Welcome to the new year, everyone! I must say that I’m always glad to find myself on the ‘other side’ of the silly season. I’ve had a lovely break in the karri and marri forest in southern WA with my family and am really excited to get into a couple of big writing projects in […]

I had the pleasure of meeting Nic Emmerson and his dad, Roger, this week. Nic emailed me a couple of weeks ago. His email began like this: Hello Deb,  My name is Nic Emmerson and I am 20 years old and I am interested in learning about writing books for children and young adults. In January […]

Today I received a copy of the newly reprinted 90 packets of instant noodles. The first thing I did was flick through to the imprint page, where I saw this: That line – reprinted 2013, 2015 – made me glow with happiness. I never, ever would have thought when I signed my first book contract […]

My latest book, At My Door, is partly about being a mum. And the different kinds of mums out there. In the book we get glimpses of two mums, though one we never actually meet – Mei’s mum. Mei, a toddler, is left at the front door of Poppy’s house one night. Mei’s mum is […]

Last week I had the huge pleasure of working with The Literature Centre with some of the south-west’s brightest readers and writers. I met students from Year 6 through to Year 12 and every single one of them had something to offer our intensive writing sessions. They worked hard and they shared joyfully. I can’t emphasise […]

Last week, children’s writers and illustrators all around Australia were helping kids, librarians and teachers to celebrate children’s books. I had a brilliant week visiting the City of Gosnells Libraries and the City of Canning Libraries, as well as Peter Carnley Anglican Community School for The Literature Centre. I met such lovely, engaged students from Years […]

News. Love it, or hate it? I’ve learnt to approach all news with a very critical eye, but it’s taken me years to hone that critical skill and trust my own take on things. Ultimately, though, I am, as I tell students I visit at schools and libraries, a complete news junkie. First up in […]

Compassion. If there is any word I would hope to have associated with my forthcoming book, At My Door, it’s compassion. Because we all need more of it – in the way we view others; in the way we view ourselves. And children, with their beautiful open minds and sponge-like absorbability, are the perfect ones […]

I had the pleasure of heading to Broome last week to take part in the Corrugated Lines Festival of Words. Aside from having an opportunity to get to know the wonderful community of Broome, and explore its stunning landscapes, I was lucky enough to hear readings by Mari Lourey, Pat Lowe, Jacqui Wright, Deb Hannagan, Mike McCall, Rose Van […]

I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited to participate in the Brisbane Writers Festival this year. I’ll be taking part in the kids program as well as the adults program, and can’t wait to meet the other readers and writers attending the festival! I’ll be talking about my books and process, and particularly how I […]