Romancing the Stars – Brisbane
Date: Tuesday 18 March 2025
Venue: Brisbane Boys College, Kensington Terrace, Toowong
Time: 6:00 – 9:30pm
Cost: $25 for Book Links members and College staff | $35 for non-members
(Have your 2025 membership discount code ready to apply at the end of the booking process)
Bookings close Thursday 13th March at noon.
Discover the books our local authors and illustrators have been creating for children and young adults.
Each creator will give a short introduction to their latest publication in a small intimate circle, before rotating on to the next group.
You have a chance to get inside information about the creation of the books and make contact with potential presenters for your school or library.
Speed date 16 stars.
Buy the latest books from the pop-up bookshop
Enjoy great food and drinks. View and buy books.
Enter raffle and win books in the quiz competition.
Digital PD certificates provided after the event.
Starring:
Author/Illustrator and MC: Yvonne Mes
Picture Books Authors/Illustrators: Ali Rutstein, Brent Wilson,
Helene Magisson, Jennifer Loakes, Katrin Dreiling, Rory Mather, Sandhya Parappukkaran
Authors Younger Readers, YA and non-fiction: Alison Stegert, Lara Cain Gray, Michael Gerard Bauer (also PB), Pamela Rushby, Peter Carnavas, Rebecca Timmis, Sophie Beer, Tina Strachan
Yvonne Mes is an author and illustrator who writes stories for children and young people with curious minds.
As an early childhood professional with a Bachelor of Children’s Services with many years’ experience, she loves sharing books, stories and art with children in places big and small, of diverse cultures and abilities and of all ages.
Her books are published in Australia, China and New Zealand.
Yvonne is a frequent speaker at schools, literary festivals and events. She is the coordinator of Write Links, the Brisbane based group for children’s authors and illustrators. She buys more books than she can read, comes up with more ideas than she can write or illustrate and has more children than she can manage. But she does try very hard, and best of all, she is NEVER bored. Yvonne is the recipient of the 2024 Book Links Mentorship.
Her most recent book isThe Opal Dinosaur, Illustrated by Sylvia Morris (CSIRO 2024)
Find out more about Yvonne Mes.
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Ali Rutstein moved to Brisbane from the UK over twenty years ago and is happily settled here with her partner, three young boys and an assortment of feathered, furry and scaly pets. She works as a cardiac genetic counsellor by day and writes picture books and junior fiction by night (well, usually early morning). She loves writing humorous stories inspired by the everyday happenings in her family life.
Her debut picture book, Ladybirds do not go to Daycare, came out in November 2023 with Hardie Grant, and three more books in the Pre-school Problem series, were released in 2024 and 2025. She also has a picture book coming out with Allen & Unwin at the end of 2024.
Her most recent books are A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet, illustrated by Tommy Doyle, Oct 2024, Allen & Unwin and Kittens Do Not Care for Baths, illustrated by Niña Nill, October 2024, Hardie Grant (Bright Light).
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Brent Wilson is the illustrator of the cult classic children’s picture book ‘Mr Impoppable’ (Larrikin House, 2023) as well as crowd favourite ‘Koalas Like To…’ (State Library Queensland, 2020) and the delightful ‘Laugh in the Bath’ (Little Book Press, 2025). His most recent effort — the graphic novel ‘Frog, Log and Dave Almost Save the Day’ (Penguin Random House, 2025) — was co-created with award-winning author Trent Jamieson. It’s a rollicking tale and the perfect addition to the discerning reader’s bookshelf. When not working in kid lit, Brent draws for other things like magazines and advertising campaigns.
Brent’s first children’s book was the acclaimed Koalas Like To … written by Shae Millward and published by the State Library QLD as part of a series of 12 books created especially for children aged 0–5 as part of the First 5 Forever initiative. Koalas Like To … was a finalist in the 2021 ABDA Awards for Best Designed Children’s Illustrated Book.
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Hélène Magisson is a critically acclaimed illustrator of many books for children. Before Hélène turned to book illustration, she was a painting restorer in Paris, where she was also trained in the art of medieval illumination. Hélène’s children’s books are widely known and loved across the world. Her timeless style lends itself naturally to classics, such as The Velveteen Rabbit (New Frontier, 2021), and also universal contemporary stories, such as Before You Were Born written by Katrina Germein (HarperCollins, 2020). Hélène is frequently recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Most recently, she was awarded the CBCA 2020 Notable Picture Book of the Year Award for Little Puggle’s Song, written by Vikki Conley.
Hélène’s most recent titles are Mumma Bear written by Rory Mather (1 March 2025 Scholastic) ; Willow’s Gumboots written by Beverley McWilliams (1 oct 2024 Midnight Sun Publishing) and still to come is The Noisy, Noisy City by Andrew Kelly (30 April 2025 Wild Dog.)
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Jennifer Loakes is an internationally published children’s author based in sunny Brisbane. The Construction Site Band is her fourth book with Windy Hollow Books and is illustrated by award winning illustrator Kelly Canby. ‘I enjoyed thinking about how the machinery sounds would interact with people’s day. Perhaps one of the most special things for me about this book, is the idea that people can hear music in their lives if they listen closely and use their imagination’ – Jennifer Loakes
Her previous titles include The Most Magnificent Thing (2020), Love was Hiding (2018), and Mate and Me (2015). In addition to Australian sales, Love was Hiding has been translated and sold in Korea. Jennifer writes heartfelt stories, celebrating the joy of childhood, and loves being a part of the literature community in Australia. She fits her love of writing in between being a psychologist and mum.
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Katrin Dreiling is a German-born language teacher but moved to Australia with her husband and three children and became an illustrator.
Katrin creates quirky illustrations that feature different media. Her first picture book “The World’s Worst Pirate” by Michelle Worthington has been awarded Notable Book 2018 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube.
Katrin was awarded the Harper Collins Illustrators Showcase Award 2019 at the biannual SCBWI conference in Sydney. In 2021 her first authored and illustrated picture book “A Perfect Pig” published by Scholastic Australia was released and quickly followed by “If You Ever Meet A Skeleton” written by Rebecca Evans and published by Page Street Kids.
This year, Katrin will add two more picture books with Scholastic Australia and Walker Books Australia to her portfolio. The first is ‘Robbit the Job-Hopping Frog’ written by Michael Gerard Bauer and published by Scholastic February 2025. In her free time Katrin loves to spend time with her family, writing quirky stories and walking her two Golden Retrievers, Loki and Trudy.
Instagram: @katrinartworks
Facebook: Katrin Dreiling Illustrations
Wegpage: katrindreiling.com
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Rory Mather
Rory H. Mather is a big kid with a beard. He enjoys picture books, fist bumps, stuff, items and things. Loves Dad jokes, words that rhyme, and his wife and daughter. Rory is a Toowoomba based traditionally published author with an ever-growing pile of picture books (15 as of March 2025). He is passionate about kidlit and using it to instil a love of books, reading and creativity particularly in reluctant readers because once upon a time he was one.
His most recent titles from 2024 were Teachersaurus, illustrated by Karl West (Scholastic Dec 2024), Brunocorn, illustrated by Chris Kennett (Scholastic Oct 2024), and Heart of a Tiger, (Scholastic Oct 2024), and in 2025 he has Mumma Bear illustrated by Hélène Magisson (1 March 2025 Scholastic) and Laugh in the Bath, illustrated by Brent Wilson (28 Jan 2025, Affirm Press.)
Website: https://roryhmather.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roryhmatherauthor/
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Sandhya Parappukkaran left her job as a Food Technologist so she could put her feet up and read. Then she rediscovered her passion for children’s books. She writes stories with themes of ‘embracing your cultural identity’ inspired by her migrant experience and South Indian heritage. Sandhya now works as a library assistant at a public library. She resides in Brisbane with her husband, three children and a backyard brimming with mango trees, curry leaves and green chillies. Sandhya’s books ahve been shortlisted and won awards across the country including ‘Stay for Dinner’ illustrated by Michelle Pereira (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) which won the prestigious Multicultural NSW Award ($30,000) at at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2024.
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Alison D. Stegert is a Sunshine Coast-based children’s author, a lifelong letter writer, and a dabbling artist. Her recent historical-mystery-adventure novel, Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies, is a 19th-century romp starring a girl genius gadget inventor and featuring a cameo from Queen Victoria herself. It was the winner of the Times | Chicken House | IET150 Prize (2021). Alison’s other titles include Boogie Woogie Bird, an award-winning picture book co-created with acclaimed illustrator Sandra Severgnini.
Alison D. Stegert website
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Michael Gerard Bauer was born and lives in Brisbane Australia. In 2000 he resigned from his full-time position as an English/Economics teacher to pursue his dream of becoming a writer.
His first YA novel The Running Man won the 2005 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Older Readers and was short-listed for the NSW, Victoria and South Australian State Premiers’ Literary awards.
In 2007 his second novel Don’t Call Me Ishmael! was short-listed in both the CBCA awards and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and won the 2007 Children’s Peace Literature Award and the 2008 South Australian Festival Award for Children’s Literature. It was also included in the 2007 White Ravens selection for Outstanding International Books for children and young adults.
His other award-winning novels include Just a Dog (2011 CBCA Honour Book and Qld Premiers Childrens Book Award winner) and The Things That Will Not Stand (2019 Prime Ministers Literary Award).
Michael’s first picture book Rodney Loses It! illustrated by Chrissie Krebs won the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Award (Early Childhood) as well as the Speech Pathology of Australia Book of the Year in the 3-5 year category. Its sequel Rodney Forgets It! was published in 2022.
Michael’s most recent book, illustrated by Katrin Dreiling is ‘Robbit the Job-Hopping Frog’ published by Scholastic February 2025.
Instagram: mgbauerpics
Facebook: Michael Gerard Bauer Author
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Pamela Rushby is a writer and a producer of educational television, audio and multimedia. She has written over 250 fiction and non-fiction books for educational and trade publishers.
Her historical novel, When the Hipchicks Went to War, won the Ethel Turner Prize in the NSW Premier’s Literature Awards 2010. The Horses Didn’t Come Home was a CBCA Notable Book, and short-listed in the Queensland Literary Awards 2012. Flora’s War was a CBCA Notable Book 2014, and The Ratcatcher’s Daughter short-listed in the Queensland Literary Awards 2015 and a CBCA Notable Book in 2015.
Her latest historical novels are The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle, The Secret Battle, Interned, The Mud Puddlers and Those Girls.
Pam’s website is www.pamelarushby.com
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Peter Carnavas writes and illustrates books for children. His books have been published widely across the world and have won many awards, including a Queensland Literary Award and a NSW Premier’s Literary Award.
His latest book is Leo and Ralph, (Feb 2024 UQP), a novel about friendship, change and an imaginary alien from one of Jupiter’s moons. His earlier picture books are currently being re-released by New Frontier.
Peter also works as a teacher librarian and he lives on the Sunshine Coast with his family.
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Rebecca Timmis is an award-winning author-illustrator from the sunny Gold Coast. She is the creator of the MerTales and Jawsome series. Rebecca loves to write magical and adventurous stories that make kids giggle. In 2023 she won a Golden Taco for the first Jawsome book in the Laugh Out Loud category. She’s had lots of real-life adventures like almost falling off the Great Wall of China, hiding from grizzly bears in Canada and being chased by wild pigs in outback Queensland. Her other jobs include coding websites, writing for the video game industry, and raising three (mostly) lovely boys.
Rebecca’s most recent books are Brittany & Co Take on Paris written by John Larkin (3 Apr 2024 Larrikin Press) and Jawsome: Licence to Rock (2) (Feb 2024 Allen&Unwin).
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Sophie Beer is an award-winning author/illustrator living in Brisbane, Australia. She rejoices in creating bright, funny books which centre equality, inclusion and kindness. Her books have been printed all over the world and have sold close to one million copies. She has published with Penguin Random House New York, Simon & Schuster, Hardie Grant, Scholastic, and many more. She even collaborated with LEGO Australia to writes and illustrate a Christmas book!
As an illustrator, she has worked with the likes of Disney, Google, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, Seven-11, and even had her own range of homewares with Myer. As a writer, her work has appeared in Frankie Magazine and The Big Issue. In 2022 she received a Varuna Writers Space Fellowship to complete her first middle grade novel Thunderhead which was published by Allen & Unwin in 2024. When she’s not illustrating and writing, she thinks a lot about plants, animals, music, books, equality, and Aldi choc-chip biscuits.
Sophie Beer website
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Tina Strachan is an Australian children’s author whose debut middle-grade book, Neeka and the Missing Key, will be published by HarperCollins Publishers. Neeka and the Missing Key is the first book of the Wilder Zoo series and will be released 29 January 2025.
Tina is also the co-host of The Book Deal podcast, a podcast about inspiring and motivating emerging writers through tips and advice from published authors.
When not indulging in her writing, Tina is working as a conservation officer, focussing her efforts on protecting native wildlife through research, monitoring, community education and threat mitigation.
Tina lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, with her husband, two boys and their cavoodle.
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