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
Katrina Nannestad talks about writing historical fiction
A well-written historical novel brings history alive and inspires young readers to ponder big issues - peace, justice, kindness and tolerance, to name just a few. Katrina Nannestad is an award winning Australian writer of distinctive middle grade fiction. This year
Claire Saxby talks about writing historical fiction
I let the facts sit on my shoulder as I insert my fictional characters. The facts give me a framework, the fiction fills the spaces between. Claire Saxby is a an Australian author of fiction, non fiction and poetry for children.
StoryLinks interviews Inda Ahmad Zahri
Inda Ahmad Zahri talked with Mia Macrossan about her writing life and her debut picture book Salih About Inda Books have got her into a number of sticky situations… 'As a little girl, I read in the dark when I should’ve been asleep.
StoryLinks interviews Claire Zorn
Claire Zorn talked with Margaret McKay-Lowndes about her latest book When We Are Invisible and a writing life. Claire Zorn is the author of three highly acclaimed novels for Young Adults, as well as a picture book for children entitled No
Interview with Katrina Nannestad
Here is a fascinating YOUTUBE Interview with Katrina where she answers questions about her writing and her book We Are Wolves. Katrina is an Australian author who grew up in New South Wales. Her writing celebrates family, friendship and belonging. Her novels
Ask an Illustrator: Caroline Magerl
Caroline Magerl in conversation with Mia Macrossan Caroline Magerl was born in Germany but now lives in Buderim, Queensland. She is an illustrator who has worked for years drawing for educational publishers, newspapers and magazines. She came to the notice of the
Meet Genevieve Young author of The Microscope
Genevieve Young, the winner of our 2019 Short Story competition talks about her writing. How long have you been writing for young people? I started trying out some ideas for preschool and early primary school picture book texts about two years ago.
StoryLinks interviews Debbie Smith, winner of the 2018 StoryLinks Short Story Competition
Debbie spoke to Mia Macrossan about her writing life. Why do write children's stories? Do you write any other kinds of stories? What kind of stories do you write - do you write for a particular age group or do you
StoryLinks interviews Kerry Neary
Kerry Neary is a retired teacher librarian with 35 years' teaching experience, 19 of which were spent as a teacher librarian in Queensland Government secondary schools. He is a life member of the Children's Book Council of Australia. He regularly
StoryLinks Interviews Cherri Ryan
by Mia Macrossan Cherri Ryan's first picture book Spirit was published recently. Magnificently illustrated by Christina Booth it is the story of a little girl who builds a sail boat and calls it Spirit. She takes it for a trial in
