Magic & Mayhem: Discover the secrets to creating magnificent books for kids and teens.

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, including social media presence, school visits, and more middle grade, please! This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 of the market, and a willingness to collaborate. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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. Learn why you should treat writing like a job, how to tolerate a messy manuscript, and why it’s okay to lower your standards. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 of hiring a manuscript assessor, and why you should respect your readers. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 why a writer doesn’t need to know who dunnit until the end. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 manuscript, and how you can learn from teaching. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 know, why you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, and why it’s important to look after yourself. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 why you don’t really have to write every day. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 chapter as though it’s for a competition. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

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 waste of time, and how it’s never too late to start. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Kim Wilkins balances a successful writing career with a fulltime job. Kim is one busy lady, publishing as both Kim Wilkins and Kimberley Freeman, all while having a family, and a career as a university professor. Learn how Kim makes time to write, how reading nonfiction helps her fiction writing, and why she is definitely a plotter. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Meet internationally best selling writer Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series. While Veronica’s success came as a surprise to her, she thinks that YA will always have a broad appeal. Learn how success has changed her writing style, how to balance accepting and rejecting feedback, and why fanfiction is a great writing sandbox. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Belinda Murrell quit journalism for a successful fiction writing career. Belinda is the author of more than 20 books, including The Sun Sword fantasy trilogy and the Lulu Bell series for younger readers. Learn how much historical detail is just enough, why you need talent, technique and tenacity, and exactly what year egg beaters were invented. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Emily Gale went from editing kids books to writing her own. Emily was nervous about taking the plunge into writing after establishing a successful career in publishing. But she jumped bravely in and has now published six books for kids and young adults. Learn why you shouldn’t try to copy your own work, how setting little goals leads to big achievements, and how making it doesn’t always mean success. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Meet Wendy Orr, author of many books including Nim’s Island, which was made into a film starring Jodie Foster. Wendy has published more than 40 books for children and adults and has won many prestigious awards. Learn how to deal with the ups and downs of the publishing process, how to have a collaborative relationship with your editor, and why you shouldn’t quit your day job. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Listen to Alexa Moses’s journey to writing action-packed kids fiction. Alexa knows that kids books have to full of action, just like in television, and she keeps her stories rollicking along. Learn how serious plotting can cut back on revisions, how to find an angle that publishers like, and why it always pays to be a bit funny. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Judith Rossell went from being a scientist, to illustrating and writing children’s fiction. Judith has illustrated more than 80 books and written 13 of her own in a career that spans every type and genre of kids book. Learn how pictures and text work together, how to create compelling characters, and why Judith will never write for adults. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Discover how Meg McKinlay found her strangest self - and publishing success! Meg started off writing poetry, and doesn’t consider herself a natural plotter, but that hasn’t stopped her from publishing 20 books for kids and adults. Learn how to connect random ideas, why you can always fix a plot, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of boredom. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Meet Jacqueline Harvey, author of the successful Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series. Jacqueline started her publishing career after winning a picture book competition, and is now a bestselling junior fiction writer. Learn the questions you need to ask yourself as a writer, how to find your point of difference, and why kids are still the best inspiration for stories. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Catherine Pelosi aimed for the stars and landed a book deal. Catherine was initially skeptical of joining a critique group, but by finding a supportive creative community, she has thrived and published three books for kids. Learn how to find your tribe, and why you don’t need to have kids to make it as a kids author. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Tamsin Janu writes just one day a week is a successful middle grade fiction writer with four books, all while keeping her day job. Learn how to let a manuscript breathe, how to fit writing around work, and that yes, it really is possible to become a writer. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Nova Weetman turned her screenwriting skills to middle grade and young adult fiction. Nova has been writing professionally for over 20 years, but when she couldn’t make a dark and real kids TV series, she wrote it as a book instead. Learn how structure can invigorate your plot, how to accept revisions, and why you have to be fearless.. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

This is how Tim Harris found success with short stories for kids. Tim started out as a primary school teacher, reading out his first short story to a bunch of first graders. Since then, he’s released four volumes of his popular Exploding Endings collections. Learn how to prepare for a school visit, why you should give up watching TV, and why you should submit to small publishers. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Oliver Phommavanh turns stereotypes into bestselling stories. Oliver is a self-confessed nerd, so it’s no surprise he read more than 300 kids books before sitting down to write his own. Learn why attending festivals is so important, how to make fun of yourself, and why your writing should always be playful. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Meet Lauren Child, author of the super successful Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean, and Ruby Redfort books. Lauren started as an illustrator but has found success as a children’s author. Learn how to become a brutal editor, when to turn to experts, and how to find your own way of storytelling. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How actor Richard Roxburgh wrote his first kids book. Richard is one of Australia’s most famous actors and directors, but he was keen to try out his creative writing muscles. Learn how structure can set you free, why kids need humour, and how to find the right balance with your illustrations. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Hazel Edwards has written more than 200 books - and shows no signs of stopping! Hazel is an incredibly successful and prolific kids author, and part of her success comes down to collaboration. She’s constantly pushing herself and learning something new. Learn why you should rewrite at least ten times, how to tackle tough topics in kids stories, and what a realistic success ratio looks like. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

This is how Allison Tait found her voice and publishing success as a middle grade author. Allison had a long and successful career in magazines and freelance writing, but couldn’t break through into fiction until she quit trying to write what she thought she should write, and found her own voice. Learn how to find ideas everywhere, why you should listen to your inner motivation, and why keeping a part-time job can give you the security to take chances. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Find out how managing llamas prepared Deb Abela for a successful writing career. Deb has written more than 25 books for kids, but she started out in TV, managing every aspect of production on a kids show. She was also writing six scripts a week every week, and that discipline was invaluable when she started her publishing career. Learn how chapter breakdowns can help make writing easier, how to prepare for a school visit, and why you need to stay connected to your readers. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How middle grade author Tristan Bancks takes each manuscript from chaos to polished thriller. Tristan has published several successful books and knows his routine well - every story starts as a Frankenstein first draft of chaos. Learn why it can take up to six drafts to find your rhythm, the value of doing school visits, and why ninth graders aren’t This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Dragonslayer Louise Park is actually quite serious about kids books. Louise loves to come up with outrageous adventure stories for kids - but she always has her reader in mind, and that means doing tonnes of research. Learn why reconnaissance is not just for spies, the importance of plotting, and why every chapter book needs a bit of muesli. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Lesley Gibbes went from primary school teacher to successful kids author. Lesley’s experience reading to kids definitely helped when she launched her writing career, and her picture books and junior fiction series have won several awards. Learn how writing is an act of bravery, why it’s okay to write badly, and why you should always finish your manuscript. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Meet publishing sensation Andy Griffiths, who just wants to make kids laugh. Andy is genius behind the popular Treehouse and Bum books. It all started when he wrote what he loved, not what he thought he should write. Learn why you must trust your inner voice, how writing every day can quell your doubt, and why bums are always funny. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Discover how Sue Whiting successfully writes across a diverse range of genres. Sue has worked on both sides of publishing and written popular books for different genres and age groups. Picture books are still her first love, although she finds them uniquely challenging. Learn how you can write a novel in 20 minutes a day, why you should write ALL of the things, and why you should read like a writer. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How Danny Parker turned his poetry into picture books. Danny didn’t realise he was writing picture books until illustrator Matt Otley showed him the potential his words had. Since then, Danny has published five picture books. Learn about the power of collaboration, how to edit fearlessly, and why you should never be afraid to share your work. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Award-winning author Emma Allen reveals who she found her confidence. Emma’s very first picture book The Terrible Suitcase was a CBCA winner, but she still struggles with self-doubt. Learn how studying can help you feel like a professional writer, the power of industry acceptance, and why you should always keep a backup of your work. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Discover how popular kids author Jen Storer finally cracked picture books. After leaving behind nursing to launch a successful writing career, Jen still struggled to write a picture book. She had to learn how to vanquish her inner critic. Learn how even successful authors feel doubt, how design can affect a picture’s book success, and why you should always write from the heart. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How a vision board helped Shelly Unwin find success as a picture book author. Shelly’s popular You’re series has been a huge hit. She hadn’t planned on being a writer, but once she committed, she was all in. Learn why every picture book needs a commercial hook, the benefits of a critiquing group, and why you should definitely do a course! This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

How author Zanni Louise transitioned from reviewing and blogging about picture books to writing her own. Zanni has read just about every picture book ever written - and she has now published her own popular series, Tiggy and the Magic Paintbrush as well as several other books for children. Learn from Zanni about ruthless editing, when to let the pictures tell the story, and the virtue of patience. The podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.

Tania McCartney writes non-fiction picture books for kids and reveals how to build a career in this niche. Tania's love of facts and figures has seen her publish more than 40 books and illustrated maps, including biographies for the National Library of Australia. Learn from Tania about finding your passion, how to work within the limits of kids publishing, and the importance of community. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au.