10 Quirky Questions with author Margaret Wild

1. What's your hidden talent?

I would like to say levitation or time-travelling, but, alas, I’ll have to settle for an endless capacity for playing Scrabble.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?

Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. She is clever, resourceful, selfish, 
remorseless, resilient and fascinating. I reread Vanity Fair every five years or so just for the pleasure of encountering Becky and her shenanigans yet again.

Guest Post: Q & A with Meredith Rusu on The Creative Process by Nia Shetty

There’s a Robot in My Socks by Meredith Rusu is a light-hearted story that skillfully captures the wonders of childhood while addressing the complexities of emotions in a fun, engaging way. 

The book follows Jamie and her trusty robot companion through a delightful adventure that showcases how even ordinary items, like socks, can spark extraordinary moments. 

Rusu’s book is filled with playful humor, vivid imagery, and a creative blend of the real and the imaginary, making it a perfect read for young children and their parents who are navigating their own big feelings.

One of the standout features of this graphic novel  is how themes of comfort, emotion, and the occasional chaos of childhood are wonderfully mixed. 

Through the imaginative lens of a child’s world, Rusu touches on separation anxiety, the need for routine, and the importance of emotional expression, all with a charming robot by Jamie’s side. The vibrant illustrations by Martín Morón bring Jamie’s world to life with bright colors and whimsical designs, perfectly complementing the story.

Now, let’s hear from the author herself, Meredith Rusu, as she shares insights into the inspiration, characters, and creative process behind There’s a Robot in My Socks in our exclusive KBR interview:

12 Curly Questions with author Kirsten Ealand

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I came equal dux of my primary school because I very unexpectedly topped the grade in creative writing with my story A day in the Life of a Car. Wish I kept it – I’d love to read it now.

2. What is your nickname?
Family and old school friends call me Kirst, though I was Big Bird for a while in high school after the incident of the bright yellow dress.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Putting aside my biggest mortal fear of bad things happening to people I love, my biggest everyday fear is getting a chai latte when I ask for a chai tea – it’s a totally different drink and it really needs a totally different name.

Guest Post: Q & A With Dr Kylie Soanes Nature Book Week Judge

Today we are mega excited to welcome Dr Kylie Soans - one of the judges for this year's 2024 Environment Award for Children's Literature judges. 

These awards coincide with Nature Book Week, an incentive facilitated by The Wilderness Society to celebrate the best in nature-themed children's books. 

Enjoy this exclusive Q & A with Kylie and don't forget to enter our Nature Book Week Giveaway running this week until Saturday!

What is your favourite book about nature? And what’s your favourite nature book to read or share with your kids?
I really enjoyed Marty Crump's Headless males make great lovers: and other unusual natural histories. It's such a fun insight into the fact that the living world is, well, kind of bizarre, and that's a good thing.

10 Quirky Questions with author Margaret Wild

1. What's your hidden talent?

I would like to say levitation or time-travelling, but, alas, I’ll have to settle for an endless capacity for playing Scrabble.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. She is clever, resourceful, selfish, remorseless, resilient and fascinating, I reread Vanity Fair every five years or so just for the pleasure of encountering Becky and her shenanigans yet again.

10 Quirky Questions with author Katrina Roe

1. What's your hidden talent?

I’m great at finding things that nobody else in my family can find. Oh and I make a mean cup of tea. Seriously, you should try my tea.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Dolores Umbridge. She is the villain I love to hate. She’s just like the mean girls at school who pretended to be nice while stabbing you in the back.

10 Quirky Questions with author/illustrator/designer Anna McGregor

1. What's your hidden talent?

My arms are ‘double-jointed’ and I can bend them in some weird ways. Is that a talent?

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
The Evil Queen in Snow White. I find powerful female villains exciting and complex.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson, Carson Ellis, Jon Klassen and Edward Gorey.

12 Curly Questions with author Sarah Luke

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I have camped overnight on the ice in Antarctica. It was magical – even though our ship, which was
anchored nearby, did look for a while like it was floating away...

2. What is your nickname?
Sarah the Dark (because one of my best friends is also called Sarah, but she is blonde – she is, rather fittingly, Sarah the Fair).

3. What is your greatest fear?
Losing my writing notebooks, where I keep all my ideas simmering away until they are ready to be cooked into stories.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Fast-paced, funny, heartfelt, dramatic, full of deliberate echoes and caricatures.

12 Curly Questions with author/artist Nabeel Khan

1.Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I have recently trained to become a Sufi Whirling Dervish.

2. What is your nickname?
I have had many nicknames in my life, but my whole family calls me Billy.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Not allowing myself to be who I truly am

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
My writing's deeply connected to my visual art.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Ancient, philosophical, truth, goodness, beauty.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Socrates, because he never gave up on his values even when confronted with death!

12 Curly Questions with author Nick Long

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Once, in Mexico, I was served a pizza topped with banana and cherries. I was horrified but ate it anyway because it was still pizza!

2. What is your nickname?
Boringly, it’s ‘Longy’. As a kid I tried hard to be given a cool nickname like ‘Knuckles’ but I could never get one to stick.

12 Curly Questions with author Bec Nanayakkara

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I once ran 7kms. It was by accident. I was aiming for 4kms and then took a wrong turn. To this day, it is my greatest physical achievement (besides having babies) and a good lesson that getting lost isn’t always the worst thing.

12 Curly Questions with author Julie Murphy

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I went to the same high school as Oliva Newton-John (a little after she did). The Vice Principal told my class that he remembered advising a shy teenage (ONJ) to make sure she got a good education because she didn’t have what it takes to make it as a singer. That always reminds me that everyone faces criticism when striving to achieve their creative goals, and persistence is key.

2. What is your nickname?
Joolz

Junior Guest Post: Nia Shetty in Conversation with Noel-Andrew Bennett and Roxanne Bennett

Today, our revered Junior Reviewer, Nia Shetty, invites us into conversation with the creators of Jerk Chicken Magic.  Nia's review of their richly illustrated, culturally diverse picture book appeared last week. Enjoy this equally significant and genuine discussion about Celebrating Cultural Heritage and Family Stories.

In a world where diversity is budding into literature, authors Noel-Andrew Bennett and Roxanne Bennett shine a vibrant light with their delightful children's book, Jerk Chicken Magic. In an exclusive interview, the duo shared insights into their creative process, the challenges they faced, and how they created a wholesome book with deeper implications. As an immigrant child myself, I know the importance of these books and teaching children about cultural consciousness at a young age. 

From the beginning of our conversation, it was clear that Noel-Andrew and Roxanne's passion for their cultural heritage was embedded into each page of their work. Drawing inspiration from their Jamaican roots and immigrant experiences in Canada, the couple set out to fill a void they noticed in children's literature. With two young children themself, they aimed to create a children’s book filled with vivid imagery that not only celebrated Jamaica but also resonated with immigrant families worldwide.

Guest Post: Q & A with Alexia Paglia: My Strong Heart

At only 24 years of age, Sydney’s Alexia Paglia is adding to her already growing list of achievements by releasing a new children’s book all about maintaining good heart health called My Strong Heart, just in time for Heart Health Week from 6th to 12th May.

With cardiovascular disease (CVD) affecting 1 in 4 Australians (that’s over 4 million people), clinical researcher and medical student Alexia Paglia's mission is to lower the rates of CVD, improve health outcomes and educate children at a young age so they can take positive health behaviours well into adulthood. As well as recently winning a Young Citizen of the Year Award for her volunteer work in educating children about their health, My Strong Heart is Alexia’s first children’s book in a series of Dr Zig Zaccy Zoo books on living a healthy lifestyle.

Announcement! New Junior Reviewer

Fear not, you are not seeing double. We are super excited to introduce another new Junior Reviewer into our illustrious KBR family. 

Last week we met the delightful, Elle Freestone. Now it's time to put your hands together for the utterly fearless and fabulous, Asha Freestone. 

Like her sister, Asha will be sharing her enthusiastic love of all things literary with us in the months to come. 

We simply can't wait to read more, Asha! Meanwhile, welcome! Discover more about Asha via her 12 Curlies, below.

12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Ryan Abramowitz

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Waddling around the north end of Albert Park Lake are a pair of black-and-white ducks. I am obsessed with watching them and how in-sync they are.

2. What is your nickname?
Abro, or as my high school jumper had embossed FABROLOUS.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Snakes - yikes! Or, not having access to a waterway for an indefinite period of time. I need my oceanic fix.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Whimsical, heartfelt and harvested by metaphors of the natural world.

12 Curly Questions with author Samantha-Ellen Bound

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 

My dream job is to be on Play School.

2. What is your nickname?
Sam, Sammy, Samba, Boundy, Smellen, Sambam, Bambi, Sebsy, SEMB… I am quite liberal with my giving of nicknames so I have to expect a few in return.

12 Curly Questions with author Seth Malacari

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I’ve been slowly teaching myself piano. It’s never too late to learn a new skill!

2. What is your nickname?
Malarkey, which is a play on my surname but also fairly fitting. I talk a lot of nonsense.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
The dark, especially when there are strange noises in the dark and I’m all alone. Luckily I have a very tiny dog to keep me safe.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Unapologetically queer stories that inspire young people to be themselves.

12 Curly Questions with author Alom Shaha

1.Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

At home, I always put a couple of pods of cardamom and a small bit of cassia bark in my tea. 

2. What is your nickname?

I don’t have a nickname, but some of the older boys in my neighbourhood used to call me Gandhi when I was a child. 

3. What is your greatest fear?

Something bad happening to my children. 

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.

My writing style is still evolving, but is usually conversational. 

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.

Learner, mentor, mentee, eclectic, warm.

12 Curly Questions with author Megan Daley

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Oh my glory, my life is a bit of an open book so I’m not sure there is much that people don’t know? Ummm…when I’m really stressed, my comfort food is Agedashi Tofu and Orange BB Balls!

2. What is your nickname?
I’ve never had a nickname really – I’ve always been ‘Megan’, never ‘Meg’. But as a teacher, I am Mrs Daley so my friends, partner and kids often call me Mrs Daley if I’m in trouble with them.

3. What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear came true so I’m going to be silly (kind of) and say that my greatest fear at this point is not having enough time to complete all the projects I want to complete.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Factual, narrative non-fiction, researched, child focused.