Settle in to hear your favourite children’s authors and illustrators read their stories at the Clubhouse Corner. With a different storyteller dropping by every half-hour, you never know who you might meet... or what fantastical story they might tell!
10–10:30AM Debra Tidball
10.30–11AM Susanne Gervay
11–11.30AM Serena Geddes
11.30AM–12PM Jane Godwin
12–12.30PM Andrew Daddo
12.30–1PM James Foley
1–1.30PM Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
1.30–2PM Heath McKenzie
2–2.30PM Dani Vee
2.30–3PM Cheryl Orsini
Recommended for ages three and up.
Andrew Daddo (Australian)
Andrew Daddo has written 29 books for children of all ages – from picture books to chapter books, middle school to YA. His latest books are for younger children: Grandma's Guide to Happiness, with illustrator Stephen Michael King, and Poohface, with Jonathan Bentley.
James Foley (Australian)
James Foley makes picture books and graphic novels. He lives in Perth with his wife Renae, their 2 kids, and a labrador called Frankie. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd and comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts. His picture book Stellarphant won a bunch of awards including the CBCA Shadowers' Choice Picture Book of the Year. His brand new graphic novel series is called Secret Agent Mole.
Serena Geddes (Australian)
Serena Geddes is an international author and illustrator based in Sydney and an ex-Disney artist. She has illustrated over 70 titles and is about to step into the colourful world of graphic novels. Some of her work includes the Lulu Bell series, We are Matildas and her most recent comic series Miles From Home. As a Disney artist she worked on sequels to The Lion King, Peter Pan and The Jungle Book, which has enabled her to capture emotion and movement with her characters and illustrations.
Susanne Gervay (Australian)
Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award, Order of Australia, and nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, Susanne Gervay writes stories that make you laugh, cry, giggle and inspire towards creating a better world. In The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses, everyone cheers for the boy standing up for himself and others. In Elephants Have Wings, kids discover the pathways to peace. For older young people, Heroes of the Secret Underground shows kids as heroes of justice. sgervay.com
Jane Godwin (Australian)
Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed author of forty books for children and young people, across all styles and ages. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations. Jane is known for her beautiful collaborations with illustrator Anna Walker, and her powerful novels for teenagers, including Falling from Grace, As Happy as Here, When Rain Turns to Snow and A Walk in the Dark. Jane was Children’s Publisher at Penguin Books Australia before becoming a full-time writer.
Charmaine Ledden-Lewis (Australian)
Charmaine Ledden-Lewis is a proud Bundjalung woman and award-winning illustrator, residing on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Charmaine has collaborated with such celebrated authors as Bruce Pascoe, Cathy Freeman, Edith Wright and Dr Anita Heiss, bringing vivid and emotive visual story telling to each book she creates. Charmaine is passionate about sharing First Nations experiences and perspectives, through the language of art and visual literacy with everyone she meets, and encourages all to transcend inhibition and find their creative outlet. Charmaine is a Director of Varuna National Writers House and a proud Ambassador for ALNF.
Heath McKenzie (Australian)
Heath McKenzie is a bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator from Melbourne, VIC. He has written over 40 picture books and collaborated with numerous authors including Nazeem Hussain, Justine Clarke, Josh Pyke, Tim Cahill and more! He is quite possibly best known for his work on the Do Not Open This Book series with Andy Lee. Heath is also the illustrator of 2023's National Simultaneous Storytime book, The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young.
Cheryl Orsini (Australian)
Cheryl Orsini started small and drew big! She’s illustrated over sixty books including The Travelling Bookshop series (Harper Collins), Fairy!, Dragon!, Mermaid! and Unicorn! (Affirm Press), The Wonders of Never Giving Up (Affirm Press) and Dancing with Memories (Harper Collins). Her work regularly appears in The School Magazine (The NSW Dept of Education), exhibitions and murals.
Debra Tidball (Australian)
Debra Tidball is an award-winning author for children. With a background in social work and qualifications in children's literature, Debra has a particular passion for picture books and the profound way they can touch children's lives.
Dani Vee (Australian)
Dani Vee is the author of wacky picture books My EXTRAordinary Mum and My EPIC Dad! Takes Us Camping. She is the host of the literary podcast Words and Nerds and with up to 50,000 plays each month, the podcast has become an important part of the Australian literary landscape. Dani works in publicity and acquisitions at Larrikin House.
