Presenters

Presenters

Amie Kaufman – Author

Author Amie Kaufman sits at a desk. She wears a blue shirt and a scarf. She is looking up at the right corner. Amie Kaufman is a New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy. Her multi-award winning work has been translated into nearly thirty languages, and is in development for film and TV.

Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing. She’s the host of podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.

Amie writes a monthly newsletter that keeps readers up to date on what she’s working on, any new releases, giveaways or events near them. You can sign up at amiekaufman.com.

Amie lives by the sea in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and an extremely large personal library. Her latest book is the fantasy adventure The Isles of the Gods.

Amie will be appearing on panels and in a session on Saturday and running a writing workshop on Sunday.

Website: Amie Kaufman

Briony Stewart – Illustrator and Author

Briony Stewart is the author and illustrator of several award-winning books for children, including the ‘Kumiko and the Dragon’ series and ‘We Love You Magoo’ which was a CBCA Early Childhood Honour Book for 2020. Her new book ‘Gymnatisca Fantastica’ has been shortlisted for the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

Briony lectures on children’s literature at university and conducts talks and workshops with children across Australia. She loves live drawing challenges, day dreaming and discussing dragons, bunnies and how to tame lions.

Briony will be appearing on panels and in a session on Saturday and running a Picture Book Intensive workshop on Sunday.

Website: Briony Stewart

Peter Carnavas – Author/Illustrator

A man smiles for the camera. He has a beard and is wearing a flat cap.

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 the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. His new book is a novel called Leo and Ralph, about a boy who can’t let go of his imaginary alien friend. Peter also works as a teacher librarian, and he lives on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, with his wife, two daughters, a dog and a cat.

Peter will be appearing on panels and in a session on Saturday, Writing Stories With Heart.

Website: Peter Carnavas

Katrin Dreiling – Illustrator

Illustrator Katrin Dreiling is smiling.
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.

Katrin also conducts illustration workshops for both adults and children. She currently works on two picture book projects with Scholastic Australia and Walker books Australia. In her free time Katrin loves to spend time with her family, writing quirky stories and walking her two Golden Retrievers.

Katrin will be appearing on panels and in a session on Saturday.

Website: Katrin Dreiling

Robyn Sheahan Bright

Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright – Chair

Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright has operated Justified Text Writing and Publishing Consultancy Services since 1997, and is widely published in children’s literature, Australian fiction and publishing history. She has judged literary awards, mentored and offered editorial advice to writers, lectured in writing and publishing courses, and regularly assesses post-graduate creative writing theses for several universities. She writes both teachers’ notes and reading group notes for major publishers. She was inaugural director of and is a Life Member of the Queensland Writers’ Centre, and was co-founder of Jam Roll Press. Her publications include Paper Empires: A History of the Book in Australia (1946–2005) (2006) co-edited with Craig Munro. She has been Program Manager of the APA’s biennial Residential Editorial Program since 1999. She is President of IBBY Australia Inc, and Deputy-Chair of the Board of the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. She was recipient of the CBCA (Qld)’s Dame Annabelle Rankin Award in 2010, CBCA’s Nan Chauncy Award in 2012, and of the QWC’s Johnno Award in 2014. In 2021, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Robyn will be chairing panels and announcing the winner of the Book Links Mentorship.

Mia Macrossan – Chair

Mia Macrossan is a former CBCA children’s book of the year judge, an Aurealis judge and a Queensland Literary awards judge. She is the current chair of the judging panel for the Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction and coordinator of the StoryLinks website where she publishes reviews, interviews and resource lists.

Mia has worked in publishing for Scholastic UK where they published original titles and bought paperback and book club rights all over the world, including Dutch and German language titles, and American and Australian works. It was here that she met and worked with authors and illustrators of children’s books who ignited a lifelong passion for youth literature. Mia has worked as publicist, copy editor, editor, rights manager, managing editor, writer, reviewer, teacher and teacher librarian.

She founded the Last Tuesday Children’s Book Club for adults who love to read and discuss children’s books and reviews for Magpies, 4MBS Radio and of course, StoryLinks.

Mia Macrossan will be chairing panels, interviewing guests and hosting the First Page Pitches session.

Website: StoryLinks

Dr Lara Cain Gray – Chair

A woman with blonde hair holds picture books. She is standing in a bookshop and smiling.

Dr Lara Cain Gray is a writer, librarian and storytelling advocate based in Brisbane, Australia. She has proudly championed the creative industries as the Australia and New Zealand Curator at the British Library, Curator of Cultures and Histories at Queensland Museum, and in a range of research and teaching roles in Australia and the UK. She is currently Head of Acquisitions at nonprofit publisher Library For All, where she helps deliver cross-cultural children’s books to remote and low-income communities in Australia and internationally. Lara has reviewed children’s books for over 10 years in academic and popular publications, including her long running blog. Her latest book, The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books, is out in 2024.

Lara will be chairing panels and interviewing guests.

Website: Lara Cain Gray

Publishers, Editors and Agents

Annabel Barker (Agent)

A blonde woman in a red shirt smiles. There is a bookcase behind her. Annabel Barker is a Literary Agent focusing on books for children and young adults. Annabel has more than 20 years’ experience in children’s publishing. She started her publishing career selling Rights at Macmillan in London and has also worked for Hachette Children’s Books in London, Pan Macmillan Australia and at Hardie Grant in Melbourne, where she was managing director of the children’s division. Annabel now represents writers, illustrators, and comic makers, including some of Australia’s best loved and best-selling creators for young people.

Annabel considers books for children of all ages but is currently focusing on work for older readers – particularly fiction for middle grade readers and young adults. She would also love to see illustrated projects and graphic novels.

Website: Annabel Barker

Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant)

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Marisa Pintado is the Publishing Director at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, the young readers division of one of Australia’s largest independent trade houses. She has published a wide range of bestselling and beloved series including Welcome to Your Period and Welcome to Sex by Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes, School of Monsters by Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin, the Claris picture books by renowned art director Megan Hess, and Real Pigeons, which is being adapted for TV by Nickelodeon. Marisa is also the founder of the Ampersand Prize, an award for debut authors of children’s and YA fiction, which has supported numerous writers over the last decade in launching their publishing careers.

Marisa is looking for surprising, fun, memorable fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels for children and young adults, particularly by authors from marginalised backgrounds. Favourite genres for younger readers include humour, magic, adventure and horror (scary or silly), preferably series for readers aged 4-8 years; rom-coms, urban fantasy and thrillers for young adults; nonfiction that decolonises familiar topics or explores from a new perspective; and graphic novels for all ages, in any genre.

‘I am only accepting humorous picture books with a strong, original premise, that centre the child reader but are enjoyable for the whole family. This includes submissions for our Bright Light imprint, which is dedicated to shining a light on important topics.’

Website: Hardie Grant

Meg Whelan (Affirm Press)

A woman with brown hair and a red jumper is smiling.

Meg Whelan is a senior editor on the children’s book team at Affirm Press, where she spends her days working on books for young people of all ages, from babies through to teens. During her six years at Affirm Press, Meg has worked with award-winning and best-selling creators including Amelia Mellor, Nicki Greenberg, Jane Godwin and Lucinda Gifford. She has also nurtured emerging talent through the Affirm Press-Varuna mentorship program and via many kidlit conferences. Meg has been shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Rising Star Award and participated in Australian Publishing Association Residential Editorial Program. Prior to joining Affirm Press, she worked in bookshops and was the children’s book buyer at the Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne.

Meg is excited to discover talent in all areas of children’s books. She is particularly passionate about picture books that feature gorgeous writing and innovative illustration styles, loves graphic novels for all ages and in all genres and is a gigantic nerd for fresh and exciting sci-fi/fantasy MG and YA.

Website: Affirm Press

James Layton (Larrikin House)

James Layton is passionate about creating fun, edgy and unique books for young readers. His industry experience spans thirty years as both a bookseller to schools and in 2018 a children’s publisher. His first question to authors when assessing manuscripts is always ‘What’s the buy-in for the kid?’ As a young reluctant reader himself, James started creating humorous books to engage kids and make them laugh. His frank, no-nonsense approach is invaluable for anyone who wants a publishing deal.

James is looking for edgy pitches for Picture Books, JFIC, Middle Grade and Graphic Novels

Website: Larrikin House

Cathy Vallance (UQP)

A woman is smiling. She wears a red top. She is holding a book titled The Way Of Dog.

Cathy Vallance publishes the children’s and young adult lists at University of Queensland Press (UQP)

Cathy has over fifteen years’ experience in the publishing industry. She has worked at the University of Queensland Press since 2012 and was appointed to the role of Children’s Publisher in 2023. Cathy has worked with many wonderful authors, including Peter Carnavas, Nova Weetman, Ellen van Neerven and Zana Fraillon.

Cathy is looking for interesting and unique stories from diverse voices. She loves books that are heartfelt, funny and a little bit different. She’s looking to acquire picture books, junior fiction, middle-grade and funny YA. She is partial to verse novels.

Website: UQP

Kristy Bushnell (UQP)

Kristy Bushnell is an experienced freelance book editor and mentor specialising in children’s and young adult literature. She has worked with award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators such as Peter Carnavas, Kate Gordon, Steven Herrick, Tamsin Janu, Lucia Mascuillo, Nova Weetman and Claire Zorn, and publishers such as the University of Queensland Press, Omnibus Books, Allen and Unwin, Scholastic, HarperCollins and Walker Books. She has served as chair and panel member on the Queensland Literary Awards Children’s Book Award and is an alumni of the Australian Publishing Association’s Residential Editorial Program (REP). Kristy has extensive experience in mentoring, structural editing, copy editing, proofreading and assessments, and provides carefully considered and encouraging editorial advice to help authors realise their story’s potential and assist them to meet their publishing dreams.