Show Notes
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
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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.
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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.
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.
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