This month we’re thrilled to be hosting two panels for readers of children’s and young adult fiction at our Hawthorn store. We’d love you to come, and here’s why…

MEET JEN STORER AND LUCINDA GIFFORD

© Lucinda Gifford, 2015, from The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack by Jen Storer, illustrated by Lucinda Gifford. Published by ABC Books.

You (and your children) will know Jen Storer from her bestselling Truly Tan books, the hugely fun detective series set in rural Australia that will soon welcome its fifth story in the series. Jen’s earlier work had more of a gothic fantasy element and its to this realm that she’s returned for a brand new collaboration with new-illustrator-on-the-block Lucinda Gifford.

We’d love you to join us to hear about how Jen and Lucinda worked together to create the world of The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack. Our reviewer fell in love with this story instantly, calling it a “classic adventure mystery which skilfully weaves Norse myth into a tale that is fresh and utterly compelling.” (Read the full review here.) Jen and Lucinda will also talk about the process of bringing vivid adventures to the page, and the importance of visual literacy for primary school children as one of the key elements in creating life-long readers.

As well as being an ideal event for primary school educators, we welcome everyone who loves children’s fiction to this event, including Jen Storer’s young fans.

Where: Readings Hawthorn at 701 Glenferrie Road
When: Tuesday 15 September, 4.30pm
RSVP: Free, but please book

MEET KELLY GARDINER, LILI WILKINSON AND REBECCA LIM

As the #LoveOzYA campaign gains momentum (click here to read about how and why this campaign started), we invite you to listen to three of its ardent supporters as they talk about writing feminist storylines in contemporary, historical and speculative fiction. This event is ideal both for educators and for all readers of young adult fiction (of any age).

Our chair for this event is Kelly Gardiner, author of historical YA novel Act of Faith and its sequel The Sultan’s Eyes, as well as Goddess. Kelly’s YA novels have been Children’s Book Council of Australia Notables, and highly commended or shortlisted by other major Australian awards. She works for the State Library of Victoria and also teaches writing at La Trobe University.

Lili Wilkinson is also on the panel. Lili has been writing ever since she was first published in Voiceworks aged 13, and now has nine novels in print, in Australia and internationally. Lili also played a key role at the Centre for Youth Literature until 2011 and used to manage the fantastic website, Inside A Dog. Her latest release is Green Valentine, which was recently claimed by one of Readings most avid YA reviewers as “my favourite YA novel of 2015”. (Read the full review here.)

Our third panelist is Rebecca Lim, the author of sixteen novels and widely known both here and in the States for her speculative fiction. Rebecca’s recent novels, The Astrologer’s Daughter in 2014 and Afterlight published just a few months ago, are both driven by female main characters who are courageous, chaotic and distinctive.

Where: Readings Hawthorn at 701 Glenferrie Road
When: Wednesday 16 September, 4.30pm
RSVP: Free, but please book