Voting is officially OPEN for Radio National's Top 100 Books of the 21st Century! Select up to 10 of your favourite books published between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2025 Vote now! top100books.abc.net.au @austlit.bsky.social

Very late to the piece but I’m thankful to the organisers of Authors and Artists for Palestine to be able to offer a guided spotlighting trip as part of their huge online auction. Groups welcome (as long as you can all fit in my car!), bidding closes this Wednesday: airauctioneer.com/authors-and-...

In the latest edition of the Your Kid's Next Read newsletter, I've got tips on how to grow a story, Megan has new book reviews and we're celebrating 200 episodes of the YKNR podcast. Check it out here: yourkidsnextread.substack.com/p/how-to-gro...

New single from Joe Visser out now! Perfect for Sunday morning listening. 😊 And yes, Proud Mum alert. Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/6qKnpb... Apple: music.apple.com/au/album/aft...

Thanks to Your Kid's Next Read & @altait.bsky.social for this fabulous interview about On Gallant Wings, the history behind it, how I juggle research with story, pigeon voices, character development & more!! www.yourkidsnextread.com.au/podcast-epis... #AustralianAuthors #Australianbooks #Writing

‘Some of her earnings were spent on riotous living, but Kerry gave a lot of it away without fanfare to those who really needed it: fellow authors down on their luck, impecunious neighbours and, above all, to charities.’ What a legend. Vale, KG.

The 2024 #AussieBirdCount results are in! Together, we counted 4,117,293 birds! 🐦 Read more: birdlife.org.au/news/2024-au...

Re-boosting this for the knockoff hour. Please sign our petition & let Nine bosses know they can’t break their promises www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/fr...

Good news for fellow authors disheartened by your books being illegally used to train AI; "If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..." And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.

Over the moon that DOG BEACH by me, Annie White and the National Library of Australia team has been shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Association's 2025 Small Publishers' Children's Book of the Year Award. 🎉#ABIA2025

The blobfish has just been named New Zealand's Fish of the Year! Hooray! Children can learn more about this fascinating fish in CHEER UP, BLOBFISH! by me and Rachel Tribout, Affirm Press, 2024. And there is so much to discover!!! #blobfish #nzfishoftheyear #cheerupblobfish

This week I’m celebrating the release of ‘Sunny at the End of the World’ 👏 What a gift, to have another story by Steph. It is every bit as funny, fierce and insightful as her. Sending love to Danielle and Rhiannon Bowe. Thank you for sharing this with us. www.textpublishing.com.au/books/sunny-...

Australia Reads has announced a new live literature initiative, LitUp! Supported by @copyrightagency.bsky.social and Creative Australia, this pilot program will connect authors to communities in regional and outer-metropolitan areas. Find out more: australiareads.org.au/litup

In today’s YKNR newsletter for paid* subscribers, I take some EXCELLENT writing advice from some of Australia’s top children’s authors and then give practical ways to use their tips with the young writers in your life. yourkidsnextread.substack.com/p/write-the-... *Free trial available

Super excited to be on both the adult and kids’ programs at SWF this year! www.swf.org.au/writers/al-t...

Erin Middleton is an in-house editor at Walker Books Australia, where she edits picture books, early reader, middle grade and young adult titles. She will be running online picture book and chapter book/YA writing bootcamps on April 5th and 6th. Find out more at www.CYAConference.com/bootcamp

Join the talented Serena Geddes for an inspiring and immersive full-day online Illustration Boot Camp. Dive deep into the art of storytelling through illustrations, refine your skills, and gain valuable insights from Serena’s extensive experience in the industry. www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

Congratulations to the inaugural winners of The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers, Elizabeth Bourke and Lydia Schofield! 🎉 Both winners will receive $1000, a 20-hour mentorship and a professional development package worth $200. stephboweprize.com #LoveOzYA

Did you know that of Australia's total population of First Nations peoples, a massive 8.6% are Torres Strait Islanders? As a minority within a minority, what do you even know about the Torres Strait? Remedy the situation with an easy read. 'Spirit of the Crocodile' is out next week. Can't wait!

In ep 190 of the YKNR podcast, we're stepping inside the School Library! We look at how school libraries are changing, the role of Teacher Librarians, how kids can engage with their school library – and what to do if you don’t have one. www.yourkidsnextread.com.au/podcast-epis...

Cathy Vallance from UQP will do online assessments of Chapter Books, Early Readers,Junior Fiction, MG, YA manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips

The deadline for entries to The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers has been extended to 15 February 2025. Enter now for the chance to win $1000, a 20-hour mentorship with an award-winning YA author, and a professional development package worth $200! www.stephboweprize.com #LoveOzYA

In the Feb YKNR newsletter, we're looking at the changes to the teaching of reading in the Australian curriculum. What does it look like in the classroom? What does it mean for parents? Find it here, with a link to full chat on the YKNR podcast: yourkidsnextread.substack.com/p/getting-re...

🌟MY BOOK IS OUT, MY BOOK IS OUT🌟 Grinning like a loon here 😄 ALL SHALL MOURN is out in the world. This book that was orphaned by my publisher, then supported by readers so much that I released it myself...It's finally arrived 😊 Hope you dig it🖤 linktr.ee/allshallmour...

The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers is now open 🎉 Unpublished Australian YA writers under 25 can now submit. The winner will receive $1000, a 20-hour mentorship to develop their manuscript, and a professional development package worth $200. Visit www.stephboweprize.com to enter!

In 10 days’ time (that’s Valentine’s Day) we’ll reopen to submissions. To do so, go to Contacts page on website and follow the guidelines. And PLEASE make sure you’re ready to share. #publishing #writinglife Good luck! 🤞 rb.gy/zqqpli

Writing one book while editing another… would not recommend.

Quick reminder to authors that a short 'media friendly' bio on your website is essential. One that is about YOU and YOUR books, not your cats. Think of it as what you want me to read out as a podcast interview intro. Yes, keep the cats in a longer bio, but make it easy for me. Please.

Dear Linked In, I think it’s time we both admit I am not, in fact, on a roll. Your emails do not make it so. Yours,

In other news, practising vocal exercises to get my creaky voice back in shape for another year of recording weekly podcasts.

The final episode of the YKNR First Chapters summer series is here, and it's a CRACKER as author Amy Doak reads the first chapter of 'Eleanor Jones Can't Keep A Secret'. Listen here www.yourkidsnextread.com.au/podcast-epis... or where you get your pods! This series has been such fun!

With kids heading back to school, it feels like a good time to give this one the ol' annual share: allisontait.com/2015/07/how-...

Me trying to write today.

Check out all of the amazing items available in the @kidlitforla.bsky.social auction! #kidlit www.32auctions.com/organization...

Hey everyone! I'm Children's/YA Lit Agent Lori Kilkelly. I donated an 'Ask Me Anything' to the kidlit fire relief auction and would love to chat with you! Bidding is this week: fhttps://www.32auctions.com/organizations/125931/auctions/175630/auction_items/5898414 #kitlitforlosangeles

How is everyone this fine morning? We are in the final throes of moving Book Boy Jr to the Big Smoke for uni and the stress is real. One of the true downsides of country living is the post-school race to leave small-town roots behind. I knew it was coming. I did it myself. But still...

Brace yourselves! The latest YKNR First Chapters ep is here and it's wonderful @daniellebinks.bsky.social reading from her middle-grade novel SIX SUMMERS OF TASH AND LEOPOLD! Find it at www.yourkidsnextread.com.au/podcast-epis... or where you get your pods! @jacintadimase.bsky.social

Get writing for this fantastic competition! I want to read your stories!!!

I have so much writing to do today, I feel the need to #procasticlean my office...

One of the best things I ever did was set up a submissions spreadsheet to show what I've submitted, what's rejected (so many), what's accepted (a few). Years ago, Kirli Saunders told me she set a'rejections goal' of ten rejections a year. Why? Because it meant she'd been submitting. Try it!

Clare Hallifax from Walker Books will be running online picture books & young adult/chapter book writing Bootcamps on April 5 & 6, and in-person on July 27. www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips #PictureBooks

A little teary my first novel, Pheasants Nest has been shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards. Huge thanks to all the bookshops & readers who have embraced my characters Kate Delaney, Liam Carroll & the other imaginary friends I created in my head during a dark period. Congrats to all the authors.

Kristina Schulz from will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Early Readers, Illustrations, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Picture Book, & YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit

We're hiring: Senior Advisor First Nations Open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, we’re looking for a passionate individual to lead our efforts in integrating and elevating First Nations knowledge, perspectives, and leadership in conservation. birdlife.org.au/about/work-w...

Having a kid move out of home at 18 is challenging. Having him move cities is even more challenging. Having him move cities at the same time his older brother is moving halfway across the country takes the challenge - and stress levels - up 1000 per cent. It doesn't end with school. Sadly.

Lying under a fan writing character notes for a new idea. Love, love, love meeting my people for the first time 😍

Looking for a classroom read aloud? 'Wurrtoo' by Tylissa Elisara. Teacher notes here 👉 cdn.hachette.com.au/resources/97... @hachettechildrens.bsky.social

Ready to follow your writing dreams in 2025? @valeriekhoo.bsky.social and I wrote 'SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER: How to get started (while you still have a day job)' to share what we know about building a writing career – and business. More: allisontait.com/product/so-y...

I feel like the year really begins today. Last week was about admin, this week I need to start writing. But going back to my novel feels too big, so I'm starting with a freelance article, due on Friday. The business of writing is all about the short-term/long-term balance. Where are you at?

Reading the news headlines before bed is never a good idea, is it?