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And we're back! It's time for our monthly chat with Australian kidlit legends Bethany Loveridge and Adrian Beck, accompanied by our host, NZ author Shara Curlett.
The team joke about Zoom call distractions (including Bethany’s dog, Sugar Plum), before introducing their recent and upcoming books and launches, including Shara's Protector of Beyond launch plans in Brisbane, Bethany’s Josie Mack and the Mega Division, and Adrian’s newly released Nowhere House and his double launch with Amy Doak.
Adrian questions launches, and they discuss how publication days can feel anticlimactic and whether launches make books feel “real”. Betty offers fantastic tips, including assigning people to take photos!
The trio plays a series of would-you-rather questions, shares Bethany’s story of befriending a donkey as a teen, before our shoutout to Adrian's new mystery novel, Nowhere House.
Adrian raises concerns from a recent Guardian Australia article about books going to market too quickly and disappearing fast, touching on sales windows, discoverability, and the value of independent bookshops and smaller presses. This segues into a who would survive a haunted house situation. The answer? Not Adrian. This all leads to a signed-book giveaway. (Information available on The KidLit Pod instagram page.)
The trio finish the chat with some current reads, a film recommendation (Wolfwalkers), shout-outs, and a humorous “surprise” close-up ant image.
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
Nowhere House by Adrian Beck - published by Scholastic Australia
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FURTHER LINKS:
Bethany Loveridge website - bethanyloveridge.com
Bethany Loveridge on Instagram
Adrian Beck website - adrianbeck.com.au
Adrian Beck on Instagram
WHAT WE'RE READING:
Survival Show by Juno Dawon - published by Simon and Schuster
The Witches of Winderry Spires (upcoming release) by Karen Foxlee - published by Allen & Unwin
Don't Forget to Smile by Ariane Beeston - published by Black Inc. Books
TV RECOMMENDATION:
Wolfwalkers
SHOUTOUTS:
Amy Doak
Hira Nathan - The Mindful Māori
If I Could Eat the Stars
Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Kristen Willis lives a life full of creativity, from her graphic design work to children's book illustration and her brand new venture, Piccolo Prints. If you love art and creativity, then this is the episode for you!
Host Shara Curlett welcomes award-winning Australian children’s book illustrator and author, Kristen Willis of Tondo Creative. Kristen is a Brisbane-based creative with a Fine Arts edge and a Graphic Design mindset. She discusses her path from fine arts and graphic design to kidlit, and everything in between.
Kristen shares how a childhood filled with creativity and excitement has influenced her as an adult, along with her Italian-Australian roots. She shares how she works traditionally with gouache, coloured pencil, and PanPastels, before scanning and preparing art for publishers.
Kristen emphasises authenticity in art and connecting with manuscripts prior to taking them on. She recounts her CBCA New Illustrator shortlisting experience for Peekaboo Lottie (written by Laura Holloway), and describes the illustration process for Casa Mia (written by Josie Montano), about a boy connecting with his nonno who longs for Italy amid dementia. Kristen explains how she used palette shifts to mirror emotion.
After sharing her upcoming large-format graphic novel project, Kristen introduces Piccolo Prints, a portable miniature art vending machine piloted at the Brookfield Show, and does a blind vend for Shara!
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Kristen Willis on Instagram: @tondocreative
Kristen Willis on Facebook: @tondocreative
Kristen Willis website: www.tondo.com.au
Piccolo Prints on Instagram: @piccoloprints_bytondo
Piccolo Prints on Facebook: @piccoloprints
Piccolo Prints website link: www.tondo.com.au/piccolo-prints/
Peekaboo Lottie picture book link
Casa Mia picture book link
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Having been part of the Debut Crew 2024 for her memoir, Ariane Beeston is a debut once more with her new YA contemporary novel, Don't Forget to Smile.
Host Shara Curlett welcomes author Ariane Beeston to The KidLit Pod. Ariane is a former child protection caseworker and psychologist who now works in perinatal mental health and also teaches dance.
Ariane shares how her childhood creativity was expressed through ballet and writing. They discuss music and movement, and Ariane describes attending ballet training while simultaneously attending mainstream school, before leaving ballet after body-type pressures in being told she was too short and muscular. Ariane returned to dance later in life through teaching.
Ariane's debut memoir, Because I’m Not Myself, You See (2024), was about postpartum psychosis, and Ariane shares how writing her memoir was not cathartic but destabilizing. She also shares how her YA novel, Don't Forget to Smile, appeared unexpectedly while her memoir proposal was on submission and flowed out of her, meaning that she effectively wrote both books within a year.
They discuss her novel’s unique structure, character realism, design elements integrating texts and TikTok posts, and themes around ballet culture, social media comparison, and the need for better teaching and wellbeing. It also confronts damaging ballet traditions and emphasise friendships and speaking up for help. Shara draws comparisons to verse novels and shares how any teenager, with a dance background or not, could pick up this book and relate to it. They also discuss the themes within the book that were handled so delicately and resolved so well.
Ariane discusses her influences including Galax Arena and Robin Klein as well as her latest reads, before sharing her upcoming launch plans (linked below) and where to find her online.
Don't Forget to Smile
LAUNCH INFORMATION:
Friday 3 July 2026 at Readings Emporium, Melbourne
Tuesday 9 July 2026 at The Rose Read Bookshop, Summer Hill, NSW
Find Ariane on Instagram: @arianejbeeston
Website: www.arianebeeston.com
INFLUENCES:
Galax-Arena by Gillian Rubinstein
Turning Pointe by Chloe Angyal - How a New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet from Itself
Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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After signing a three-book deal as a debut, Tina Strachan has launched onto the Australian kidlit scene in a big way, becoming a wonderful advocate for children's literature, a popular emcee for events, and co-host of the The Book Deal podcast.
Shara and Tina share recent updates, including Tina drafting a new project and Shara finishing final edits for Protector of Beyond, before discussing the big topic of parenting Gen Alpha in a screen-saturated world. They talk about reframing screen time, balance, “brain nutrition,” and preserving family rituals.
Following this, they talk about podcasts, industry news, and opportunities throughout Australia and NZ, including grants and residencies, YABBA, the Auckland Writers Festival, the Young Authors Challenge, and the Lit Quiz/Readers Cup.
They also give some shout-outs, before Shara shares a confidence/posture tip from Jefferson Fisher, and they discuss writing advice for kids: write messily first, and start stories with “what if.”
At the end of this episode, Shara announces that Tina Strachan and Kate Foster will be joining her in the future for a regular "KidLit Hang".
LINKS:
Tina Strachan Website
Tina Strachan on Instagram - @td_strachan
The Book Deal Podcast
How to Draw a Dragon - Kate Talbot
Dear You, Love From Your Brain - Karen Young
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BOOK SHOUTOUT:
Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan by Lucy Stevens - published by HarperCollins Publishers
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Published at 19, Jack Heath had an early introduction to being an author, and shares the knowledge and insights he's learned over the past twenty years.
In this episode of The KidLit Pod, host Shara Curlett delves deep with Jack Heath, an Australian author known for writing action-driven books for reluctant readers, including the Minutes of Danger series and his latest 12+ thriller, I Know What You’re Hiding, published by Scholastic Australia.
Jack describes his childhood reading (Doctor Who novelisations, Goosebumps, Animorphs) and how meeting Jackie French made becoming a writer feel possible. He shares how later career setbacks tested his commitment, including the challenges of public life and social media.
Jack also discusses his neurodiversity, and how writing helps him to communicate and process emotions. Jack and Shara explore devices and boredom as drivers of creativity, plot-first vs. character-first writing, and how deep emotion can power stronger books. Jack also reflects on AI’s impact on writing, scams targeting authors, and the need for human originality and emotional resonance.
They discuss how books build empathy by letting readers see through others’ eyes, and Jack shares how a pivotal Arts ACT grant helped him in the early days, and believes more arts funding is needed for children’s writers, to help more children become more empathetic adults.
The episode also includes a synopsis and review of I Know What You’re Hiding, and shares a bit about Jack's upcoming adult novel Choppy Water.
Jack Heath's Website: jackheathwriter.com
Jack on Instagram: @jackheathwriter
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
I Know What You're Hiding by Jack Heath - published by Scholastic Australia
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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A children's author who has published 67 novels, Jacqueline Harvey has turned her passion into a career, and shares wise insights on being an author.
In this episode of The KidLit Pod, host Shara Curlett chats with Jacqueline Harvey about growing up around stories. Jacqueline describes growing up in a family of strong storytellers, valuing intergenerational stories, and her love of talking with strangers to hear about their lives.
The pair discuss lost community connection, technology, Australia’s under-16 social media ban, and COVID’s impact on children. Jacqueline recounts her teaching career and how she was inspired by an influential primary teacher, and shares creative classroom projects like an Egyptian archaeology dig to bring fun to the classroom.
She shares the experiences that helped shape Alice-Miranda, and how she later balanced senior school leadership with writing, until leaving education to write full time. Jacqueline share why Alice-Miranda resonates with so many children (kindness), how she manages long-running series, her Australia–New Zealand work rhythm, touring strategies, and upcoming projects and workshops.
To learn more about Jacqueline, you can visit:
www.jacquelineharvey.com.au
Instagram: jacquelineharve
Facebook: jacquelineharveyauthor
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
The Girl and the Ghost series by Jacqueline Harvey - published by Penguin Australia
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Host Shara Curlett introduces a monthly “KidLit Hang” format with Bethany Loveridge (Betty Love) and Adrian Beck, where a few authors hang out and chat.
In their first hangout, they banter about deadlines, school visits, teaching, and do a rapid “Would You Rather” game, before discussing recent reads / listens / watches.
They talk about author-work balance, procrastination, and scheduling around family and publishing tasks. Shara spotlights Brenton Cullen’s The Prime Minister Problem, and they give shout-outs to to a few people within the industry, before sharing upcoming releases and events, including Bethany's Josie Mack and the Mega Division, Adrian's Nowhere House and Fox Kid titles, and Shara's Protector of Beyond series.
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
The Prime Minister Problem by Brenton Cullen - published by Riveted Press
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Helen Farch is a high school librarian and Instagram influencer who shares how her hustle has turned a passion for books into success for both her school, and herself.
In this episode of The KidLit Pod, host Shara Curlett chats with Helen Farch about her role as librarian at Forest Hill College, a secondary school in Melbourne. Helen is an advocate for school libraries, reading for pleasure, and Australian authors.
Helen explains how she started the @fhclibrary Instagram account to make her library visible, and how the platform led to global librarian connections, publisher relationships, donated review books, and speaking opportunities, as well as building a thriving school library community.
She discusses removing barriers to borrowing, successful engagement ideas like loyalty cards and weekly “Would You Rather” votes, and the need for dedicated library staff amid underfunding and space pressures.
Helen describes revamping and genrefying nonfiction to boost borrowing and support research, notes popularity trends like manga, fantasy, romantasy, and horror, and highlights grants and community networks to support library programs and author visits.
LINKS:
Instagram: @fhclibrary
Forest Hill College Library
123Read2Me - empowering disadvantaged kids to succeed with free books.
Article in The Sapling - The Reckoning: Every Student Deserves a School Librarian in their Lives
Kirsty Everett on Instagram: @kirstyeverettauthor
Kirsty Everett on Mamamia
Kirsty Everett - Channel Nine Interview
Students Need School Libraries
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
Seasons of Clementine by Jess Galatola - published by Perentie Press
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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In this episode of The KidLit Pod, host Shara Curlett chats with author-illustrator and almost-neighbour, H P Fryer on becoming a published author, and motherhood
H P Fryer (Hannah Powell Fryer) is the New Zealand author-illustrator of OGG, her debut picture book published by Scholastic Australia in 2025.
Hannah shares how she entered the publishing scene via an illustrator portfolio call, how she developed OGG from a university character exercise, and describes how she created the book’s detailed gouache-and-pencil illustrations.
The conversation covers her history and illustration studies, artistic influences, how parenting increases exposure to children’s books, and Shara and Hannah discuss shared views on limiting devices, valuing boredom, and “feeding” children’s minds with stories.
Hannah's illustration influences, mentioned throughout the podcast include:
Quentin BlakeSarah OgilvieJúlia SardàAlex SchefflerBeatrice AlemagnaLynley DoddBob GrahamAlison LesterBriony StewartBriony May SmithAlex T. SmithYou can find out more about our guest, H.P. Fryer (Hannah Powell Fryer), here:
HP Fryer on Instagram (@hpfryer)
HP Fryer Website (www.hpfryer.com)
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BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK:
Josie Mack and the MEGA Division - published by Wombat Books
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Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
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Introducing The KidLit Pod: A New Industry-Wide Conversation on Children’s Books
The Kid Lit Pod is a new podcast launching in June 2026, hosted by Shara Curlett, author of the middle grade fantasy novel Welcome to Miracle (Scholastic Australia, 2025) and the upcoming series Protector of Beyond (Penguin Australia, releasing September 2026).
The KidLit Pod will be focused on inspiring creativity in kids and exploring connection, play, children’s neurological development, and the impact of devices. KLP will facilitate collective, industry-wide discussions about the importance of children’s books. Featuring Australian and New Zealand creators and industry professionals, the show will share opinions, ideas, research, and science through conversations with marketing teams, booksellers, librarians, teachers, specialists, publishers, as well as authors and illustrators, to uncover the stories behind the stories. We'll also be having a monthly hang with some kidlit friends (KLP Hang).
The KidLit Pod will premiere on 2 June, with an episode featuring H.P. Fryer.
Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod)
Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:
Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)
Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)
