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Online manuscript and portfolio assessments
Would you like to have the chance to have your kids’ book idea critiqued by a publishing professional? Well, this is your chance! We are offering 15-minute online manuscript and portfolio assessments, where you’ll receive valuable industry feedback on your work.
Key Dates
May 4—Tickets go on sale at 8am (Sydney time). Places are initially limited to one per person.
May 8—Tickets open for those who would like to buy a second assessment.
June 6—Deadline for Manuscripts or Portfolios to be submitted for assessment.
July 9—Reports returned to Members.
July 11—Zoom critiques
Tickets
Critiques are 15 min with a publishing professional online via Zoom plus a written report.
At time of booking you will be able to choose your preference from the available time slots and assessors. Critiques are non-refundable and non-transferable, so please choose carefully.
SCBWI Members only
$105 per critique and places are initially limited to one per person.
(Booking link to come)
Details on how to submit your manuscript or portfolio for your critique are below.
Critique Assessors
Jennifer Castles—Submissions Editor at Allen & Unwin Books for Children and Young Adults
Jennifer (she/her) has coordinated the Allen & Unwin Friday Pitch program for Children and Young Adults since its inception nearly 15 years ago. During that time she has reviewed thousands of submissions aimed at the 0-25 readership covering every form and genre. She has 'spotted' a substantial number of new authors who have joined the A&U list and some have even gone on to win awards. Jennifer is also an author, editor, actor, ghostwriter and manuscript fixer. She has had to pitch, present and audition way too many times and she knows how hard it is!
Jennifer will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, and Non-Fiction
She is happy to see any genre.
Michelle Madden—Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House
Michelle Madden is a Commissioning Editor for Penguin Random House Young Readers. She works across all genres and ages, from books for early childhood through to non-fiction and novels for young adults. She has worked with some of Australia’s finest authors and illustrators, including Terry Denton, Sam Cotton, Felice Arena, Sofie Laguna, Dub Leffler, Mem Fox and Alison Lester, as well as with sporting and media stars such as Leah Purcell, Cathy Freeman and Zoe Foster Blake, and brands like Taronga and The Penguin Foundation. She enjoys picture books that speak directly to children, illustrated books for young readers that create excitement about stories, entertaining YA and middle fiction, and has a particular interest in fun non-fiction for young people.
Michelle will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, and Portfolios.
She is happy to see any genre but would prefer not to see poetry or specifically educational manuscripts.
Illustrated by Sophie Beer
Nicola Santilli—Senior Editor, Books for Children and Young Adults, Allen & Unwin
Nicola Santilli (they/them) is a senior editor at Allen & Unwin, where they help create beautiful, dynamic and interesting books for children and young adults. They have worked in Australian children’s publishing for over 15 years and served on the #LoveOzYA Committee from 2017 to 2018. Nicola is proud to have worked with many award-winning authors and illustrators across Australia. They are interested in stories that reflect the diversity of the world we live in, so that all young readers can see themselves reflected on the page.
Nicola will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, and Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult.
Nicola is open to all genres and with a wish list that includes stories by underrepresented voices, e.g. FNPOC writers, disabled writers and queer writers.
Luna Soo—Senior Editor, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Luna Soo is a senior editor at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing. She works with talented authors and illustrators to create books that inspire and amaze kids of all ages, and is proud to have edited several award-winning novels. Luna’s keen to help diversify Australia’s publishing industry so that all readers can see themselves on the page. She particularly loves middle-grade and young adult novels, and is drawn to stories with a strong, gripping voice and a unique perspective on the world.
Luna will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, and Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult.
Her wish list includes contemporary, relatable middle grade and young adult. Picture books that put a fun spin on an everyday topic.
She would prefer not to see dragon stories or high fantasy.
Heather Curdie—Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House Young Readers
Heather Curdie is a Commissioning Editor for Penguin Random House Young Readers. She works across picture books, graphic novels, and junior and middle-grade fiction and non-fiction. She has worked with many talented writers and illustrators, including Morris Gleitzman, Mem Fox, Andrew Daddo, Jane Godwin, Anna Walker, Jacqueline Harvey, Andrew Joyner, Stephen Michael King and John Williamson. Heather is energised by the constantly changing world of children's publishing, taking delight in finding and nurturing promising new talent and publishing opportunities. She also has a passion for the environment, choral music, cycling and all things outdoors!
Heather will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, and Portfolios.
Her wish list includes: Fantasy, neurodiversity, practical and fun non-fiction ideas, illustrator portfolios displaying a variety of black and white and colour work (including animals and people), graphic novels, author/illustrators.
She would prefer not to see YA and any picture books need to be out of the box!
Fay Helfenbaum—Senior Editor, Thames & Hudson Australia
Fay Helfenbaum is a senior editor at Thames & Hudson Australia working across the adult and children's lists with authors such as Zeno Sworder, Dave Petzold, Davina Bell and Sarah Zweck. She previously worked at Penguin Random House and as an independent bookseller. Fay lives in Naarm/Melbourne with her family.
Fay will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, and Non-Fiction
Her wish list includes Fiction picture books, non-fiction picture books, illustrated non-fiction with science, environmental or art subject matter, authors from underrepresented backgrounds. She is open to any genre or subject matter.
Meg Whelan—Commissioning Editor, Simon and Schuster
Meg Whelan is a commissioning editor on the children’s book team at Simon and Schuster, where she spends her days working on books for young people of all ages, across the Simon and Schuster and Affirm Press imprints. Meg has worked with award-winning and bestselling creators including Amelia Mellor, Jess Racklyeft, Jane Godwin and Lucinda Gifford, and is passionate about finding and nurturing emerging up-and-coming creators.
Meg will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, Non-Fiction and Portfolios
She is particularly interested in seeing pacy and accessible reads for middle grade and YA across a variety of genres. She is not open to verse novels.
Anna Solding—Publishing Director, MidnightSun Publishing
Anna Solding is the publisher at MidnightSun Publishing and the co-director of The Australian Short Story Festival. She has been involved in the publishing scene for over 15 years and has published many award-winning books for both children and adults. What she most enjoys reading are stories that pull her into new situations (but not necessarily new worlds) where she might not have been before. Scenarios where the characters grapple with their emotions and actions. She wants to feel what the characters feel. And she loves a surprising twist.
Anna will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, and Portfolios.
Her wish list includes: Realistic stories about children (not animals). Diversity, sexuality, race, disability, friendships, love, adventure, grief. I want genuine stories that I haven't read before. Surprise me!
She would prefer No toilet humour, unicorns, vampires, bears, dogs or dying grandparents.
Laura Harris—Managing Director, Laura Harris Publishing
Laura Harris taught High School for approximately six months before landing an Editorial Traineeship at the prestigious NSW School Magazine. After five years there, Laura moved to HarperCollins Publishers as a Senior Editor and in 1995 became Publisher, Adult and Children’s books. She joined Penguin Books Australia in 1999 as Publisher, Books for Children and Young Adults and became Publishing Director in 2003 and joined the Penguin Board that year as well. In March 2016, she was appointed Publishing Director at Penguin Random House Australia where she worked until 2023. In 2023 and she was a recipient of the George Robertson Award for her long and distinguished service to the Australian Publishing Industry. In 2024 she established Laura Harris Publishing, a Children's book author and illustrator services company. Laura proudly sits on the Board of WestWords and was a previous Board member of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Laura will critique: Picture Books, Chapter Book/Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade/Young Adult, and Portfolios.
Her wish list includes funny, smart middle grade fiction with heart and humour.
When it comes to subject matter she thinks anything might resonate when it's done very well so nothing she don't want to see although she thinks new writers of picture books should let go of trying to rhyme.
How to Submit your Manuscript or Portfolio for your Critique
Following your booking CLICK HERE to submit your manuscript or picture book text or thumbnails or portfolio images. Please take note of the June 6, 2026 deadline and the format for submissions. Unfortunately, submissions that are late or that do not conform to the specifications cannot be accepted.
PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT ONCE with the final manuscript or images that you would like to be critiqued.
Your critique submission should include the following:
•An overview of your project to a maximum of 1 page including your name, email and website (if applicable)
AND IN THE SAME DOCUMENT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
• An outline of your project idea with synopsis and short writing samples for comment and discussion to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times New Roman or similar
OR
• An extract of your draft manuscript to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times New Roman or similar
OR
• A full picture book draft text to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced in 12pt Times Roman or similar (one picture book only)
OR
If a writer-illustrator an illustrated picture book dummy with text (one picture book only)
OR
A portfolio of up to 10 pages in pdf form
Most assessors prefer word document format so they can make inline notes, however, pdfs are also acceptable. Picture books in thumbnail form can be supplied as pdfs. Please label your file including Surname, Title (abbreviate if necessary), Genre (PB, C, YA) and indicate if it is Non-Fiction NF: ex. Surname_Title_PB_NF