Author & Illustrator Showcase
What inspires their writing or illustrations? Where do they get all those ideas? Do they have a favourite book or character? Will they come to my school? ‘Meet’ the creators behind your favourite books and be inspired to write and illustrate as well as they do.
Did you know that Amelia McInerney loves potatoes? She also loves hermit crabs and has a backyard full of chooks, so it’s easy to see where she got her inspiration for Bad Crab and The Book Chook. Both books have performed brilliantly in 2020, with Bad Crab being released in France (with the title Gare au Crabe)…
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Author of two beautiful picture books, Karen Hendriks, says she ‘ran away from school to become a children’s author’. I first met Karen Hendriks at the Sunshine Writers Retreat in 2019. She’s like a sea breeze – with that ability to calm, invigorate and motivate you all at once. Since then, two…
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If you haven’t yet heard of Rory H. Mather, don’t look away. In September 2020, he published his first picture book, Vlad’s Bad Breath, with Larrikin House. And now, this big kid with a beard has not one, not two, but SIX more books due for release over the next two years.…
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Ever since he was a kid, Oliver Phommavanh has loved to make people laugh. He also loved dinosaurs and reading. Luckily for us, he gave up on trying to find a pile of dinosaur bones and decided to focus on the partner of reading… writing! After publishing his first book, Thai-riffic! in…
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Author of twenty-seven books and counting, Deborah Abela had her love of reading and books nurtured from a young age by her mother who would buy her a Little Golden Book every week when she did her grocery shopping. Now, as an adult, her favourite thing to do is… reading!…
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Everyone knows someone who seems to have boundless energy, a positive outlook and more hours in their day than the rest of us. Sydney author, Nat Amoore, is one of those people. That’s great news because a lot of her energy is spent championing the push to encourage kids to ‘read,…
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First things first. Australian author, Jackie French, describes herself as ‘a part-time honorary wombat’. If you follow her Facebook author page you will be treated to her daily videos and words about the wombat escapades in Jackie’s backyard. She has written several wombat stories and has studied over 400 of the creatures. But, Jackie…
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David Conley – teacher, artist, author, and ‘apparently quite a nice guy’ (according to his Instagram page) – is the author of That Book About Greek Mythology. Perhaps you think you already know all the famous Greek tales? Maybe, but I’d be willing to bet you haven’t experienced them retold with the…
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Award-winning children’s author, Aleesah Darlison, has published over 50 books for children and young adults – so surely she’s running out of inspiration by now! Apparently not. Coming in a close second to eating chocolate, the thing Aleesah Darlison identifies as her favourite pastime is writing. When you look at…
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A former police officer with the AFP, Tracey Hawkins now writes for children in a variety of genre – often joyful but occasionally a titch scary. If you’re brave, you may wish to ask her exactly what she keeps hidden beneath her staircase. When she’s not working on her next…
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Storytelling is so much more than sitting and reading a book aloud. In fact, Holly Bidwell does not read from books during her sessions. Instead, she uses props like costumes, puppets and felt boards, along with the power and magic of words to bring each story to life. Holly is…
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Imagine having enough ideas to fill over 200 books for adults and children! Australian author, Hazel Edwards OAM has done just that. Whether you’re an adult or a child, you will probably know Hazel for her roof-residing, cake-consuming hippopotamus. There are seven picture books and one chapter book inspired by this lovable…
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An enthusiastic and prolific writer from the age of six, Gina Newton grew up to become a marine biologist and zoologist – but she never lost her passion for creating stories and sharing information with children through the written word. Gina Newton writes both fiction and non-fiction for children, with…
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Poet, comic performer and creative writing teacher, Harry Laing, is the epitome of inspiration … but what inspires him? The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. Everything. Harry Laing takes joy in turning the most mundane everyday items into something crazy and creative. He breathes life into…
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With her first publication as an illustrator due out in October this year, Canberra-based author-illustrator, Tiffanee Daley is on her way up. Combining a childhood fascination with fantasy, together with her adventurous love of outdoor pursuits – you can see where this talented lady gets her inspiration. A member of…
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If you could live anywhere, where would you choose? Author and illustrator Tania McCartney has lived in a number of different places around the world but if she could, she’d ‘live inside a book’. With over 50 books to her name already, and living ‘in a forest of artwork and…
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Growing up on the Welsh border, with castles nearby, and travelling to all sorts of historical and exotic places as a child, it’s a no-brainer as to where Cate Whittle gets some of her inspiration. With a childhood dream to be a writer, Cate simply wrote – and wrote –…
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Growing up in a small town in the UK, surrounded by kids, horses and the magic of books gave author, Shelly Unwin, a beautiful start to life. Luckily for us, she moved to Australia in 2002 and has stayed, devoting much of her time to creating stories with a view…
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The first time I met Samantha Tidy was at the ‘self-publishing’ course she was running at the ACT Writers Centre. I bought a copy of The Happiness Jar which has turned out to be one of my all-time favourite novels (and not just because of the stunning cover). Samantha writes for a range…
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If you’re illustrating picture books, you’re responsible for telling half the story – without words. It’s a tough gig but one that Suzanne Houghton does with style and a grand dose of humour. “I walk around with a head full of ideas and a sketchbook full of characters. And I…
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Canberra-based author, Sandra Bennett, has many books under her belt. From picture books to delight younger readers, through to her award-winning midgrade novel, Secrets Hidden Below, along with numerous short stories and a new graphic novel due out this year (both for NFP organisations), Sandra Bennett has a wealth of experience.…
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Krys Saclier was inspired by her daughter when she came up with her first picture book, Super Nova, which was written to show children they all have the ability to be heroes in their own way. Krys believes that children’s literature has the power to shape the future and devotes much…
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Canberra-based author and illustrator, Stephanie Owen Reeder, loves books, history, art and her family – all of which inspire her writing. Written for children aged seven and up, the five books (so far) in her Heritage Heroes series feature ordinary children in history achieving extraordinary things. Lennie the Legend, the third book in…
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Maura Pierlot finds inspiration for her picture books, young adult fiction and plays in everything around her, particularly The Arts. A committee member with the ACT branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Maura Pierlot is active in the Children’s Literature industry in Canberra as well as being involved in…
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With a passion for environmental and animal rights issues, Nicole Godwin describes herself as a voice for those who yelp, roar, swing, moo, oink, squeak and trumpet. She writes to captivate and engage readers, and help create a generation of thoughtful, committed and passionate individuals. Her books include a jellyfish…
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Author of the popular I am Jack series as well as numerous picture books, short stories and young adult books, Susanne Gervay has devoted much of her life to social justice and creating engaging stories on issues that matter to our young people. Susanne Gervay is the regional coordinator for the Society of…
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If you lived just down the road from Roald Dahl, or any other author you love, surely you'd be inspired to read and write wonderful stories, too? Canberra author and editor, Irma Gold, did and although she spent most of her 'growing up' years in Melbourne, the Roald Dahl connection…
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Canberra author, Craig Cormick, has been writing since he could make up stories and has forged a career in words with stints in journalism, education and science writing. What really floats his boat, though, is history and adventure. The latter is something Craig Cormick has had plenty of experience with,…
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Pat Simmons with Katrin Dreiling who has illustrated two of Pat's books, 'George' and 'Cicada Sing Song' Minibeasts, cats and all sorts of critters - author Pat Simmons loves them all! Just check out her list of picture books if you don't believe me ... Ziggy's Zoo, Little Spiral (a…
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Canberra author, Casey Bruning, is all about talking to kids and really listening to what they have to say. Her debut picture book, When I Grow Up, I Will Shine, was inspired by conversations she had with her young daughter. Casey believes that if you take the time to listen…
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