Will Kostakis is an award-winning young adult author and the 2025 Prime Minister’s Literary Award winner for young adult fiction. In this episode, Will shares his Between the bookshelves pitch for We Could Be Something, theMonuments duology, The sidekicks and The first third, alongwith his top recommendations for what to read next if you loved them. Plus, he provides an exclusive sneak peek into his middle-grade debut, Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky.

Will reflects on his journey as a writer, his sources of inspiration, and his deep connection with his small, close-knit Greek-Australian family. He discusses the growth of authentic representation in his work and why it’s so important to write stories with LGBTQIA+ characters queerness isn’t the central conflict. He also shares how his participation in Extension English 2 became the foundation for The sidekicks.

For aspiring teen writers, Will offers invaluable writing tips, and for PRC Coordinators and teachers, he shares advice on helping students find their next great read—reminding us to experience books through a young reader’s eyes and focus on what truly matters: that they’re reading.