We catch up with the authors shortlisted for the Readings Children's Book Prize
2014 was a whirlwind year for the launch of the Readings Children’s Book Prize. Outgoing prize manager Emily Gale hails the beginning of the 2015 prize and catches up with what last year’s shortlisted authors did next.
Managing the first year of the Reading Children’s Book Prize has been the highlight of my time as a children’s buyer at Readings Carlton, concluding with the announcement in June of Tasmanian author Julie Hunt as the winner. Julie’s Song For A Scarlet Runner has remained on our bestseller list ever since, looking very comfortable amongst all the big names (not to mention Minecraft books) that emerging writers have to compete with. We’re so thrilled about that because it’s exactly what the prize was intended for: connecting young readers (aged 5-12) with exciting new Australian writers, and doing our bit to support those writers early on in their careers.
The judging panel is already working towards next year’s award, and I’ll be handing over the prize manager reins to Angela Crocombe. As my final farewell I was keen to catch up with the eight shortlisted authors of 2014. In their own words, here’s some news of their latest releases or works-in-progress.
Julie Hunt (Song For A Scarlet Runner):
My next book, KidGlovz, is a graphic novel illustrated by Dale Newman who did the beautiful cover illustration for Song For A Scarlet Runner.
KidGlovz, which will be published in 2015, is a story about courage, friendship and betrayal. The main character is a child prodigy, a tiny boy who stands no higher than a piano stool. When he accepts the help of a thief in order to escape his exploitative manager he heads off on a perilous journey.
(Ed. note: A detail from one of Dale Newman’s illustrations is featured here.)
Andrew Cranna (The Bloodhound Boys: The Great Blood Bank Robbery):
I’ve been having lots of fun working on two projects lately. My second book, The Bloodhound Boys and The Monster Truck Tremor Dilemma is out now. This new adventure sees Rocky Werewolf and Vince Vampire return to battle new evil dudes and combat earthquakes, all while competing in a brutal Monster Truck race!
I’ve also been working on a ten-part comic serial for The School Magazine (NSW Govt) called ‘The Cyber Squad’. It’s about a group of kids who are unexpectedly transported inside their computer game system in order to save the world! ‘The Cyber Squad’ will be released in 2015.
(Ed. note: See some of Andrew’s sketches for his graphic novels on
Samantha Wheeler (Smooch & Rose):
I’ve been celebrating the release of my new book, Spud & Charli, and connecting with young writers from our Smooch & Rose writing competition.
Meanwhile, I’m also working on two new projects. One is a young adult novel about a girl who can’t talk, and the other is along similar lines to Smooch & Rose and Spud & Charli, but this time it’s about the amazing cassowary.
(Ed. note: Our reviewer called Spud & Charli a “
Katrina Nannestad (The Girl Who Brought Mischief):
I am currently having loads of fun writing a series called Olive of Groves. Olive is a delightful ten-year-old girl attending a very unusual boarding school. The headmistress is bonkers, the students (children and animals) are unruly and school life is chaotic, dangerous and exciting.
Book 1 is due out in May 2015, Book 2 in November 2015 and Book 3 in May 2016. The series is written for 8-12 year-olds and will be illustrated by Lucia Masciullo. I’m very pleased to be able to share a sneak peek of an early character sketch (pictured here)!
(Ed. note: Katrina’s brilliant series, Red Dirt Diaries, will be re-released in December with new covers.)
Penny Tangey (Stay Well Soon):
I’ve just finished a first draft of my manuscript about working in a bacon factory over the summer holidays. It’s much too autobiographical and I need to fictionalise it. Also, in my job at Museum Victoria, I’m coordinating the 2013-14 annual report at the moment. It is thoroughly non-fiction, as it should be.
(Ed. note: Fans of Stay Well Soon should check out Penny’s excellent
PJ Tierney (Jamie Reign: The Last Spirit Warrior):
Since being shortlisted for the Reading Children’s Book Prize, I’ve been thanking my lucky stars (and Readings) for the surge in Jamie’s popularity, reading some fabulous new Australian children’s authors, releasing book 2, The Hidden Dragon and finalising the edit for book 3 The Lost Soul (to be published April 2015). Good times!
(Ed. note: To find out more about Jamie Reign and get a sneak peek of the cover for book 3 visit
Mark Pardoe (The Andy Flegg Survival Guide to Losing Your Dog, Your Dad and Your Dignity in 138 Days):
Since The Andy Flegg Survival Guide was released my writing has had to compete with a return to full time teaching. However I am currently close to finishing the first of what will hopefully be the first of a series of junior novels best described as a tongue-in-cheek twenty-first century take on an Enid Blyton classic.
(Ed. note: You can stay in touch with Mark’s work by reading his
Kate Knapp (Ruby Red Shoes Goes To Paris):
My studio is filled with the ideas and buzz of a new book being born. It’s Ruby’s third storybook and her travels continue from where we left her in Paris on to the city of London. The story is still evolving and I’ve only just a pencil sketch of the front cover (featured here). There’s a long way to go until its release November 2015.
I do know that Ruby and her Grandmother, Babushka Galushka spend their days seeing London on a ‘Hop on. Hop off’ open-top bus. One particular day the bus drops them in Richmond Park to see the squirrels and deer and Ruby is involved in helping the Queen of England with a tearaway Corgi! Perhaps she meets the Hare to the Throne too.
It’s still too early to know exactly where Ruby’s red shoes shall lead me but I’m sure it shall be quite an adventure.
