s about Lor.

It’s about all the things that make us human, about making choices and making sacrifices.

Tempest and Lor taught me not to hold onto grief and anger for too long — to let it go and enjoy what’s in front of me. Elysea showed me that beauty can be found in the smallest of things, if you only open your eyes a little wider. And they taught me these things — these characters who are not real people — because Scholte brings them to life on the page.

Like Scholte’s first YA dystopian, Four Dead Queens, The Vanishing Deep has rich, real and relatable characters that you get to know on such a personal level, you'll close the book believing they are people that you know. It's full immersion in Scholte's novels. It can be nothing else.

If you like dystopian or science fiction YA, this is definitely one to check out. Fans of Four Dead Queens will love it, as will fans of books like The Smoke Thieves and Scythe.

It’s a book that will make you evaluate yourself and your world, like all good dystopian and science fiction stories should.

Title: The Vanishing Deep
Author: Astrid Scholte
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760525576
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Review: Isla's Family Tree

A delightful story about family and family trees which explores Isla’s reaction and feelings towards her growing family.

When Isla finds out she is going to be a big sister, she’s not impressed. Isla and her mother go on to create a family tree, they cut-and-paste leaves and branches to show how Isla’s grandparents, aunty’s, uncles and cousins all fit together.

Despite creating a beautiful tree and discussing family details and memories, Isla’s still not convinced that there is room in the family for anyone else; that is, until a magical moment prevails, giving her a new perspective and more open mind.

I like how the story shows snippets into the lives of related families, each with different circumstances, homes and structures including a same-sex couple and an adopted child. It feels modern, broad-minded and diverse.

The gorgeous, simplistic line art illustrations with a minimal pink and orange colour palette set a warm, homely scene and work in perfect unity with the text.

Isla’s Family Tree would be perfect for children expecting a new sibling or siblings and a great lead to discussing how children fit into families and what makes a family and further craft or classroom activities.

Katrina McKelvey is an Australian author, two of her other books include Dandelions and Up to Something. Prue Pittock is an illustrator from Melbourne, Australia, some of her other books include Thank You, Mummy and Thank You, Daddy.

Title: Isla's Family Tree
Author: Katrina McKelvey
Illustrator: Prue Pittock
Publisher: EK Books , $24.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781925820379
For ages: 6 – 8
Type: Picture Book




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