Things Made From Letters: the Allen & Unwin blog
Faber Academy Alumni Renee McBryde discusses how she came to be a writer, and how the challenge of writing her first book – a confronting and page-turning memoir – was aided greatly by Patti Miller’s True Stories course.
As a child I often daydreamed about being a writer.… Read the rest
Lilia Tarawa’s family left the famous cult Gloriavale when she was 18. Here she reflects on what she has lost and gained by leaving…
In my book, Daughter of Gloriavale: My Life in a Religious Cult, I talk about my struggles adapting to a new society after leaving the cult.… Read the rest
Michael Pryor is one of Australia’s most prolific and published authors, with 35 books and over fifty short stories to his name! We recently caught up with him to discuss new book Gap Year in Ghost Town, and learn about the use and appeal of humour in YA writing.… Read the rest
Dr James Best took his autistic son Sam on a life-changing journey through Africa, recently highlighted on Australian Story, but says it needn’t be so dramatic a change or trip to develop a teenager’s emotional and life skills.
A patient of mine, a teenage boy with hair over his eyes and a crooked smile, told me recently that he was shortly to depart to a remote school-run rural retreat for six months, organised through his elite Sydney secondary college.… Read the rest
We are thrilled to have recently published the debut novel of our 2015 Faber Writing Academy scholar Pip Smith, the remarkable Half Wild, one of the most original and exciting debuts we’ve read in some time.… Read the rest
Louise Park, one-half of bestselling author Mac Park (together with Susannah McFarlane), tells us why their new series, D-Bot Squad, will catch kids’ attention and turn them into enthusiastic readers, plus keep them reading.… Read the rest
The first week of July is NAIDOC week, an opportunity to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year’s theme is Our Languages Matter, so we’ve pulled together our a few reads around this year’s NAIDOC week theme for young and old, so you can learn more and celebrate with us.… Read the rest
It’s not often we get the pleasure of meeting a dinosaur, especially one who loves books, enjoys visiting bookstores, and spreading a love of reading (and poetry).
If you’re a T-rex dinosaur
who wants to do much more than roar,
chat to the people who make books –
although you’ll get some funny looks.… Read the rest
Refugee Week and World Refugee Day are an opportunity to raise awareness of the plight of refugees, as well as celebrate the huge positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. With this year’s theme of “With courage let us all combine”, we’ve gathered together a reading list of important refugee stories both non-fiction and fiction, suitable for young and old, to learn of the plight and courage of refugees at home and abroad.… Read the rest
Recently published debut author Shelly Unwin (no relation!) discusses the need to “own” your belief in being a writer, and how she came to write her picture book series.
When I had the epiphany whilst reading to my three-year old daughter that I wanted to write children’s books, it came coupled with the realisation that people may think me slightly nuts.… Read the rest
