Magic & Mayhem: Discover the secrets to creating magnificent books for kids and teens.

Australian Writers' Centre
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Magic & Mayhem: Discover the secrets to creating magnificent books for kids and teens.

Welcome to Magic and Mayhem – the podcast series that explores the wonderful and wacky world of writing for kids and teens. Join us as we take a peek behind the picture book pages, discover pirate ships and publishing tips, delve into addictively readable YA novels and find oodles of inspiration in every treehouse corner. But above all, it’s where we learn from the authors who tell these very stories – what sparks their book ideas and how their creativity captures the attention of kids, teens and adults alike.

  1. 16/01/2019

    Ep 40: Suzanne O’Sullivan on what commissioning editors are looking for in children’s books.

    Meet Suzanne O’Sullivan, commissioning editor for Lothian Children’s Books and the Associate Publisher of Children’s Books for Hachette Australia. Suzanne is looking for authors with strong and fresh voices who tell unique stories. Learn what else Suzanne looks out for when considering a new author, including social media presence, school visits, and more middle grade, please! This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  2. 16/01/2019

    Ep 39: Marisa Pintado on what young adult publishers really want.

    Meet Marisa Pintado, YA publisher for Hardie Grant Egmont in Melbourne. Marisa is also the author of award-winning middle grade and YA fiction and manages the Ampersand Prize for debut novelists. As a publisher, Marisa knows exactly what she wants from YA authors: a sense of fun, an understanding of the market, and a willingness to collaborate. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min

  3. 16/01/2019

    Ep 38: Kimberly McCreight on how she knew she had to write her novel.

    Meet Kimberly McCreight, best selling author of the Outliers YA trilogy. When Kimberly missed out on a job, she took it as a sign that she had to publish her next manuscript. Fortunately, her book Reconstructing Amelia was picked up and she has gone on to forge a successful career as a YA author. Learn why you should treat writing like a job, how to tolerate a messy manuscript, and why it’s okay to lower your standards. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min

  4. 16/01/2019

    Ep 37: Rachael Craw on plot, motivation and character in young adult novels.

    Find out how Rachael Craw turned a dream into a bestselling YA trilogy. After dreaming the prologue for her Spark series, Rachael carefully worked through important questions about plot, motivation and character. Writing is 99% sweat, after all! Learn how to stay sane between stories, the benefits of hiring a manuscript assessor, and why you should respect your readers. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min

  5. 16/01/2019

    Ep 36: Ellie Marney focuses on crime writing for young adults.

    How Ellie Marney discovered her crime-writing superpower. Ellie had written in many genres, but after winning the Sisters in Crime award, decided to focus on crime writing for young adults. Learn how much you need to watch your language for a YA audience, why an author should be like a plumber, and why a writer doesn’t need to know who dunnit until the end. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    13 min

  6. 16/01/2019

    Ep 35: Nicole Hayes teaches at the Australian Writers' Centre and writes spellbinding young adult books.

    Meet Nicole Hayes, award-winning author, podcaster, and writing teacher. Nicole has written three YA novels and writes and podcasts about Australian Rules football. It’s all about writing what you love, as she says. Learn how point of view can radically change a story, how to push through a tough manuscript, and how you can learn from teaching. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min

  7. 16/01/2019

    Ep 34: Gabrielle Tozer reveals her marketing secrets as a young adult author.

    How Gabrielle Tozer uses her marketing knowledge to promote her books. Gabrielle always knew she wanted to be a writer, and worked in magazines for many years before turning her hand to fiction. She has now published three YA novels and a picture book. Learn why you really should write what you know, why you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, and why it’s important to look after yourself. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  8. 16/01/2019

    Ep 33: Allison Rushby does both indie and traditional publishing.

    Learn how Allison Rushby has found success in both traditional and self-publishing. Allison has published more than 20 books for middle grade, YA and adults, but recently she began self-publishing her backlist. Learn why volume is more important than social media, the importance of good design, and why you don’t really have to write every day. This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers’ Centre. Find out more and get the free ebook at magicandmayhem.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
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About

Welcome to Magic and Mayhem – the podcast series that explores the wonderful and wacky world of writing for kids and teens. Join us as we take a peek behind the picture book pages, discover pirate ships and publishing tips, delve into addictively readable YA novels and find oodles of inspiration in every treehouse corner. But above all, it’s where we learn from the authors who tell these very stories – what sparks their book ideas and how their creativity captures the attention of kids, teens and adults alike.

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