Modern Classic Wildcard

Susan Joy Lu is an Artist, Author and Illustrator. Originally from Belfast (Northern Ireland), she now lives in Perth (Western Australia) where she spends her days creating nostalgic and colourful illustrations, full of joy. ‘Nanna Croccles’ was her wonderful debut picture book as both Author and Illustrator, closely followed by What Can I get For Mother’s Day written by Renae Hayward.

Instagram: @susanjoyillustration

www.susanjoylu.com

Renae Hayward is a Western Australian author of five books for children – What Can I get For Mother's Day?, Barking Mad, Say Goodnight, Say Hooray, and Say Hello, and was the inaugural recipient of the Ray Koppe Young Writers Residency via the Australian Society of Authors and Varuna. She has also contributed poetry to The School Magazine and has poems published in the anthologies Right Way Down and If I Could Eat The Stars.

When she’s not writing, Renae is a passionate advocate for early literacy and a familiar face at story time sessions across WA.

 Social media: @renaehaywardauthor

Website: www.renaehayward.com

Fionna Cosgrove is an author from Perth, Western Australia with a love of all things spooky! Fionna grew up on a healthy diet of X-Files, Are You Afraid of the Dark and Unsolved Mysteries. She is the author of the interactive Twisted Trails series – horror books for younger readers - and recently released All That Slithers – a collection of short horror stories for older readers. Fionna and I first bonded over our common fascination with all things extraterrestrial and UFOs! And when she can’t be found by her laptop, you can usually find her listening to podcasts, baking cakes, following that black line in the pool, or with her head in an array of books.

Instagram: @are_you_afraid_of_the_books

www.fionnacosgrovewriter.com

Rory H Mather is an Australian author from Toowoomba, QLD. He describes himself as a big kid, who enjoys picture books, fist bumps and words that rhyme. Rory started writing picture books in 2016 and in recent years has become one of Australia’s most brilliant and prolific children’s authors with a whopping 20 titles to his name, including: Otto’s Inkredible, Laugh in the Bath, Banjo the Hot Cross Bun, Brunocorn, My Little Star and Sloth’s Love Parties.

Instagram: @rorymatherauthor

www.rorymather.com

Kristen Willis is an award-winning children’s book illustrator. She received a CBCA award for her debut picture book, Peek-a-Boo Lottie and the hits have just kept coming with Casa Mia, Bay Girls and the beautiful Evie’s Spare Love!

Kristen also runs her wonderful passion project, Piccolo Prints, an ingenious art vending machine that can be taken with her to KidLit events and festivals. A passionate advocate for the KidLit community, Kristen also serves as the SCBWI Queensland Illustrator Coordinator, and general champion of all things art and KidLit!

Contact links:

www.tondo.com.au

www.instrgam.com/tondocreative

www.facebook.com/tondocreative

Piccolo prints:

www.instagram.com/piccoloprints_bytondo www.facebook.com/piccoloprints

www.tondo.com.au/piccolo-prints

Book links:

https://www.tondo.com.au/peekaboolottie

https://www.tondo.com.au/casamia

Dr Sally Murphy is an author of over 50 children’s books and lecturer in Literacy at Curtin University. Her life’s goal is to write for, read with and speak to as many people as possible, and spread a passion for reading and writing to children and adults worldwide.

In 2022 Sally was awarded an OAM - Medal of the Order of Australia - in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for her contributions to children’s literature and education.

And now she is here, on Modern Classic Wildcard!

www.sallymurphy.com.au

Instagram: @sallymurphyauthor

SHARON GILTROW is an award-nominated children's author. She writes stories that bring joy, laughter and connection to families everywhere. Sharon grew up the youngest of eight children in a century-old farmhouse, where she turned her bedroom into a library filled with other people's books. Today, in her Perth home, she's filling the shelves with her own!

Information about her and her wonderful Utility Belt Junior Fiction series: Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt and Toby King and The Utility Belt can be found on her website: www.sharongiltrowauthor.com

Lauren Hackney joins the pod to talk about her favourite modern, classic and wildcard kids' books!

Lauren Hackney is a Queensland-based author and screenwriter who began writing stories with her children in 2020 after her aviation career ended and her husband suffered a near-fatal heart attack. What began as a journey of healing turned into a creative path, culminating in her internationally sold chapter book The Lolly Shop, which she has since adapted into an award-winning animated screenplay. Many stories have followed in forms of picture books, novels and screenplays, spanning many genres.

Lauren's beautiful storytelling blends heart, humour, and a touch of magic - often inspired by family, the bond they share, and resilience. She is also the host of a YouTube interview series spotlighting authors and creatives across the literary world.

Instagram: @lbe.hackney

Welcome to the official trailer of the brand new KidLit podcast Modern Classic Wildcard!