Hélène Magisson is a critically acclaimed French-Australian illustrator of many books for children. Before Hélène turned to book illustration, she was a painting restorer in Paris, where she was also trained in the art of medieval illumination. Hélène’s children’s books are widely known and loved across the world. Her timeless style lends itself beautifully to classics, such as The Velveteen Rabbit (New Frontier, 2021), and also universal contemporary stories, such as Before You Were Born (HarperCollins, 2020).

Hélène is frequently recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Most recently, she was Continue reading Hélène Magisson →

Rochelle Siemienowicz is a writer, editor and arts journalist. Her first book was Fallen (Affirm Press, 2015), a memoir about sex, religion and marrying too young. Her debut novel, Double Happiness (MidnightSun, 2024) is a polyamorous love story. Rochelle’s work has been published widely, including in The Age, SBS, Kill Your Darlings, The Big Issue, Metro, ArtsHub and Kalliope X. She has a PhD in Australian cinema and was for many years a film and TV critic and columnist. She lives in Melbourne with her two partners, her son, and a beloved Continue reading Rochelle Siemienowicz →

Dr Lara Cain Gray is a writer, librarian and storytelling advocate based in Brisbane, Australia. Her professional past spans library and museum curatorship, academic research, and corporate and creative writing and editing. She is currently Head of Acquisitions at nonprofit publisher Library For All, delivering cross-cultural children’s books to remote and low-income communities. She reads every day and will NEVER Continue reading Dr Lara Cain Gray →

Deb Hudson is an Australian illustrator of children’s picture books and creator of other artistic works including pattern design and stationery. She loves colour and finds joy in creating illustrations that celebrate life, love, growth and wonder. Highlighting all the beauty around, even the tiny unnoticed details. Her work has been described as whimsical, carrying you off to fantastic places and worlds. She has illustrated a number of children’s books including The Golden Thread by Amelia Donnelly and the What Zola Did series by Continue reading Deb Hudson →

Coral Vass is an award-winning children’s author, presenter, editor and reviewer. With over 20 published children’s books, Coral’s books include Sorry Day (Speech Pathology Awards Book of the Year and CBCA Book of the Year – Eve Pownall Award), Grandma’s Treasured Shoes (Caleb Book of the Year), and Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination (CBCA Notable and shortlisted for Speech Pathology Book of the Year). Many of Coral’s books have appeared on ABC’s Playschool, UK’s Story Den on Milkshake TV, Storytime with Fergie and Friends, as well as Continue reading Coral Vass →

Michael Prewer has been writing plays and stories and developing board games for as long as he can remember. R.E.Generation is his debut novel, but he already has a number of others in the works. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Anatomy) and a Masters of Speech Pathology. He has worked as a paediatric speech pathologist for over 5 years. Michael and his wife are passionate about taking small steps to minimise the impact humans leave on our wonderful planet. Michael also has a keen interest in theatre, sports, mathematics, puzzles and Continue reading Michael Prewer →

Slade Carter was born in Bendigo, Australia, and currently lives in London with his wife and two children. By day, Slade works in government affairs in the health sector. Slade enjoys reading, travelling, the wonders of nature, music and Continue reading Slade Carter →

Amal Abou-Eid is a passionate educator, mother and author of multiple self-published books. Amal started writing children’s books when she realised she couldn’t find books for her children with characters and stories that related to their Muslim Lebanese Australian identity. She believes in the power of representation and inclusion in books and writes stories which depict characters and events her family and community can identify with and relate to. She hopes her stories can educate, entertain and Continue reading Amal Abou-Eid →

Cara King is a Melbourne-based illustrator and graphic designer. She has illustrated around 10 books since 2016, published both traditionally and for self-publishing authors. Cara enjoys painting in watercolour, scribbling with pencils and dabbles in a bit of digital art too. She has a love of Continue reading Cara King →

Emily Brewin is a Melbourne author, copywriter, and learning designer. Her first novel, Hello, Goodbye, was published in 2017 and her second, Small Blessings, in 2019. A Way Home is her first YA novel. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies: Into Your Arms: Nick Cave’s Songs Reimagined by Fremantle Press, We’ll Stand In That Place and Other Stories by Margaret River Press and the Bristol Short Story Anthology — Volume 10. She has written for The Age, ABC Education, Continue reading Emily Brewin →

Allen C. Jones is an award-winning writer from California. He received an MFA in poetry from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in English from University of Louisiana. He has lived and taught in Spain, Mexico, Korea & China, and presently serves as associate professor of literature and culture at the University of Stavanger, Norway. His scholarly work investigates experimental writing and literary game pedagogy.

His debut novel Her Death Was Also Water came out in 2022 with MidnightSun Publishing, and his debut book of poetry, Son of a Cult, is out in 2023 with Kelsay Books, USA. His writing appears widely in print and online. Find links to it Continue reading Allen C. Jones →

Gillian Hagenus is a writer, editor and book devourer living and working on Kaurna land in South Australia. Her short fiction has appeared in various journals across Australia, including Voiceworks, SWAMP, Social Alternatives and Aniko Press, and internationally in The Antigonish Review. She has a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Adelaide, where her thesis focused on Australian Suburban Gothic fiction. In 2022, her unpublished short story collection was the winner of the AAWP/UWA Publishing Chapter One Prize. In her free time, Gillian helps Continue reading Gillian Hagenus →

Lauren Foley is a Next Generation Artist in Literature with the Arts Council of Ireland. Her work is published by Influx Press, gorse, Head of Zeus, The Los Angeles Review, No Alibis, The Irish Times and Overland and has been shortlisted for The Barbellion Prize and The Irish Book Awards.
Continue reading Lauren Foley →

Melanie Kanicky is a Melbourne-based author. Born in the Yarra Valley, Melanie has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Film & Television) from Deakin University, and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Writing & Literature with a focus on creative writing. Outside of her studies, Melanie currently manages a bookstore, where she delights in sharing her love of reading and literature with others. Her short fiction has appeared in the Wyndham Writing Awards Anthology and the Forty South Short Story Anthology, as well as being shortlisted for the Continue reading Melanie Kanicky →

Charlie Archbold is a writer and educator. She has worked in Australia, the UK, and in Indonesia. Her middle grade novel The Sugarcane Kids and the Red Bottomed Boat won the 2022 Readings Children’s Prize. It was shortlisted for the Text Prize and was a 2023 CBCA Notable book. Charlie’s debut YA novel Mallee Boys was a 2018 CBCA Honour book. Her 2020 YA novel Indigo Owl is a science fiction adventure. Raised by Moths is Charlie’s first picture book. Her blogs, short stories and poems are about Continue reading Charlie Archbold →