Writing Magic for Kids with Sarah Armstrong On today’s show, we share a delicious crunchy taco with guacamole, chicken and melted cheese with a Walkley Award winning author, and Liv reviews two picture books that travel the world. Today’s guest began as journalist at ABC Radio – where she won a Walkley Award. She went on to be a researcher and publisher at ABC TV, which was exciting work, interviewing interesting people from Timbuktu to the Sahara Dessert. But then she found kids books and that’...
Dec 15, 2023•37 min•Season 10Ep. 32
Illustrating picture books with Briony Stewart On today’s show we chat about illustrating picture books, writing picture books, we look at the journey of an illustrator, and Liv reviews an awesome picture book perfect for the new year. Today’s guest is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. She won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for her work with Sheryl Clarke on the verse novel ‘Mina and the Whole Wide World’. Her book Kumiko and the Shadow Catchers won the Queensland...
Dec 06, 2023•34 min•Season 10Ep. 31
On today’s show we chat with a legend of Australian and indeed World literature, both for adults and children, about her author journey and what it takes to be a professional writer. Today’s guest is a world-renowned author and speaker, with an Order of Australia for services to literature. She is the Head of SCBWI Australia East and NZ. She is an ambassador of the Premiers Reading Challenge. A Writer Ambassador of Room to Read which has reached more than 20 million children in Asia and Africa, ...
Dec 01, 2023•53 min•Season 10Ep. 30
What to expect when writing, illustrating, and self-publishing a picture book On today’s show we chat to an author/illustrator with a real passion for nature and adventure. And, Liv reviews two awesome new picture books. All that and more, it’s gunna be huge! Sam Spry is an author/illustrator with a real thirst for adventure. She loves nature and has travelled the world to some of the most beautiful and remote places, where she’s worked and lived amongst the people that live there. It’s through ...
Nov 28, 2023•37 min•Season 10Ep. 29
How a children’s book legend self-published On today’s show we chat to an Aussie Icon about self-publishing. And Liv’s back with all the goss from The Taco Awards After Party, and to review an awesome new picture book. All that and more on today’s show, it’s gunna be huge!! Today’s guest is an icon of the Australian kid lit industry. His first novel Deadly Unna? was a literary hit and was made into the feature film for which he won an AFI award. He writes for a wide range of age groups from pict...
Nov 23, 2023•42 min•Season 10Ep. 28
The Taco Awards 2023. Join hosts Ken and Liv, a cast of authors, illustrators, a bunch of rowdy book characters, and even singing sharks, as we bring you all the glitz and glamour of the Taco Kids Book Awards. We'll bring you the shortlist and winners of such categories as: The Reluctant Reader award, The Best Character, The Laugh out Loud Award, Best Picture Book and more. Who will take home the Gold Taco?
Nov 20, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 27
Helping Children Process Grief Ryan Abramowitz, as well as being an amazing artist, writer, and storyteller, has a lived experience of losing his father to suicide. He has created a picture book, drawn from inspiration of the natural world. And, he chats with Liv and Ken about how he hopes this book will help those in grief to feel seen, supported, and cared for in their healing journey. ‘May it bring some light to your wound,’ he says. Everybody please welcome, the wonderful Ryan Abramowitz. C ...
Nov 17, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 26
Kimmi the queen of the dingoes is a tale of courage and reslience from one of Australia's finest storytellers. On today’s show, we chat about the smartest dogs on the planet, we talk to one of Australia’s most beloved storytellers, and you’ll see why. Plus we chat about an upcoming kidlit event. Favel Parrett flew to critical acclaim with her debut novel Past the Shallows. It was sold internationally and shortlisted in the highly prestigious Miles Franklin Award . She won the Dobbie Literary Awa...
Nov 09, 2023•43 min•Season 10Ep. 25
On today’s show, Bianca reviews a magical book ideal for kids 10+. And we chat to a favourite kids author from WA about her hilarious picture book. Sharon Giltrow teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorders, she’s also an author of picture books and middle grade. She was awarded The Paper Bird Fellowship for Writers in 2019, and she’s popped in today to chat about her latest and hilarious picture book, Let’s go shopping, Grandma....
Nov 06, 2023•32 min•Season 10Ep. 24
On today’s show, Bianca’s back, from Bianca’s Book Club, with an awesome book for review, you’re gunna love it! And, get this, we chat to an illustrator who picked up a paint brush for the first time only 5 years ago and is now a published author/illustrator. Bex Parkin is an artist and illustrator based in the UK. She is known for her love of colourful wildlife and botanicals with a vibrant colour palette and playful details. She has worked on many exciting projects including greeting cards, st...
Nov 03, 2023•37 min•Season 10Ep. 23
On today’s show, we’ve got What’s the Story Rory with all the latest kidlit news. And we chat to an award-winning actress and author about a new hero in the Australian bush. It’s gunna be huge! Tasma Walton is a popular and award-winning actress, proud Boonwurrung woman, a mum, and an author passionate about telling stories of strong women and their adventures with the most amazing Boonwurrng Creation beings. Her latest book is titled, Nerra and I can’t wait for her to tell us all about it. So, ...
Oct 30, 2023•40 min•Season 10Ep. 22
On today's show, we have Liv at the newsdesk with the latest kid lit news, including The Big Bookish Arvo. Plus, we chat to a debut author about a fun picture book and her amazing author process. Bethany Clark is a writer, editor, and a strategic communications consultant who after many years working behind the scenes in the publishing industry found herself as the chief manager of snacks for a small child. Her debut children’s picture book You’ve got yogurt in your nostrils is a joyous celebrat...
Oct 26, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 21
On today’s show, Liv reviews two awesome new picture books. And we chat to a CBCA Gold Medallist all about her author journey. It’s gunna be huge. Vikki Conley is the 2023 winner of the CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year Award for her picture book Where the Lyrebird Lives. And she’s popped in today to chat all about her epic author journey. Everybody please welcome the amazing, Vikki Conley.
Oct 20, 2023•41 min•Season 10Ep. 20
On today’s show, we go back to the future in time machine made of paper. We look at the teamwork behind creating a brilliant picture book. And, we take a look at The Taco Awards for 2023! Today’s guests are an author and illustrator combo. Together they have delivered a brilliant picture book about describing time – past, present and future. It’s original and wonderfully put together. To tell us all about their book and how they worked together as a team to create such a unique and amazing pictu...
Oct 17, 2023•29 min•Season 10Ep. 19
On today’s show, we’ve got emus, yes emus. Liv and I chat to a first-time author who self-published a book and then got picked up by a publisher. It can happen. We talk about a fun book and have a few laughs. Jamie Bryden is an author and podcaster who grew up avoiding books for most of his life, and now finds himself writing them. As a result, he is a sucker for a good story and loves talking with fellow authors and filmmakers on his podcast ’Stories: the true and the fictional.' He’s popped in...
Oct 13, 2023•23 min•Season 10Ep. 18
On today’s show, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Books in every store!! We chat to the author of The Christmas Train (Toot! Toot!) Stopping all stations to the North Pole via the Adelaide Hills. We’ll hear a magnificent poem dedicated to Book Week, and we’ll share some exciting Taco News. It’s gunna be huge! Mike Lucas moved to Australia from the UK in 2010. He is the author of several poetry anthologies and picture books, He owns a bookshop, Shakespeare's in Blackwood, South Austra...
Oct 12, 2023•31 min•Season 10Ep. 17
Jack Heath submitted his first manuscript to a publisher at age seventeen, and the book became his first international bestseller! How about that! And, in 2009 he was named the ACT Young Australian of the Year. He now lives with his wife and their children in Gungahlin, where he spends his time writing, reading, speaking at schools and mentoring emerging writers. He’s popped in today to chat about his new YA thriller and how he went about writing it. Everybody please put your hands together for ...
Oct 08, 2023•52 min•Season 10Ep. 16
NRL star and kids book author, Alex Johnston shares his inspiration for writing this fantastic picture book that is sure to get kids racing into bookstores. Alex Johnston is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL. He has played for both Australia and Papua New Guinea at international level. Alex shares a picture book all about unity, togetherness, resilience, teamwork, and just having fun. Plus, Liv reviews 3 fantastic ...
Oct 03, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 15
Tania Ingram was a child psychologist before becoming an author of picture books and novels including the rollicking Jinny and Cooper series. When she’s not writing she’s learning to play the ukulele and singing to her chickens. She’s popped in today to chat about her new book series, Aggie Flea, her author journey, and the writing life in South Australia. Everybody please welcome, Tania Ingram. Plus, Hayley in the Library is back. We cross to the front line, to the very source of what kids are ...
Oct 02, 2023•35 min•Season 10Ep. 14
Rebecca Lim is an award-winning Australian writer, illustrator, editor and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a CBCA Book of the Year: winner). Her novels have been translated into German, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish and Russian and have won so many awards I can’t list them all here. She’s popped in today to chat about her latest book titled, Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky. This is such a poignant tale of two incredible kids setting out on the most unimaginable ...
Sep 29, 2023•34 min
Emma Greville is a freelance editor from Sunny Geelong on Victorian coast. She’s an ex-English teacher with an MA in Literary Criticism, and a lover of Dragons! She is passionate about helping kids discover a love of reading and writing, and explores the world of words through school visits, presentations and writing workshops. She’s popped in today to share her author journey, along with her awesome middle grade fantasy adventure, Raine in the Underlands. Plus, we review a brand new middle grad...
Sep 27, 2023•34 min•Season 10Ep. 12
Much loved children’s author, Adrian Beck shares the inspiration for his children’s stories, how he goes about the process of setting up a story, and how they’re turned into amazing books for kids. Today’s guest says he is not a spy. However, a spy would say that, wouldn’t they? Despite this, our guest shares some awesome advice on writing books, how to gather story ideas, and how to put them together. He is actually the author of such books as Derek Dool, Alien Zoo, Kick it to Nick, Co-author o...
Sep 22, 2023•50 min•Season 10Ep. 11
If you've ever wanted to write in the Middle Grade space. Or, you're penning something now and want some extra advice, Alllison Tait is the internationally published bestselling author of middle-grade adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles , the Ateban Cipher novels, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. Her latest novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is a middle-grade mystery. To tell us all about it, along with her process, and tips on the craft of writing such magical middle grade masterpi...
Sep 19, 2023•59 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Publicity is so important in every step of your journey. How you present yourself to publishers and to the community, and how you promote your work to the world, is so important. Two new picture book authors with different approaches share their journeys and what’s worked for them. Claire Thompson is an Australian children’s author with a passion – and a nose – for sniffing out true stories to empower and inspire. Driven by her background in journalism, real people with extraordinary tales sit a...
Sep 14, 2023•46 min•Season 10Ep. 9
Apsara Baldovino began her career in magazine publishing before moving into writing stories for children who dream of owning a real unicorn! Apsara’s passion is to dream up memorable characters, experiment with perspectives and create books that will be treasured for years to come. And, she’s off to an awesome start with her first picture book titled, The Lucky Shack, published by Harper Collins Australia. Apsara loves learning and creativity and truly believes in the power of getting involved w...
Sep 10, 2023•21 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Bec Timmis left high school and studied animation at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art before branching out into design and illustration. At the same time, she enrolled in a professional children’s writing course, where she wrote her first award-winning short story. From here she went on to write and illustrate the hugely popular book series, Mertales with Allen and Unwin Books. And, she’s popped in today to chat all about her new series of hilarious books, and let me just say, boo...
Sep 07, 2023•30 min•Season 10Ep. 7
Chrissie Davies is a child behaviour expert, trauma informed educator, consultant, writer, guest speaker, loving mama of two, and passionate advocate for understanding neurodivergent children. She’s popped in today to chat about her new picture book, Love Me Love My ADHD a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that encourages families, educators, and, most importantly, children to understand this complex neurotype and how it presents in children. Plus, Liv reviews 3 brand new books hi...
Sep 04, 2023•35 min•Season 10Ep. 6
Sela Ahosivi Atiola is a Tongan Australian writer from Sydney Australia. She is a mother and early childhood educator with a Bachelor of Social Science from Swinburne University of Technology. Her writing has been featured on SBS Voices and Storycasters Culinary Magazine. She’s popped in today to chat with Ken about her writing journey, finding a niche in the picture book market, a passion for her writing community and diversity in literature, and her new picture book titled, I am Lupe – a wonde...
Aug 30, 2023•33 min•Season 10Ep. 4
David Lawrence is one of Australia’s funniest comedy writers. He has written for Hamish and Andy, Talking About Your Generation, and a variety of other shows, including award-winning sketch comedy shows. He runs the successful comedy business Laughing Matters and has performed in five Melbourne International Comedy shows. This has spilled over to kids books, and his latest middle grade novel, Ruby and the Pen is hilarious. He's popped in today to tell us all about it, along with his writing proc...
Aug 25, 2023•35 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Hilary Rogers began her career in publishing. As a Commissioning Editor, Hilary helped co-create many of Australia's most beloved series, including Billie B Brown, Real Pigeons, Zac Power and Go Girl. As an author, Hilary has teamed up with friend and much-loved Australian author, Meredith Badger. Together, Meredith and Hilary write under the pen name Maddy Mara. Their most recent series include The Dragon Girls, an international hit with more than 1.5 a million copies in print, also Itty Bitty ...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 10Ep. 3
