CAMERON'S BOOK CHAT
Welcome to Cameron's Book Chat. Every month (or so) he'll be chatting with someone he admires from the world of books - authors, illustrators, editors - trying to find out what makes them tick, and how they produce their own magic.
We hope you'll find lots of inspiration and insight here.
PRASHA SOOFUL
Cameron chats with author, educator and audiologist Prasha Sooful, whose new picture book, Counting to Calm, provides an invaluable, practical tool to help children regulate their own emotions and manage anxiety.
Read the full interview here.
R.W.R. MCDONALD
Cameron chats with crime author and writing mentor, R.W.R. (Rob) McDonald, who has just released his hilarious debut picture story book, Happy Millionth Birthday. Rob shares generous insights into his writing process, and the journey leading to the publication of Happy Millionth Birthday.
Read the full interview here.
ROMI SHARP & MICHELE DODD
Cameron chats with two instrumental creators involved with the publication of Our Australian HeArt, an anthology that beautifully showcases the art and words of a range of talented artists and writers as they share their love for Australia's nature, creatures and people.
Read the full interview here.
KATE SOLLY
Cameron chats with the author of Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance, Kate Solly. Kate shares generous insights into the writing of Tuesday Evenings, and offers lots of helpful advice for other writers.
Read the full interview here.
EM GREVILLE
Cameron chats with editor, teacher and author, EM Greville, who shares details about her journey as a writer, and the path to the publication of her debut fantasy novel, Raine in the Underlands.
Read the full interview here.
KY GARVEY
Cameron chats with author and Totally Lit! podcaster, Ky Garvey. Ky shares generously about the development of her debut picture book, Easy Peasy, and the inspirations behind it.
Read the full interview here.
CATHERINE BAUER
Cameron chats with journalist, media advisor and award-winning author, Catherine Bauer. Catherine shares a wealth of insights into her writing and research processes, particularly in regards to her deeply affecting new novel, Tulips for Breakfast.
Read the full interview here.
KYLIE MORT
Cameron chats with author, coach and teacher, Kylie Mort. Kylie shares a range of inspiring insights into her passion for helping people of all ages understand their emotions and be themselves, as well as the genesis and publication of her new picture book, Little People Big Emotions.
Read the full interview here.
SHAE MILLWARD & ANDY FACKRELL
In Cameron's first tag-team interview, he chats with author Shae Millward and illustrator Andy Fackrell, who share a wealth of information about their own creative journeys, and about their beautiful and soulful new picture book, The Rabbit's Magician.
Read the full interview here.
LOUISE BASSETT
Cameron chats with Louise Bassett, author of The Hidden Girl, a new YA mystery/crime novel. Louise shares a wealth of insights into the development of her manuscript, and the inspirations behind it, including her rich and varied experiences in Indonesia.
Read the full interview here.
KELLY LOUISE JARRIS
Cameron chats with Kelly Louise Jarris, and learns the story behind her two deeply personal but universally meaningful picture books, Wonderful Wishes and Imagine Our Special Place.
Read the full interview here.
SHARON GILTROW
Cameron chats with Sharon Giltrow, author of Bedtime, Daddy!, and most recently, Get Ready, Mama! Sharon shares generously about her writing process, her experience as a teacher, and about her future plans.
Read the full interview here.
MICHELLE WORTHINGTON
Cameron chats with award-winning children's author and screenwriter, Michelle Worthington. He learns about Michelle's journey as an author, and all about her latest book, Sass and Traz Save the Library.
Read the full interview here.
MELISSA KEIL
Cameron chats with Melissa Keil, award-winning children's and Young Adult author. Melissa shares a range of insights into her process, particularly in regards to her YA novel The Secret Science of Magic, and her new children's series, Barkly Mansion.
Read the full interview here.
CLAYTON ZANE COMBER
Cameron chats with Clayton Zane Comber, the author of one of 2021's most extraordinary YA novels, 100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze. Clayton shares deep insights into his journey and practices as a writer, and about the creation of Xander Maze.
Read the full interview here.
MAURA PIERLOT
Cameron chats with Maura Pierlot, award-winning author and playwright. Maura shares a wealth of insight into her writing process, particularly in regard to her play, Fragments, which explores youth mental health issues with great depth and pathos.
Read the full interview here.
KAREN HENDRIKS
Cameron chats with author and teacher, Karen Hendriks.
Karen talks about her journey as an author, and about her latest book, Home, which shines a light on the oft-overlooked plight of Sudeten German refugees in the aftermath of World War II.
Read the full interview here.
GARY LONESBOROUGH
Cameron chats with Yuin author Gary Lonesborough, whose debut Young Adult novel, The Boy from the Mish, has been warmly received by readers and reviewers alike. Gary generously shares insights into his writing process and the origins of his novel.
Read the full interview here.
JANE SMITH
Cameron chats with author, librarian and editor, Jane Smith.
Jane shares a wealth of insight into her journey as an author, as well as her research methods and approach to writing authentic and engaging historical fiction for kids.
Read the full interview here.
KESTA FLEMING
Cameron chats with Kesta Fleming, author of the fun-packed Marlow Brown series. They talk about the magic of writing, the magic of magic, the development of Marlow as a character, and all about Marlow's latest adventure, Magician in the Making.
Read the full interview here.
DAVE ATZE
Cameron chats with illustrator and soon-to-be author, Dave Atze - illustrator of the Max Booth Future Sleuth series. Dave shares details about his journey as an illustrator, as well as all sorts of insights into his illustrative processes and inspirations.
Read the full interview here.
ELIZABETH MARY CUMMINGS
Cameron chats with widely-experienced teacher and author Elizabeth Mary Cummings, whose passionate concern for the environment and the health of our oceans drove her to write her latest picture book, Ocean Devotion.
Read the full interview here.
ALLISON PATERSON
Cameron chats with author, reviewer, and former teacher-librarian, Allison Paterson. Allison shares insights into her writing, particularly in regard to the challenging themes of war and its implications that her books often explore.
Read the full interview here.
TEENA RAFFA-MULLIGAN
Cameron chats with prolific multi-genre author, Teena Raffa-Mulligan. Teena shares thoughts and insights about her creative process, and how she approaches writing for different audiences and age groups.
Read the full interview here.
ROBERT VESCIO
Cameron chats with prolific picture-book author, Robert Vescio. Robert shares thoughts about his inspirations and his creative process, particularly the intricacies involved in crafting picture-book texts.
Read the full interview here.
SANDRA BENNETT
Cameron chats with author and former primary school teacher, Sandra Bennett. Sandra shares insights into her creative process, particularly when it comes to the research and writing of her middle grade mystery-adventure series, The Adamson Adventures.
Read the full interview here.
MEGAN HIGGINSON
Cameron talks to author, illustrator, speaker and Books in Homes advocate, Megan Higginson. They talk writing, illustration and creative inspiration, and all about Megan's debut picture book, Raymund and the Fear Monster.
Read the full interview here.
