Ep 40: Suzanne O’Sullivan on what commissioning editors are looking for in children’s books.

Meet Suzanne O’Sullivan, commissioning editor for Lothian Children’s Books and the Associate Publisher of Children’s Books for Hachette Australia. Suzanne is looking for authors with strong and fresh voices who tell unique stories. Learn what else Suzanne looks out for when considering a new author…

Ep 39: Marisa Pintado on what young adult publishers really want.

Meet Marisa Pintado, YA publisher for Hardie Grant Egmont in Melbourne. Marisa is also the author of award-winning middle grade and YA fiction and manages the Ampersand Prize for debut novelists. As a publisher, Marisa knows exactly what she wants from YA authors: a sense of fun, an understanding o…

Ep 38: Kimberly McCreight on how she knew she had to write her novel.

Meet Kimberly McCreight, best selling author of the Outliers YA trilogy. When Kimberly missed out on a job, she took it as a sign that she had to publish her next manuscript. Fortunately, her book Reconstructing Amelia was picked up and she has gone on to forge a successful career as a YA author. L…

Ep 37: Rachael Craw on plot, motivation and character in young adult novels.

Find out how Rachael Craw turned a dream into a bestselling YA trilogy. After dreaming the prologue for her Spark series, Rachael carefully worked through important questions about plot, motivation and character. Writing is 99% sweat, after all! Learn how to stay sane between stories, the benefits …

Ep 36: Ellie Marney focuses on crime writing for young adults.

How Ellie Marney discovered her crime-writing superpower. Ellie had written in many genres, but after winning the Sisters in Crime award, decided to focus on crime writing for young adults. Learn how much you need to watch your language for a YA audience, why an author should be like a plumber, and…

Ep 35: Nicole Hayes teaches at the Australian Writers' Centre and writes spellbinding young adult books.

Meet Nicole Hayes, award-winning author, podcaster, and writing teacher. Nicole has written three YA novels and writes and podcasts about Australian Rules football. It’s all about writing what you love, as she says. Learn how point of view can radically change a story, how to push through a tough m…

Ep 34: Gabrielle Tozer reveals her marketing secrets as a young adult author.

How Gabrielle Tozer uses her marketing knowledge to promote her books. Gabrielle always knew she wanted to be a writer, and worked in magazines for many years before turning her hand to fiction. She has now published three YA novels and a picture book. Learn why you really should write what you kno…

Ep 33: Allison Rushby does both indie and traditional publishing.

Learn how Allison Rushby has found success in both traditional and self-publishing. Allison has published more than 20 books for middle grade, YA and adults, but recently she began self-publishing her backlist. Learn why volume is more important than social media, the importance of good design, and…

Ep 32: Fleur Ferris on her success as a childen’s author after this writing course.

How Fleur Ferris traded in her police uniform for an award-winning publishing career. Fleur writes popular YA crime thrillers, and she is able to draw on her experience as a former police officer and paramedic. Learn about the value of an online critiquing group, and why you should write every chap…

Ep 31: Carole Wilkinson on why it’s never too late to start your journey as a children’s author.

Carole Wilkinson found publishing success after 40. Carole heartily believes in saying yes to every opportunity, no matter how small, and that’s how she has built a successful career as a writer of fiction for kids and young adults. Learn how to find the story in nonfiction books, why plotting is a…