The Power of Picture Books and Finding the Funny
Reading with a chance of tacos
Michael Gerard Bauer On today’s show, we chat about how one of Australia’s favourite picture book authors gets his stories, how they often develop from something small – a thought in his head, or a picture that sparked an idea or a thought, followed by a series of questions to determine what sort of story it would become. Plus, Liv drops in to review a fun and chaotic picture book by one of this country’s fav picture book authors. Today’s special guest is an award-winning Australian author best known for his hilarious and heartfelt books for children and young...
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Poppy's Monster
Reading with a chance of tacos
Poppy’s Monster On today’s show, we chat about monsters. Those monsters our kids grapple with in their daily lives and their storybooks. Plus, we have an honest chat with our special guest about the real stuff that aspiring authors go through when they start out on their writing journeys. And, Liv is back to review two picture books about a yogo posing wombat and working guide dog named Jemima. Today’s special guest first entered storytelling by telling fibs as a child. It’s not clear whether her parents believed these, but they were unsurprised by the career...
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Is this a new publishing trend?
Reading with a chance of tacos
Is this a new publishing trend? Complete series out in a year On today’s show, we chat with an international award-winning author about an awesome new series of 6 books for kids, all out in the same year. We chat about the process of writing, acquiring, illustrating, publishing, and distributing a complete series in a single year. Plus, the challenges that come with a new author journey. Today’s special guest is an international award-winning author who adores exploring all the world has to offer! Her love of travel started at age three on moving from Sri Lanka to...
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Storytelling with Authenticity
Reading with a chance of tacos
Storytelling with authenticity On today’s show, we chat with an author about storytelling with authenticity, and the process of writing stories that help kids deal with fear, grow to be resilient, and giving kids a sense of belonging. Today’s special guest has a unique journey with storytelling that covers cultures, languages, and the spaces in between. It wasn't until adulthood that she rediscovered her love for reading through stories that finally felt relevant to her experience. This shaped her approach as both a teacher and school counsellor, where she used...
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Me and You and LIv and AB
Reading with a chance of tacos
On today’s show, we chat to a picture book author about the timeless connection between grandparents and grandchildren. As well as the process of sharing dialogue and connections with kids in our stories. Plus, Liv has her own special guest drop in for today’s book review. Today’s special guest was born in Adelaide, South Australia and she's been telling stories ever since. Although she spent over ten years crafting nonfiction articles for magazines, she finally realised her real love was writing the stories for young people that blossom in her imagination. She is the...
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I Can Do That! I Can Write a Book!
Reading with a chance of tacos
I can do that! I can write a book! On today’s show, we follow an author with a “Can Do” attitude through her publishing journey. From mastering rhyme, storytelling, attending conferences, getting involved in community, and each step of the way to publication. A must listen and a fun chat for all authors and illustrators looking to carve out their own creative careers. Today’s special guest discovered the power of words and performance as a Drama Teacher, which ultimately led her to exploring children's literature. She is now a children's author based on the...
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What Makes a Good Illustrator?
Reading with a chance of tacos
What Makes a Good Illustrator? On today’s show, we chat illustrations with a legend of over 30 years of producing quality artwork. We look at what makes a good illustrator. Is it consistency? Is it a unique style and brand? Is it knowing what jobs to take on and what to leave alone? So much to consider as we go behind the scenes with one of my all-time favourite creators of books for kids. Plus, Liv reviews a picture book with too many dogs. Today’s special guest is a multi-award-winning Australian illustrator based in Sydney, with over two decades of...
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An Interview with Chat GPT
Reading with a chance of tacos
An interview with Chat GPT AI and the Future of authors On today’s show, we chat to one of the world’s quirkiest digital assistants. We get the future straight from one of the world’s biggest AI Language Models! Yep, who better to ask than the number 1 bot in the business. We chat about what AI can and can’t do for children’s book creators, how authors and illustrators can use AI as a tool, and what is the future of creativity with AI. What is potentially exciting and what’s not. Plus, Liv’s back to review a big bunch of brand-new books! ...
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Our Beautiful World
Reading with a chance of tacos
How Beautiful is our world? On today’s show, we chat to one of this country’s finest picture book authors about writing humour along with serious and important stories for kids. We chat about planning stories, writing stories, where stories come from, where humour comes from, and a brand-new book showcasing our beautiful world. Today’s special guest is an internationally published children’s author based in Melbourne. She loves to write stories filled with humour and heart. Her debut picture book Mozzies Vs Flies was shortlisted in the Speech Pathology...
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How to create, publish, and market stories in the modern world
Reading with a chance of tacos
How to create, publish, and market stories in the modern world On today’s show, we chat about graphic novels, appreciating stories of all kinds, creativity in the modern world, publishing stories in the modern world, mixing art and marketing, plus, pushing through your creative process when things get tough. And, if that’s not enough, Liv’s popping in to review an Aussie legend. Today’s special guest began his working life in marketing, even winning a Gruen Trophy on TV, but when his kids grew to reading age, he realised there were no appropriate comics. So he...
info_outlineAn interview with Chat GPT
AI and the Future of authors
On today’s show, we chat to one of the world’s quirkiest digital assistants. We get the future straight from one of the world’s biggest AI Language Models! Yep, who better to ask than the number 1 bot in the business.
We chat about what AI can and can’t do for children’s book creators, how authors and illustrators can use AI as a tool, and what is the future of creativity with AI. What is potentially exciting and what’s not.
Plus, Liv’s back to review a big bunch of brand-new books!
Today’s special guest is a friendly language model powered by OpenAI. Trained on a massive library of text, Chat GPT helps with words, ideas, and creative flow, but doesn’t have feelings, opinions, or a physical form. Instead, it likes to think of itself as the world’s quirkiest digital assistant who loves stories and tacos in equal measure. Please welcome, Chatty the AI Bot.