Ask the Author: Annaleise Byrd talks about Losing the Plot
By Mia Macrossan Annaleise Byrd is a Brisbane writer whose debut middle grade novel, Losing the Plot, has just been published to much popular acclaim. It is a portal fantasy perfect for children who enjoy action and humour and aren't quite
Winning the StoryLinks Short Story competition by Ali Rutstein
Ali Rutstein won the 2023 Short Story Competition for adult writers 18+ with her story The Loophole. Originally from England, Ali Rutstein moved to Australia over twenty years ago. She is now firmly settled in Brisbane, where she lives with her partner,
Becoming a published author: A guest post by Annaleise Byrd
Annaleise Byrd writes funny books for kids. Her debut middle grade novel, Losing the Plot – a humorous portal fantasy set in the world of Grimms’ original fairy tales – will be published by Walker Books Australia this March. Annaleise agreed
Ask the Author: Barry Jonsberg
By Mia Macrossan Barry Jonsberg emigrated from the UK many years ago and now lives in Darwin where he taught English for many years. He says he fell in love with Australian YA fiction, particularly the work of Scot Gardner, Phillip
Talking Translation – interviews with translators of Australian Children’s Books
by Lara Cain Gray Talking Translation is a new series where Lara Cain Gray interviews translators of Australian children's books. She delves behind the scenes and between the lines to learn more about the complex process of translating. These interviews offer a
Meet the Author: Zewlan Moor
By Mia Macrossan Zewlan (pronounced Shoolen) is a medical doctor who also has a literature degree and a passion for writing and sharing children’s stories. She started Byron Bibliotherapy after feedback from patients who found it helpful when she recommended specific fiction
Meet Jenny Stubbs – winner of the 2023 Nan Chauncy Award
By Mia Macrossan Jenny Stubbs has been awarded the 2023 Nan Chauncy Award, awarded by the Children's Book Council of Australia to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of Australian children’s literature. Named after the noted Tasmanian
Meet Katrina Nannestad: Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby Interned, and Claire Saxby - The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly
Meet Felice Arena: Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks; Pamela Rushby : Interned; Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing
Meet Claire Saxby: Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby : Interned, Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly agreed to answer
StoryArt Exhibition 2023 Meet the Artist Anil Tortop
by Mia Macrossan The annual StoryArt Exhibition is all set to start next month on Monday, June 26 and run until Sunday July 2 at the Richard Randall Art Studio at Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane. It will be a week of fabulous displays for everyone
Meet Pamela Rushby : Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
There are four brilliant writers on this year's Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby : Interned, Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly
StoryArt Exhibition 2023 Meet the Artist Katrin Dreiling
The annual StoryArt Exhibition is all set to start next month on Monday, June 26 and run until Sunday July 2 at the Richard Randall Art Studio. It will be a week of fabulous displays for everyone to enjoy. As this is school holiday
StoryArt Exhibition 2023 Meet the Artist Yvonne Mes
The annual StoryArt Exhibition is all set to start next month on Monday, June 26 and run until Sunday July 2 at the Richard Randall Art Studio. It will be a week of fabulous displays for everyone to enjoy. As this
StoryLinks 2023 Short Story Competition Winner
The winner of this year's Short Story competition for writers aged 18+ was announced at the Narelle Oliver Lecture in Children's Literature given by the current Children's Laureate Gabrielle Wang. The winning short story is The Loophole by Alison Rutstein. Alison very kindly
A Writer’s Resolutions – some New Year’s suggestions from Wendy Orr
Some timely words from Wendy Orr, the 2022 winner of the Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. New Year’s resolutions are often scoffed at, but what if we had some gentle ones, reflecting a state of mind rather than a
Ask the Author: Inda Ahmad Zahri
StoryLinks interviews author and illustrator Inda Ahmad Zahri Inda was born in Malaysia, went to university in England and graduated as a doctor in medicine and surgery. She then moved to Australia, got married and had a daughter. She is the
Ask a Writer: Sean Williams on writing
Sean Williams is the author of over fifty novels. He has been on the New York Times Best Seller lists, won awards and is very successful all round. His latest books have been reviewed here: Her Perilous Mansions and Honour
Painting for Picture Books: A Guided Walk through Piano Fingers
Lara Cain Gray in conversation with Caroline Magerl “There’s no cure for what ails creative people,” said artist, author and vivid storyteller Caroline Magerl as she guided visitors around Piano Fingers, an illuminating exhibition of picture book art, running throughout
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #4 Wendy Orr
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Wendy Orr is the author of Cuckoo's Flight, described
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #3 Katrina Nannestad
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Katrina Nannestad is the author of Rabbit, Soldier,
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List: #2 Lorraine Marwood
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Lorraine Marwood is the author of Footprints on the
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List: #1 Mirranda Burton
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children's Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Mirranda
Spotlight on 2022 Short Story Shortlist: Marian McGuinness
Here is the second of our Spotlights on shortlisted writers. Marian McGuinness has been shortlisted for her story Queenie's jiggly-Jolly Holiday - Queen Clarabelle enjoys being alone at the Get Lost Caravan Park but then makes some new friends. Marian is
Spotlight on 2022 Short Story Shortlist: Meredith Downes
Here is the first of our spotlights on our shortlisted writers. Meredith Downes has been shortlisted for her short story 'The Pop Girls', a subtle story about a girl immersed in swimming but who still observes what happens around her
‘Born in history, immortalised in story.’ Six award winning writers reveal how they write historical fiction
The excitement and anticipation is mounting as we get to the countdown to the announcement of the winner of the inaugural Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. The six writers on the shortlist have revealed the how and why
Meg McKinlay talks about writing historical fiction
'When I'm drawn to historical fiction, I think it's because of the empathic connections it enables between our contemporary lives and those of people in the past.' Meg McKinlay is a much awarded writer and poet of picture books, chapter books
Maree Coote talks about writing historical fiction
'Historical fiction can also be the telling of a true story—based on real events—that is lifted it out of its time to reset the story as a universal tale. Born in history, immortalised in story.' Maree Coote is a writer, designer,
Felice Arena talks about writing historical fiction
'Historical fiction is not only a portal to another time but a tangible way to try to experience the real-life emotions and human stories of those who have come before us.' Felice Arena is an actor, speaker, TV presenter and playwright
Pamela Rushby talks about writing historical fiction
The best, the strangest, the most riveting, heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud stories aren’t fiction. They’re real. Pam Rushby is an award winning Queensland writer who has worked as an advertising copywriter, a publicity officer and a pre-school teacher, as well as writing and