‘This manuscript has tremendous energy and authenticity, as it explores what it is like to grow up gay in an insular regional community. Invisible Boys is a valuable contribution to the growing voices of younger LGBTIQA+ people.’
City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award judges’ report

'Sheppard pulls no punches in this story, challenging expectations and taking the reader on a dark journey through each boy's life, with only a sliver of light at the end providing hope for a brighter future. This book feels somewhat unmoored from time, with a raw edginess ... which brings to mind books like Puberty Blues and the work of Tim Winton.' Junior Books + Publishing

'Invisible Boys is full of genuine, authentic voices ... This is an important book for all young people, as it shows one size does not fit all. There is no right way to be gay, or to be anything else, for that matter.' Magpies

194. Holden Sheppard: Invisible Boys

Words and Nerds Podcast is an entertaining and conversational podcast that aims to get inside a writer's mind. We discuss books, the social and political influences of a writer's work and how literature has the power to change the world. 

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Ashleigh Barton and Dani Vee chat about her new picture book Dinosaur In My Pocket. They talk about ideas, guilt, teachable moments and how we can all come back from mistakes. Ashleigh chats about the writing process an her experiences working in publishing.

666. Ashleigh Barton and Dani Vee: Dinosaur In My Pocket

TAKEOVER: Alex Dook and Vikki Wakefield - To The River

665. TAKEOVER: Alex Dook and Vikki Wakefield - To The River

Adam Wallace has sold millions of books around the world, he writes everyday and last year received 100 rejections. We talk about a shared love of Bruce Lee, trying to be zen, authenticity and give some advice that you should definitely not take.

664. Creatives Conversations with Adam Wallace and Dani Vee

S3E5 Queer Writes Session: R.W.R. McDonald with Troy Hunter

In this episode Rob chats with Troy Hunter about his debut YA novel, Gus and the Missing Boy, published by Wakefield Press in March 2024.

They chat about Troy’s serendipitous pathway to publication, crime fiction, author identity, and Troy offers great writing advice. 

Troy Hunter’s shout out books this episode are:

A Man and His Pride by Luke Rutledge (check out our interview with Luke QWS S2E3)

Mona of the Manor by Armistead Maupin

Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy.

S3 E5 QWS: Troy Hunter and RWR McDonald on Gus and the Missing Boy

Samantha-Ellen Bound returns with the third and penultimate book in her bestselling middle-grade series Seven Wherewithal Way, inspired by the spell-binding creatures and stories of world folklore.

194. Holden Sheppard: Invisible Boys

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