Oh dear, did you see the word Christmas in this headline and freak out? I can’t even think about the fact that it’s nine weeks away without breaking into hives. …
4 picture books about friendship
The Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook group has grown into a wonderful community (nearly 2500 members!) of parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, bloggers and authors, which means there’s always someone on …
Teachers’ Notes: The Book Of Secrets
As an author, teachers’ notes are a surprisingly exciting thing. I love seeing what a specialist reader makes of my books and how they tie them to the various aspects …
Writing For Kids: Write What You Love
When I asked my friend Allison Rushby, author of many novels for children, YA and adults, to come up with a post full of writing tips for kids, I had …
Let me read you a story…
Anyone who knows me well, or even listens to my podcast regularly, will know that video and I are not friends. But publishers are persuasive people and so I found …
The Book Of Secrets (Ateban Cipher #1) is out now!
When I was busy writing manuscripts in the middle of the night, dreaming of one day being a published author, I would try to imagine what it would be like …
Simple Book Week ideas (from Australian authors)
Last year, in the grips of Book Week Fever, I wrote about my love/hate relationship with this most special time of the school calendar. In summary, as an author, I …
31 books for tween girls with ‘nothing to read’
This month, the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook group celebrates its first anniversary – as well as its 2000th member! Oh my, but it’s been a big year. We have …
Harry Potter, Percy Jackson… books to read next
Given the response to my recent post about books for tween boys (who don’t like fantasy), it seems that there are a lot of us out there searching for just the …
COVER REVEAL: The Book Of Secrets (Ateban Cipher #1)
The day is finally here when I can reveal the cover for the first book in my new series! I have to say that from an author’s perspective, this never …
You can now buy The Mapmaker Chronicles (1-3) in the US and Canada!
Well, it’s happening. The first three books in The Mapmaker Chronicles series are on sale in the USA and Canada, through publisher Kane Miller. You can buy the books via …
Proof! The Book of Secrets (Ateban Cipher #1) is coming soon!
Look what arrived in the post this morning! This is an honest-to-goodness, bonafide proof copy of The Book Of Secrets, book #1 in my new Ateban Cipher series (and, yes, …
Today’s the day! The Mapmaker Chronicles now in the UK!
Another exciting day in a month that has already left me fairly breathless! The first three books in The Mapmaker Chronicles series are now available for UK readers, through Little, Brown …
The Mapmaker Chronicles website: an update
With the launch of The Mapmaker Chronicles: Beyond The Edge Of The Map just weeks away (28th March), I’ve been hard at work behind the scenes getting everything ready. One …
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2017 is underway!
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge begins this week, celebrating its 15th anniversary, and I’m thrilled that all three (currently published) books in The Mapmaker Chronicles series are once again on …
Cover reveal! The Mapmaker Chronicles: Beyond The Edge Of The Map (#4)
I’m SO excited to be able to share the cover for the next book in The Mapmaker Chronicles series! Isn’t it beautiful? Beyond The Edge Of The Map is available …
And the winner is…
Congratulations to Sanch LivingLife who was chosen (from hundreds of entries!) by the Random Name Picker as the winner of my latest giveaway. Sanch, who correctly named A.L. Tait as …
Your Kid’s Next Read: The one book I’m buying for Christmas
I know it’s only October, but it’s the end of October and that means, if you’re anything like me, you’re thinking about Christmas shopping and getting it done before the …
Your Kid’s Next Read: recommended reading lists for kids 10+, 12+, YA for tweens
You may remember that a few months ago I started a new Facebook group called ‘Your Kid’s Next Read‘. I’m happy to say that the group has already grown into …
Industry Insider: From spark to finished work
I’ve talked before about where ideas come from and how we sometimes ignore our best ideas. Today’s Industry Insider is someone who recognised the spark of a great idea and then …