Shae Millward is the author of The Rabbit’s Magician, Koalas Like To and A Boy and a Dog. Shae is based in Hervey Bay, Queensland and has four children. She has a number of picture books and a middle-grade novel in progress. She also enjoys writing inspirational quotes, poetry and song lyrics.

Interview with Children’s Author, Shae Millward

Andrew: Hi Shae, great to have you on the blog. Let’s start off with a fun one. Tell us about something crazy that you’ve done.

Shae: Once upon a time I let the fear of what other people might think stop me from pursuing my dreams.

Crazy, huh?

Andrew: Wow. That is crazy. When you’re not writing for children, you enjoy writing inspirational quotes, poetry and song lyrics. Can you share one of your favourite quotes, section of poetry or song lyrics and explain how you hope it will resonate with the reader?

Shae: I’m gonna go with a humorous one. An inspirational quote that kind of ties in with the previous question.

“Why dance as if nobody’s watching?
Dance as if everyone’s watching and give ‘em all a jolly good show!”

Shae Millward

It’s a good reminder to not worry so much about what others might think. A self-confidence booster that can apply to many different scenarios.

You wanna do that thing?
Go for it!
Be your amazing self!
Dance, baby, dance!
You tripped, you stumbled, you fell on your butt?
Nah, that was just part of your brilliant choreography!

Shae Millward

Andrew: They’re great messages! I’d like people to get a feel for your published books. I already have a copy of A Boy and a Dog that I’ve enjoyed with my son many times. Can you tell everyone what A Boy and a Dog is about and what inspired you to write it?

A Boy And A Dog

Shae: A Boy and A Dog tells the timeless tale of a lonely boy and a lonesome dog who find each other and discover true friendship. This story celebrates the special bond that can form between children and animals, with a focus on kid-canine companionship. It contains the universal themes of trust, connection and belonging. But at its heart, it’s a story about love.

The inspiration came in the form of the first four lines popping into my mind:

There once was a dog who just wanted to play,
But his owner was busy, ‘No! Go away!’
And there was a boy who just wanted to play,
But the kids at school shouted, ‘No! Go away!’

A Boy and a Dog

And, well, I couldn’t just leave it there now, could I? No, I was much too curious to discover how their story would turn out!

Koalas Like To…

Andrew: That’s awesome! Let’s chat about your book, Koala’s Like To … Now, I’m guessing the book is filled with Koalas sleeping in trees and not doing anything remotely interesting, am I right? And what can children learn about koalas by reading the story and the facts at the end of the book?

Shae: True, koalas spend most of their time a) sleeping in trees, and b) eating gum leaves. However, Koalas Like To is a humorous picture book featuring fun rhyme and repetition along with a cast of cute koala characters and their quirky capers.

Koalas like to sleep in trees.
Koalas like to eat gum leaves.
They also like to try on wigs.
And roll around in mud with pigs.

Koalas Like To . . .

You’ll be surprised what these koalas get up to!

Amid the wacky antics, children can learn that koalas have two “thumbs” on each front paw; they eat YOO-KAH-LIP-TUS leaves; their bottoms have extra thick fur which provides padding for the many hours they spend sitting in trees… and more!

The Rabbit’s Magician

Andrew: That sounds like tons of fun and educational, too! Your latest book as of this blog post is The Rabbit’s Magician. Who is this book best suited to and what behind-the-scenes info can you share about it?

Shae: The Rabbit’s Magician is a story of love, loss and comfort. It is inspired by a scientific principle and fundamental law of nature called The Law of Conservation of Energy, which states: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can change from one form into another.

This gentle but powerful picture book offers solace to the heart of anyone who has lost a loved one. The story’s layered meaning and intertwining themes – including the universe, nature, the moon and its phases, reminders of loved ones, and the power of love – enable it to be interpreted in your own special way.

“Everything in the universe is made of energy, including us – therefore, those who can no longer be touched by our hand can still be felt by our heart.” – SM

Behind the scenes: I had put it out there into the universe that I was ready to write a new story. No grand ritual, just a thought within my own mind, an acknowledgement that I had finished up a bunch projects and was now excited to welcome a new idea.

Usually, my stories start with a spark of an idea – it could be anything: a set of rhyming lines, a character, a title, a situation, a basic concept or an image – which I then have to work at to flesh out.

I never intentionally set out to write a story about loss – it was certainly not a subject I would have chosen to tackle. But a scene appeared in my mind of a rabbit looking up at the moon. I sensed he was waiting for something. The moon phases changed, and still, he waited. What are you waiting for? I wondered. And then, he told his tale. In a matter of moments, the whole story of The Rabbit’s Magician suddenly existed, like a neatly wrapped gift. No tackling involved.

There was some hesitancy on my part in regards to the potentially sensitive subject matter, but because of the blessed way in which the story came into being – the way it presented itself – I felt it had come as not only a gift for me but for anyone who might need it.

Andrew: Do you have anything in the works that you can tease us with?

Shae: I always have a bunch of ideas for picture book stories floating around, and the middle-grade novel I’m working on continues to progress nicely. I’m also creating a range of t-shirt designs – some are autism-championing (I’m on the autism spec(trum)tacular myself!) and others are geared towards writerly folk, I guess you could call it ‘writer wear’ or ‘author apparel’ – it’s fun!

Andrew: Thanks for coming on the blog, Shae. Your books are a lovely mix of positive messages and fun. I’m sure people will love sharing them with their family and friends.

Head on over to Shae Millward’s website or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

Buy Shae Millward Books

I hope you enjoyed this Shae Millward intervew. If one of Shae’s books would be perfect for a special child in your life, grab one of these links (Amazon and Booktopia are affiliate links) or from your favourite online or local bookshop.

Buy on Booktopia
Buy from Amazon

Buy State Library Of QLD

Buy on Booktopia
Buy on Angus & Robertson

More reviews and Interviews

For more interviews and children’s book reviews, head over to my kids’ book blog. Have a great day!

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Hi, Emma! Thanks for coming on the blog! I read from your website that you love dragons. What do you most love about dragons? Who is your all-time favourite dragon and why?

Emma: Thanks for having me here! The thing that I find really fascinating about dragons is that virtually all cultures across the globe have their own dragon mythology. From Mesopotamia to medieval Europe and across Asia, why did all our ancestors conjure the same mythic beast?

And as for my favourite dragon – is it cheating to say my own dragon? The cursed baby dragon Raine finds is funny, brave and ridiculously cute. Plus, he can do a special (smelly!) trick, which I can’t give away, but readers love it!

What is Raine in the Underlands about?

Without giving too much away, tell us a bit about your new book, Raine in the Underlands and what you love most about the main character, Raine.

Raine in the Underlands is a funny, fast-paced fantasy adventure full of magic and mayhem, culminating in an epic battle. There are farting dragons, rainbow spews, eccentric wizards, sly fairies, hidden royals and sassy dwarves. It’s got everything!

My favourite thing about Raine is that even though she’s part of a prophecy and thrust into a magical world, in her own mind she’s just an ordinary kid. She doesn’t feel like she’s special, and she struggles with the self-esteem and self-belief issues that we all face sometimes. All she wants to do is find her dad and help her friends. So, she feels like a very real person to me.

Who is Raine in the Underlands for?

Who do you think will enjoy Raine in the Underlands the most? Describe someone who would be a perfect fit to enjoy it.

Raine in the Underlands is perfect for fans of Nevermoor, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. Anyone who loves adventure, magic and funny characters will love it. I’ve been told it’s as if Terry Pratchett had written The Chronicles of Narnia – which is a huge compliment!

That’s awesome! What is the major theme of Raine in the Underlands? And what impact can you envision it having on its readers.

Raine is a story about learning to believe in yourself. Middle and upper primary can be a difficult time as friendships change and children start to think about their self-identity and where they belong in the world. Raine in the Underlands reflects these concerns, as well as complicated family relationships. I hope that, despite it’s fantastical setting, children will see themselves and their own worries reflected in Raine’s journey and realise that no one, even heroes and parents, are perfect.

What are some key things you learned in your MA in Literary Criticism and how do you apply that to your own writing?

I learnt that not everyone likes the same book. It doesn’t matter how well you write, there are a million reasons why a reader may not like your book. I had to study some amazing texts that as a reader I simply didn’t enjoy. And that’s really important to remember as an author. You cannot please everyone, so I envision my ideal reader and write the perfect book for them.

Can we expect a sequel or are you working on other stories you hope to publish next?

Raine is a planned trilogy. I’m about halfway through book 2- Raine in the Dark. And I’m also working on another middle-grade book and a couple of picture book manuscripts as well. Busy!

How can people find you online?

You can find me on my website E.M. Greville.

Thanks for coming on the blog, Emma!

E.M. Greville Bio:

E.M. Greville is an award-winning short fiction writer. An ex-English teacher from England with an MA in Literary Criticism, she trotted around the globe before settling in Victoria. She can usually be found herding children, chooks and cats, and scribbling brilliant story ideas on scraps of paper, which she promptly loses and blames on the badly herded children, chooks and cats.

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 promises to leave the wild creatures at home.

More interviews and reviews from the kids’ book blog

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Andrew: Hi Dani, thanks for coming for an interview! As Words and Nerds podcast host, you’re used to interviewing guests. I’m going to let you interview yourself for this question. What question would you ask yourself? And how would you answer it to reveal a fun and little-known fact about yourself?

Dani: This is the most fun and terrifying question I’ve ever had! A little-known fact is hard for an over-sharing extrovert, but when I was a kid I wanted to be a vet. I have no idea why, I’m bad at Math and not great at needles! I was also in a few bands in my early twenties as a VERY average singer and enthusiastic dancer (didn’t say good!)

My EXTRAordinary Mum

Andrew: Congrats on your new book My EXTRAordinary Mum! I saw a video on your socials of you unboxing your advance copies. What was that like?

Dani: The unboxing is every author’s dream! It was fun and I had my kids throw confetti at me and make a mess which they thought was the best thing ever! Having a book published is like running an endless hurdle race. You write it, you have to get it signed, you get it signed, you have to edit it, you edit it, you have to help market and sell it. I’m not complaining at all, but it’s a constant flow of excitement and trying to manage that next hurdle! It was very surreal though to think there are actual books I wrote in the world and hopefully in kid’s hands!

Adventure with a message

Andrew: One thing I love about My EXTRAordinary Mum is that by staying true to who she is, she is able to share wonderful experiences with her daughter. And you can see the positive messages that are being role-modeled to the daughter through these experiences. Which of these messages do you hope kids pick up on the most?

Dani: I think this is two-fold. I’d love kids to realise and understand that their mums are individuals who have desires and dreams of their own, which can get lost in the midst of motherhood. I would also like kids to see that they should be exactly who they are and not feel like they have to fit into societal expectations. Imagine if we could all be unapologetically ourselves!

Andrew: My EXTRAordinary Mum is going to show kids that their mum is more than what a common stereotype gives them credit for. Can you talk us through your thoughts on that?

Dani: It was interesting when I was having conversations with my own kids about my life before they came into the world and they couldn’t believe I went backpacking, or when traveling to Europe on my own or used to go into mosh pits (although I did have to explain a mosh pit haha!) I’ve always tried to create a value system in my household that values every member equally. As mothers we’ve been taught and expected to put ourselves last and this is having a very negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

I know so many women and mothers who have the most interesting lives, dreams, careers, histories and talents so I wanted to lean into this. The narrative about mothers and single mothers and what it means to be a ‘good mother’ needs a complete overhaul and we need to keep the conversation going to change the narrative and stereotype. The tired stereotype of mothers only capable of being the nurturer or the one reigning in the fun is tired. Don’t get me started on fairy tales where we are missing at sea, evil or dead. Women are so much more than that and I wanted to celebrate that by bringing the kids on the adventure!

Andrew: My EXTRAordinary Mum will speak to the grown-ups reading it too. What advice or encouragement would you give to all the mums out there that feel like they’ve lost themselves during the behemoth responsibility of parenthood?

Dani: I like the idea that motherhood dismantles everything we thought we were, because it’s such an incredibly life-changing and powerful experience to be responsible for this person’s life and to experience another level of love. However, after the dismantling, we get to reimagine who we are, because we can never be the same, but we can recreate who we are and who we want to be. I want to encourage our kids to accept and love themselves by modeling that for ourselves. There’s nothing worse than feeling as though you’re not good enough or that you have to change to fit an agenda. Be your extraordinary self and nothing less!

Extraordinary Mothers

Andrew: You and illustrator Alexandra Colombo have included beautiful dedications to your own mothers. What was your mum’s reaction to the dedication and reading the physical copy for the first time?

Dani: It’s my first book so it’s very special for both of us. I’m an only child and have a close relationship with both my parents. My mum always said ‘if you want something, go out and get it,’ which is an attitude to live by! My mum has also been a huge supporter of every version of myself (not all good!) and so to have someone in your life who will always have your back is special. She was stoked and surprised. It was expected that I would dedicate my first book to my kids, but with the title My EXTRAordinary Mum there was no choice!

Get your copy for your next storytime

Andrew: Is there anything else you’d like to share about My EXTRAordinary Mum? How can people get their copy?

Dani: I hope readers find it fun and quirky too. Putting the message aside, it’s a book about creating adventures with your family. The illustrations are magnificent and more than I could ever have imagined! Alexandra really captured the character’s spirit. I can’t thank James and Larrikin House enough for believing in this book from the start.

You can get your copy from Larrikin House, Booktopia, Dymocks, Robinsons and all of your favourite bookshops! My Sydney launch is at Gleebooks Glebe on 30 July, and I’ll be in Brisbane next week and Melbourne in August promoting the book too!

Andrew: Thanks Dani for coming for a chat on the blog!

Dani: Thank YOU, Andrew! YOU ROCK!

I trust you enjoyed reading this interview with Dani Vee. Connect with Dani on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, her website and on the Words and Nerds podcast! And if you think her book is perfect for you, then buy My EXTRAordinary Mum for your next storytime.

The post Interview with Dani Vee appeared first on Andrew Dittmer.

Interview

Andrew: Hi Paula, great to have you on the blog! I was excited to hear that your book Buster follows his Nose has just been published by Little Pink Dog Books! Congratulations! How has that experience been?

Paula: It has been a dream come true, (to use an old cliche!!) But I was almost brought to tears when I held the book for the first time and it was perfect! Great size, fine paper and glorious illustrations on every spread.

Andrew: You’re living in the Upper Hunter Valley now with a Wagyu cattle enterprise. Take us through a day in the life on a Wagyu cattle farm.

Paula: It’s different every day. I came back from 10 days in Sydney yesterday and my husband was pleased to have some help moving cattle today. So today we moved a mob from an oats paddock to some native pasture as we use rotational grazing and try and move the herds every few days. Other days I work in the yards helping with weighing or tagging or drafting off mobs into different areas. And on other days I am not required and I can just sit in my study and WRITE!!

Andrew: Snakes wander into your house from time to time. Can you tell us about one of your slithery encounters?

Paula: During the 3 year long drought every creature was after water. So I had frequent visits from mainly red bellied black snakes, writihng around my watering cans or trying to slither under my doors that lead to the veranda. A brown snake did manage to sneak inside and disappeared down the hall into a back bedroom. That required the professionals! I googled Snake Handlers and Gavin came from a nearby town after work with tools and a bag and soon extracted the visitor, bagged it and took it off to a mate who loved snakes.

Buster follows his Nose – Paula Stevenson & Jenny Hale

Andrew: Buster follows his Nose is out now. I’m guessing you’ve owned dogs. Can you tell us a story about one of your dogs?

Paula: We have had a few dogs but our much loved dog was a kelpie called Bundy. He was a working dog but also our much loved friend; he helped us muster and as he became older he rode around in the ute, sitting up in the front keeping my husband David company. It was a sad day when we had had to have him put down; he was 17.

Andrew: Can you tell us a bit about Buster follows his Nose and who did you write it for?

Paula: I wrote it for anyone who loves dogs. But I was inspired to write it for my 6 grand children who have a great sense of adventure and love to explore the natural world.

Illustrations by Jenny Hale

Andrew: Jenny Hale illustrated Buster follows his Nose and it looks gorgeous! What was it like, holding the book for the first time?

Paula: It was amazing! I had seen some roughs and the cover but when I held the book I was so proud. It felt wonderful, it was a perfect size with fine paper and every spread created by Jenny was a work of art.

Andrew: Do you have any favourite illustrations that just perfectly capture the moment and bond between Tilly and Buster?

Paula: I do have a couple of favourite pages…one is of Tilly and Buster looking up at the white cockatoos and another where they are both sitting up in the old rusty ute watching the roos. But on the blue pages, when Tilly is lost and frightend, there is the image of Buster and Tilly curled up in a hollow and Buster is licking her face.

Andrew: How can people grab a copy of Buster follows his Nose? How can they connect with you and follow your author journey?

Paula: It is available in all good book stores and I can be found on Instagram, my website and Facebook.

It was a pleasure to have an interview with Paula Stevenson. If you think Buster follows his Nose would be your perfect next read, you can buy from Booktopia or find it at your favourite bookshop or online.

About Paula Stevenson

Paula Stevenson loves to write stories that entertain surprise and inspire children. Her Picture Book titled BUSTER FOLLOWS HIS NOSE was recently published. Three of her poems have been published in The School Magazine and a number of children’s stories published in three different anthologies in 2019, 2020 and 2021. One of her stories is included in the CBCA anthology which was launched in May 2021. She has been short listed in a number of awards, including the Scribbles Creative Writing Awards in 2018 and 2019.

Paula belongs to the ASA, CBCA, and SCWBI and a number of groups including The Duck Pond, Just Write for Kids and Creative Kids Tales. She is a farmer in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW as well as a writer and she is passionate about her environment, drawing inspiration from it for many of her stories. Although she lives in a regional area, she regularly attends conferences and workshops and runs children’s sessions in the local Scone Library during the Scone Literary Festival and in Book Week. She is a Role Model for Books in Homes and visits regional primary schools in that role.

She posts regularly on her website and Facebook, blogging about books, writing, new born calves, old kelpies, crazy chooks and cute echidnas.

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Andrew: Hi Sharon, thanks for coming for an interview! Can you introduce yourself to us and for a
bonus point, include a fun fact that most people don’t know about you.

Sharon: Thanks Andrew. In addition to what’s mentioned above, I live on a couple of acres in the Maitland area, not too far from Newcastle. I love the peace and quiet of the countryside, the wildness of a rugged coastline and the majesty of mountains. Ideally, I’d love to live where I had all three. My house would also be in a forest, and I would be friends with all the wildlife. Perhaps I need to live in a fairy tale! ???? I love cuddles with my cat Millie and enjoy getting together with friends to play board games. A little known fact – I lived in Papua New Guinea as child on two separate occasions. The first time when I was 4-7 years old, and the second when I was 9-12 years old.

Andrew: Do you have a special writing place?

Sharon: I have learnt that I can write anywhere. I do have a desk with a view out the window
into my yard, but I’m just as likely to write on the lounge with my laptop on my ahem lap ???? I have been known to write propped up in bed or sitting on the back deck. Anywhere that’s comfortable really. I also keep a notebook in my handbag for when those little nuggets of inspiration pop into my head.

Andrew: What was your favourite book when you were a kid and why?

Sharon: It would have to be a toss up between The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, and The Tower of Geburah by John White. My father read them to me and my sister when we were in upper primary school. I loved them so much, I re-read them as soon as he was finished – more than once. I’ve re-read them as an adult too. Both books have an element of fantasy and adventure that appeals to my imagination.

Andrew: You have three picture books out now with Larrikin House including two books with a shark called Seymour who gets in the most unexpected places. What can you tell us about There’s a Shark in the Loo?

Sharon: This is a fun story written in rhyme about a little girl who is helping her parents get
ready for her birthday party and discovers that there is a shark in their loo. Obviously, he
can’t stay there but how can they get him out? And where can they put him? I had lots of fun writing this book. The idea started when our family got home one night years ago and one of our daughters refused to go to the toilet before bed because there was a frog on the toilet seat.

My husband and I got the giggles trying to catch the frog to take it outside. I decided to make the story more outrageous by making the frog a shark and centering the story around a birthday party instead of a child needing to use the bathroom. No toilet humour in this book (although kids do love a bit a toilet humour).

Andrew: And without giving too much away, what kinds of things does Seymour the shark get up to at school in your latest book There’s a Shark in my School?

Sharon: Let’s just say it’s entirely possible the canteen staff still haven’t recovered, and the
classrooms are probably still flooded. The kids have the best day at school ever…but the
teachers don’t agree.

Andrew: What is your favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Sharon: My favourite part of the writing process is when the jumble of ideas I have been mulling over finally fall into place and the story forms. It’s very satisfying. Then begins the editing process- frustrating, as it seems it will never end. There always seems to be something that can be changed or tightened or cut out. The end product is worth it though.

My favourite part of the publishing process (other than when you get that email saying “yes” to your manuscript) would have to be when I get sent through the first lot of sketches that the illustrator has done. It’s a little nerve wracking at first, wondering if the illustrator has envisioned the story the same way as you. I was very lucky to have Suzanne Houghton assigned to my books. She had the same vision as me without us communicating at all. When I saw the initial sketches, I was over the moon. It’s so exciting to see the story come to life. I couldn’t be happier with the way she has illustrated my manuscripts, and we are proud of our books.

The greatest thing of all, is when you get to hold a printed copy of the completed book. Publishing is a very long process. I signed the contract for There’s a Shark at my School in 2019 and didn’t hold the printed copy until 2022. Well worth the wait though.

Andrew: It was so great to have author Sharon Boyce on the blog. Thanks so much for joining us Sharon! Where can people go to follow you and your author’s journey?

Sharon: Thanks for having me Andrew, and congratulations on the release of your book! If you want to look me up, you can find me here:
Facebook
Instagram
Website

Do you think your child, grandchild or students would love these stories? Purchase Sharon’s books on Booktopia from links below or find them in your favourite book store.
Who is at The Zoo
There’s a Shark in the Loo
There’s a Shark at my School

I hope you enjoyed this interview with author Sharon Boyce. Are you loving these interviews and reviews? Read more!

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Andrew: Hi Penny, thanks for joining me on the blog! Let’s start off with a surprise question. Imagine all the animals in the world are tame, there are no rules and restrictions, and of course all animals’ needs and well-being are taken care of. If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you choose?

Penny: An elephant for sure. I just love them.

Andrew: I saw on your website that you wrote your first book when you were seven. What was it about and do you still have it?

Penny: It was an absolute classic chapter book called ‘Creepy Crawlys’ (spelling errors included). I told three fantasy style, illustrated stories about bugs. One chapter is called Cockroach Me! I still have it and often read it to kids during school visits.

Andrew: I’d like to focus on your latest picture book One Potoroo. Firstly, what is a Potoroo and why did you choose to write a story about one?

Penny: A potoroo is a small marsupial. It has the appearance of a large rat, but has more in common with a wallaby than a rodent. There are several species of potoroo in Australia, but the Gilbert’s Potoroo is the most critically endangered. I was inspired to write a story about this potoroo after seeing a brochure in an Australian Geographic store about a devastating bushfire that almost wiped out one of the last natural habitats of this animal.

Andrew: Did you learn any surprising facts about potoroos when you researched and wrote this book?

Penny: Yes, I did. Maybe that’s why I love researching so much! I learned that the Gilbert’s Potoroo is a very fussy eater. About 90% of its diet consists of fungi truffles, and these are only found in unique types bushland. I was also fascinated by the proactive approach of conservationists working in south west WA. Their attitude was ‘when a fire comes’, not ‘if’, and that made all the different to saving this animal from extinction!

Andrew: What themes or facts could a teacher or parent explore with kids through One Potoroo?

Penny: I think One Potoroo is a story of resilience and the interdependency of environment with humanity. It is set against the backdrop of bushfire, a very common occurance in the Australian bush, but it’s focus is on new beginnings and hope. Teachers and parents could look at themes of working together, the importance of understanding unique ecologies, conservation, changing environments, life cycles and more.

Andrew: What are Potoroos biggest threats for survival and is there anything we can do to help them survive as a species?

Penny: Like many small marsupials and mammals, feral pests are a big threat to potoroos all over Australia. For the Gilbert’s Potoroo this is especially the case because there are so few of them left. Recent estimates are that there are only about 100 animals left. They need safe, wild habitats that are cat, fox and python free. They cannot breed or survive for long periods of time in captivity, and are also very shy creatures, so it is vital natural habitats that can support their diet and lifestyle can be found and protected.

Andrew: How can people follow you and how can teachers get their hands on teachers’ notes for your books?

Penny: I can be found on Facebook, Instagram and my website. There are some excellent Teachers’ Notes available from the publisher’s website too:

Andrew: Thanks heaps for coming on the blog and all the best as you write more books for us!

Penny: Thanks for having me, Andrew!

Penny Jaye also wrote The Other Brother, a book about looking after a new addition to the family.

Having fun? Read more kids’ book reviews and book creator interviews on my kids’ book blog

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Join us for an interview with Sarah Speedie. Sarah lives in Melbourne. Her debut picture book illustrated by Rebel Challenger has just been released. I’m super excited to have Sarah joining us on the blog today!

Andrew: Hi Sarah, let’s kick off by getting to know you. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Sarah: I am the mother of two wonderful children (a teen and a tween) and a gorgeous Aussie bulldog named Dutch. Dutch, the bulldog, loves the water. She regularly goes stand up paddle-boarding and loves swimming (with a life jacket of course, bulldogs aren’t built to float!). If you head on to my website you will actually find a picture of Dutch on the water!  

I always loved writing as a child, but ended up with a career in IT and finance, before finding my way back to writing in 2019, and I haven’t looked back! I love to travel (before recent times of course), and I can’t wait to get back to it. There are so many amazing and interesting countries, cultures and people around the world, with so much to see and experience.

As much as I enjoy living near the beach in Melbourne, my ideal home would be in the middle of a forest somewhere surrounded by trees, a bubbling stream and nature. That is my idea of heaven. Maybe one day…

Andrew: On your website, there are some very interesting facts about you. Your favourite movie is The Sound of Music and you love to sing but your family doesn’t always fully appreciate you belting out tunes around the house. I’m going to put you on the spot here… Would you be willing to sing your favourite line from The Sound of Music for us here on the blog in text format?

Sarah: Well, If you insist Andrew. Just count yourself lucky that I’m singing in text format only! My favourite song in The Sound of Music, one that always brings a tear to my eye is…

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Ev’ry morning you greet me
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me…

Would you like me to continue? Hahaha…

Sarah Speedie’s Debut Picture Book

Andrew: Wow! That was epic. I can’t believe your family doesn’t beg you to sing for them ALL THE TIME. Mozzies Vs Flies, your debut picture book is out now. What triggered the idea for the story and what’s it about?

Sarah: Well, my husband and I like to take the kids and the dog and go bush walking every few weeks. There wouldn’t be a dog friendly hiking track in and around Melbourne that we haven’t visited. Often on these bush walks I throw story ideas around with my family. The idea for Mozzies Vs Flies came to me on one of these walks, as you can imagine we do come across quite a number of both mozzies and flies on our trails! I thought there has to be a story in there somewhere, and that night when we got home from the walk, I started writing!  Then, approximately two months later, on a different bush walk, I received the call from James Layton at Larrikin House saying that he wanted to publish it! 

Andrew: That’s awesome! Who is Mozzies Vs Flies perfect for?

Sarah: Mozzies Vs Flies is a picture book perfect for children aged 3 – 8 years. I am a strong believer in humour in kid’s books and this story is packed with humour. So, any child (and adult) who enjoys a good giggle, will enjoy it.

Andrew: What was your favourite part of the book creation process and why?

Sarah: Oh gee, that’s a tough question! Do I really have to pick only one? I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process, Larrikin House have been amazing to work with. But aside from receiving the phone call from James Layton saying that he wanted to sign the story (which is a moment I will never forget), I would have to say seeing the colour illustrations for the first time was a massive highlight. When I received the email with the illustrations I ran straight to put them up on the big TV screen. It was amazing seeing my little story brought to life by Rebel Challenger’s wonderfully fun illustrations. 

Andrew: What were your thoughts as you flipped through your book for the first time?

Sarah:

Wow, wow, wow…

would sum my thoughts up pretty accurately I think!

Andrew: How can people get a copy of Mozzies Vs Flies so they can share with their kids or grandkids?

Sarah: Mozzies Vs Flies is now available through all good bookstores Australia wide, and from early 2022 it will start popping up in various overseas bookstores also.

Andrew: It was great to have you on the blog, Sarah. Best wishes for Mozzies Vs Flies and no doubt next time we’re at a barbeque swishing flies and mozzies, we’ll think of your new picture book! 

Sarah: Thank you for inviting me on Andrew, it was a fun chat! I just hope that my singing hasn’t scarred you too much!

Andrew: Absolute pleasure! Find more about Sarah at her website and follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

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Sandra Bennett is a children’s author. Her book ‘Secrets Hidden Below, the Adamson Adventures 1’ was long listed in the Sisters in Crime 2019 Children’s Category, Davitt Awards and shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards 2019. Her latest
book, Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3 has just been awarded Finalist in the Children’s Fiction category of the 2021 International Book Awards!

Andrew Dittmer: Welcome to the blog, Sandra! It’s great to have you! Tell us where you’re from and what you love doing outside of writing.

Sandra: Bennett: Hi Andrew, thanks so much for inviting me to join you on your blog. I was born and raised in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney. They often say, ‘You can take the girl out of the Shire, but you can’t take the Shire out of the girl.’ As much as I loved growing up on the Shire beaches, I am a country girl at heart and now live in a beautiful little rural estate just south of Canberra. When I am not writing I love to go walking in the bush, play with my gorgeous grandchildren or take long country drives with my hubby. I love finding quirky little country towns and meeting the locals.

Andrew Dittmer: That sounds lovely! Where is your favourite place to write? Have you written in any unique or unusual places?

Sandra Bennett: My favourite place to write is in my lofted library. It was ten years in the planning and building. It has been a long slow project but I love the result, I can look out across our valley to the distance Brindabella Ranges, it’s beautiful especially when the mountains are snow-capped. I have written in cafes, hotel lobbies and the Reading Room at the National Library of Australia. Not sure if they are unique or unusual, basically, I write whenever and wherever an idea strikes me, including our car in a carpark while hubby was out surfing.

Andrew Dittmer: Congratulations on Fossil Frenzy just being awarded Finalist in the 2021 International Book Awards in the children’s category! How did you get interested in dinosaurs?

Sandra Bennett: Thank you so much, the award came as such a surprise, and I am truly honoured to have Fossil Frenzy recognised internationally. Like any mother who has had kids fascinated by dinosaurs, I have been intrigued by dinosaurs since my boys were little. My eldest has always been fascinated by dinosaurs and fossils. Before he came along, I always said, ‘you’ve seen one rock, you’ve seen them all.’ But over the years he has enlightened me. When he was just 5 years old, we took him fossicking for fossils and he hasn’t stopped since, he is now a PhD geologist.

About four years ago, hubby and I had the opportunity to drive home from Darwin to Canberra via outback Queensland. I had wanted to visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum at Winton for years. On arriving there I knew I had to set my third Adamson Adventure there. Australian dinosaurs are amazing and not enough people know about them. Did you know the largest Australian sauropod has just been discovered at Eromanga? They named it Australotitan Cooperensis after it was found in Cooper Creek. A sauropod is a herbivorous long neck dinosaur that roamed over many continents, including ours.

Andrew Dittmer: Fascinating! Can you tell us a bit about Fossil Frenzy and who is it perfect for?

Sandra Bennett: Fossil Frenzy is a middle grade adventure suitable for readers 8 -12 years. Set in the drought-stricken present where the only hope is buried in the past. The Adamson siblings find themselves on Uncle Tom’s farm in the remote Queensland outback. While checking out the dry waterholes, Zac has an idea. It leads them on an adventure into the past and the land of Australian dinosaurs. The farm dog, Grommet, joins them as does a little joey that Clare rescues at the beginning of their journey.

They encounter all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures and befriend a giant echidna and a Demon Duck of Doom. There is plenty of tension, adventure and humour as the three siblings learn resilience to survive and eventually find their way back home.

There is a fun twist at the end, but you’ll find no spoilers here. Fossil Frenzy was also a winner in the Queensland Writers Centre Adaptable Competition 2020. So before it was even published I had the opportunity to pitch it to film producers for the Gold Coast Film Festival.

Andrew Dittmer: I know you do school visits. Have you had any sweet, fun or funny experiences during school visits?

Sandra Bennett: Because of covid, I was able to only do one school visit last year, but it was at a school I regularly attend. It was lovely to see how excited the kids were when I returned with the third instalment of my Adamson Adventure for them. I even had kids saying they were my biggest fans. It was wonderful to hear.

But possibly the most memorable moment was on the steps of the National Library after I presented at the Canberra Writers Festival in 2019. I had a young girl chase me down the steps to get my autograph in her newly bought book. She was so excited to talk to me in person. I was delighted that I had made her day.

Andrew Dittmer: That’s lovely. You have experience working with reluctant readers. What do you suggest parents or teachers do for reluctant readers and what are the benefits for the kids long term if their parents and teachers persist and help them?

Sandra: Bennett: First and foremost, give them choices. If a child doesn’t like reading, it’s often because they haven’t found the right book to capture their interest. The choice of books should range from all genres including non-fiction. We often forget that some kids would prefer to read for information while others will read for fun. That is one reason I like to write adventures that keep kids turning the pages.

Fossil Frenzy is a great example of a fun fiction adventure that includes non-fiction information, it bridges that gap between different readers and entices them to read onto each next exciting chapter. Parents should be good role-models too, if you want your kids to read, you should show them that you love to read too. Keep reading with them, even once they have become independent readers, make it a joyful shared experience that families love and treasure while bonding and creating memories.

In the classroom, choice and sharing is equally as important. Once kids learn to love reading, they can grow and learn to achieve anything they dream of becoming, the world is open to their curiosity. Reading develops the imagination and inspires creativity. Sorry, I am a bit passionate about this subject, I can go on for ages.

Andrew Dittmer: I love the passion! How can people find out more about you and your books?

Sandra Bennett: You can find out all about me and my books at https://sandrabennettauthor.com/. There are teaching resources available there too. Or you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks so much to Sandra for coming onto the blog! It was great to learn more about her and get some inside info on her

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When she lived in England, Liz had a job dusting dinosaurs at London’s Natural History Museum. Now she illustrates picture books and junior fiction and has collected numerous short-listings and awards. Liz likes to mix up the media  – weaving collage and printmaking with found objects into her detail-packed pages. In between books Liz explores the Newcastle suburbs by bicycle and creates quirky illustrated maps that she sells on-line and in Newcastle shops.

Liz loves engaging with audiences and regularly presents at festivals, libraries and schools. She organized NSW ‘The Big Draw’ events from 2013 – 2016. Liz is a Board Director of Australia Society of Authors, Ambassador for Books in Homes and reviews picture books for CBCA Reading Time. She is represented by Fiona Kenshole at Transatlantic Literary Agency USA and by The Children’s Bookshop &  Speakers Ink Speakers Agencies.

Up-coming books are Old Fellow , Song of the White Ibis and ‘From Seed to Sky’

Interview with Liz Anelli

Andrew Dittmer: Hi Liz, welcome to the blog! As we’ve just read from the introduction, we know you’ve created art for a ton of beautiful kids books and plenty more on the way. When was the first time you decided you wanted to be a children’s book illustrator and when did you realise you could actually do it for real?

Liz Anelli: I always loved drawing and liked the idea of graphic design because it’s about working in teams as well as having something personally visual to say. So after High School (in the UK) I took the (then compulsory) 1 year General Art Foundation Course at my local technical college and then a 3 year Graphic Design Degree with Honours. I specialised in the Illustration elective with a tutor who was a successful children’s book illustrator and this really lit my fuse.

My final year project was to write and illustrate a picture book and this got published by Macdonald (who then became Simon and Schuster). It wasn’t plain sailing after that as I was terribly business un-savy and dropped several great opportunities… but its all ok now. I did a few other jobs: picking apples, designing magazines, my favourite was looking after the dinosaurs at London’s Natural History Museum.

Andrew Dittmer: Nice! I read on your website that when you were little, you would lie on the dining room floor drawing epic horse adventures. Can you tell us of some of those adventures or what drew you to those adventures?

Liz Anelli: It was nearly always about horses. I desperately wanted pony riding lessons but we couldn’t afford them so i drew my own pony stories instead. I drew tiny stick people and creatures and covered the backs of sheets and sheets of dad’s old engineering plans with their exploits.

Andrew Dittmer: Is there anything in particular that you would love to draw in a kid’s book one day?

Liz Anelli: Big machinery, cut away house interiors, in fact – the insides of anything with stupidly vast differences in scale between the setting and the characters.

Andrew Dittmer: Ooh, that sounds really cool! Congratulations on your picture book with Pamela Freeman, Dry to Dry which has been shortlisted in the 2021 CBCA Eva Pownall Award! Can you tell us about Dry to Dry?

Liz Anelli: Thank you! It is the circular story of the six seasons of Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory. Its the latest in the best-selling Non-fiction Nature Storybook Series for Walker Books Australia (find out more here: https://mailchi.mp/walkerbooks/nature-storybooks)

Andrew Dittmer: Is there any part of your illustration process that might surprise people?

Liz Anelli: It takes a very long time! And I always go to the places I illustrate.

My first passion is drawing so that under-pins everything. Before starting on a storyboard I spend a few weeks out research drawing the subject matter and environment and experimenting. I use the media that seems right for the book. Some books have mono-print lines as I love their crumbly texture. Other books (such as the Nature Story Series) have a lot of painting in them and there is always a fair bit of collage. These days I have arthritis in my hands so don’t cut and stick as much. All the elements are brought together and orchestrated in Photoshop … which takes days and days.

You can view some of my process in action at this site.

Also if you come to the Dry to Dry Exhibition opening in the Lovett gallery, Newcastle Library on Laman Street at the beginning of July we are incorporating a great education project with local High Schools partnering with the University of Newcastle, School of Creative Industries. They are producing some short animations based on my illustrations and their own backgrounds using time lapse photography. Included in the presentation showreel will be some video footage of me demonstrating various paint and collage techniques. The exhibition runs until mid August. (Dates to be confirmed)

Andrew Dittmer: That sounds great! How can people find more about you and your books?

Liz Anelli: Please take a look at my website. I post lots of research drawings and process on my Instagram feed.

Most of my books are published by Walker Books so you can find all those books here:

I’d like to thank Liz for joining us on the blog! It was truly a pleasure! Head on over to Liz Anelli’s website to discover more.

Thanks for reading the blog! I’d love you to hang around a bit longer Why not try:

More children’s book creator interviews.
Kids book reviews.

Andrew Dittmer

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Andrew: Hi Sami, great to have you on the blog for an interview! Tell us a bit about yourself, what books you have had published and add something most people don’t know about you.

Sami: Hey Andrew, thank you so much for having me! It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to answer some fun questions with you.

Well firstly, I am 25 years old and I am currently living in Armidale, NSW. I am a children’s book author and illustrator that specialises in all things weird and wonderful! My books are The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals. My upcoming book is titled The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. All of which are published by Lothian/Hachette Australia.

Something most people wouldn’t know about me is that I use to play women’s league tag and that a few years ago footage of my grand final went viral, with the main news channels around Australia and other countries airing the clip, including 10 News, Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project and more.

Essentially we had a miracle win after the hooter went off because an opposing team player threw the ball in the air thinking they had won 6-4. However, since the ref had not blown the final whistle, one of the players on my team caught the ball and sprinted down the field, scoring a try and leaving us the winners of the grand final, 8-6. Watch it here

Andrew: Haha, classic! Now, given the quality of your drawings, I’m guessing you’ve drawn a few animals in your time. What were your favourite animals to draw when you were growing up? And how did you get so darn good?

Sami: Thank you! I certainly have drawn many different animals over the years, and for the books alone, I have painted at least 242 animals/plants. However, the main reason I am able to illustrate in a scientific manner is because I spent 4 years at the University of Newcastle studying a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration (Honours). This incredible degree was the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere and fortunately was only 2.5 hours south of where I lived in Port Macquarie, so I am so thankful that I was able to experience it before it was sadly deemed to be in “teach out” mode, just last year.

Throughout the degree, we were taught how to draw plants and animals in a scientifically accurate way, as well as experiencing medical illustration, graphic design, biology, animation, photography courses and more. I learnt so much and it was during my third year of NHI that I was approached by Hachette, asking me to create a children’s book based on ugly animals, which I ended up doing for my honours project.

I can’t thank just my degree for my love/skills of illustrating, as my mum and dad were both very creative minded people, always making sure my sister and I had plenty of fun things to do. Whether it was playing the drums, piano, singing, colouring in, drawing or painting, I always felt encouraged to release my artistic side. We also had many different pets when growing up, as we lived on a small property on the outskirts of Port Macquarie. These pets were dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, birds, horses, cows and donkeys.

My mum would use these pets as inspiration for her own larger than life paintings that decorated the home, so I learnt quickly how valuable it was to utilise your surroundings when drawing, meaning my sketchbooks were often filled with pets, trees, CD and DVD covers, the loungeroom around me and more.

Andrew: It must have been heaps of fun researching the world’s most gorgeously hideous creatures! What was your favourite ugly animal to draw, and did you have a horrified grimace on your face the entire time you were drawing them?

Sami: It really was a surreal experience, sitting in my office and typing in “ugliest animals ever”, realising that this was now my job! It was even more bizarre when I had chosen all of the 60 creatures and began to research/illustrate them, so many disturbing animals that I didn’t even know existed! But it was a wonderful experience and I learnt so much about the natural world, evolution and how silly our beauty standards really are. Who are humans to judge an animal based on its appearance?

Although it is difficult to decide which animal is my favourite, I have managed to narrow it down to two: the marabou stork and the Suriname toad (but for very different reasons). The marabou stork is my favourite looking ugly animal, I had such a great time painting all of the wrinkles, tiny feathers on the head and scratchy textures in the beak. The large pink pouch was other worldly!

The Suriname toad is my favourite ugly animal, adaptation wise. If you didn’t know already, these toads are as thin as a pancake and have an adaptation that keeps their babies nice and safe. In order to prevent their eggs from being eaten off a nearby rock like many other frog/toad species, these toads have evolved to keep their young on their backs! After mating, the fertilised eggs are distributed onto the females back, which she then grows a thin layer of skin over the top of. After some time, the babies are ready to hatch and push themselves through the pores on the mothers back (just like black heads), swimming off into the water to start their lives. I was in utter awe researching and illustrating these two creatures!

Andrew: In The Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, are there any dangerous creatures that people wouldn’t normally think of as dangerous? And which one would you be most afraid to meet?

Sami: When making The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, I really wanted to steer clear of the typical dangerous animals that you see in the media and other books. So I decided to go with many unexpected dangerous animals, that way I could share the more unusual species with kids around Australia and encourage them to explore the natural world (while also respecting it). Some of the most unexpected dangerous animals would have to be the African giant swallowtail, blue and yellow macaw, blue dragon, crown-of-thorns starfish, greater slow loris, pork worm and the spider-tailed horned viper.

While, I would love to explore all of the unusual dangerous abilities behind these animals, I will limit it to just one, the greater slow loris. This small and furry mammal is nocturnal and believe it or not, it has poisonous glands on its elbows. It licks its elbows and mixes the toxins in its mouth with its saliva, using its toothcomb to assist it. Then if it were to bite you in self-defence, you can get very sick and potentially die!

The animal I would least like to come across in real life would have to be the Irukandji jellyfish, mostly because I know if I were to see one whilst swimming, it would most likely be too late! By the time I would have spotted it probably would have already stung me!

Andrew: I read on your website that you love experimenting with new mediums. What’s the coolest one you’ve tried? And what’s the process?

Sami: Yes! I have tried many mediums over the years, especially in university whilst studying. These included pencil, graphite dust, watercolour, watercolour pencils, pen, acrylic, gouache, charcoal, digital and more. I would say my favourite one would have to be watercolour, which is what I have done all of the paintings inside the books with.

The coolest one however, would have to be graphite dust! This is a super simple technique that involves a dry brush and scrapings of graphite from a pencil. You can easily do this with a sharp blade and collect the dust into a small bowl, then you coat your brush in the graphite dust and slowly build up tonal depth on your paper. After a few layers, it gives a great shaded appearance and doesn’t leave pencil marks!

Andrew: Nice! So, what age group would be perfect for exploring the encyclopaedias?

Sami: My books have been created for kids aged around 7-12. However, I made sure to not simplify any of the information too much, as I believe kids are most definitely smart enough to comprehend scientific information like conservation statuses, habitats, diets and more. I would say that this book can also be read, understood and appreciated by those much older than 12 as well. I have had many parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and more tell me that they have also enjoyed these books and that it most definitely is not limited to a particular age range.

Essentially I created these books with myself in mind. Would I have picked this book up off the shelves as a kid, teenager and adult? Would I learn from and enjoy it? If I could answer yes to these kinds of questions, then I knew I was on the right path.

Andrew: Thanks so much for coming on the blog for an interview Sami! What’s the best way for people to follow you, your incredible illustrations and find your books?

Sami: No, thank you, Andrew! I had a blast! I am always posting on my socials (even posting the occasional upcoming book sneak peek), so you can follow me on:
Instagram: @samibayly
Facebook: @SamiBaylyArt
Twitter: @samibayly

If you looking to purchase signed/personalised books or other pieces of my art, you can find them on my Etsy or on my website.

Otherwise, I always recommend supporting your favourite local bookshop!

It was so awesome having Sami Bayly here for an interview. Keep your eye out for her upcoming book The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. And if you love getting to know children’s book creators, read more interviews! Or browse some kids book reviews. Get a monthly email with new reviews, interviews and the occasional giveaway by signing up to my email list.

Thanks,

Andrew Dittmer

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