Samera Kamaleddine is a Sydney-based author and librarian. For many years before that she was a journalist, writing for magazines about everything from friendship dramas and school bullies to body confidence. Her debut YA novel, Half My Luck, was published in 2021 after it won the HarperCollins Matilda Prize. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Sideways […]

Rebecca McRitchie has been in the publishing industry for over ten years, working in publishing houses such as Scholastic and Hardie Grant. She is now a Publisher at Penguin Random House, where she works on everything from picture books to YA. Rebecca is also the author of a number of children’s fiction series published by […]

Rawah Arja is an acclaimed writer and teacher from Western Sydney. Her YA book, The F Team, was published by Giramondo in 2020 and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (2021). Her writing has featured in Second City: Essays From Western Sydney (2021), Arab, Australian, Other (2019), SBS Voices and at the Sydney […]

RA Spratt is the bestselling author of the Nanny Piggins, Friday Barnes, Peski Kids and Shocking Good Stories series. She also hosts the podcast Bedtime Stories with RA Spratt. Website Twitter Instagram

Pippa Masson is an agent at Curtis Brown Australia and has been there for over 20 years. Twitter

Paul Macdonald is the owner of The Children’s Bookshop, runs the small picture book imprint Book Trail Press and is a literacy consultant for many primary and secondary schools. Instagram

Nat Amoore’s debut novel Secrets Of A Schoolyard Millionaire became Australia’s #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019 and has sold into the UK, US, Italy, China, Estonia and Romania. The Power Of Positive Pranking won the 2021 Environment Award for Children’s Literature. The Right Way To Rock, We Run Tomorrow and Shower Land […]

Mick Elliott is an acclaimed author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter, and literacy ambassador whose books have been published in six international territories. He has written and illustrated picture books, junior fiction, and middle grade series with Hachette, Walker Books, and Scholastic. His debut series, THE TURNERS was nominated for an Aurealis Award and features on […]

With over twenty five years in the publishing industry, Matt Cosgrove is the bestselling author and illustrator of Macca the Alpaca, Dharma the Llama and many more picture books. He is also the co-author of the hit, new middle-grade series: Worst Week Ever. Matt likes chocolate, avoiding social interactions, and more chocolate. Website Twitter Instagram