Our first event for 2026 found us returning to the wonderful harbour view location of Library at the Dock Performance Space in Docklands, Melbourne. The weather was lovely and so was the warm welcome from our ever hardworking ARA Caz Goodwin. This was followed by the popular Show and Tell segement and you can see from the photo, many members had news and books to share. Congratulations everyone!
Our first member speaker was author Deborah Frenkel. Deb is an awarded writer of picture books and an as-yet-unawarded starer-outer-er of windows. Her books include (most recently) How to Get Home (illustrated by Karen Blair), as well as 2025’s CBCA Picture Book of the Year and National Simultaneous Storytime title The Truck Cat (illustrated by Danny Snell), plus 100 School Days, Boldilocks, Naturopolis and The Sydney Harbour Fairy. She lives on Bunurong land, in Melbourne’s inner west, with her family and an enormous tuxedo cat who loves staring out of windows, too.
The title of Deborah’s talk was From ‘Maybe I could write a book’ to Book of the Year: my seven-year adventure in picture books.
Deb’s talk was warm and personal and highlighted how life is intertwined with her ideas and creativity, and her impetus to write. We also were treated to the tale behind her inspiration for ‘Truck Cat’.
Our next member speaker was author Angie Cui, a Melbourne-based children’s author. Her writing has appeared in ABC Everyday, SBS, The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, and other publications. Born in Harbin, China, Angie moved to Australia at 18 and later shifted from a banking career into the book industry after having children. Her debut picture book, My Mum Is a Bird (UQP, 2025), was Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and she also published Our Map with Wombat Books in the same year. Angie lives in Melbourne with her family and enjoys writing stories that celebrate language, culture, and identity, hoping children from diverse backgrounds can see themselves in the books they read.
Angie shared her journey to becoming a children’s author - from her early writing and career pivot, to how she secured her publishing contracts, and the determination, hard work (and humour!) it took along the way.Angie’s talk was encouraging and practical for writers and illustrators at different stages of their careers.
After these two inspirational member talks, we headed downstairs for networking and afternoon tea.
Our final speaker for the day was agent Sarah McKenzie, a Melbourne/Naarm-based literary agent who represents new, emerging and established authors of literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, middle grade, junior fiction and picture books. Her agency actively pursues diverse and marginalised voices.
Sarah’s clients have authored books that have won or been shortlisted for prizes including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Australian Book Industry Awards, Ned Kelly Awards, Indie Book Awards, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, WA Premier’s Literary Awards, CWA Dagger Awards, Miles Franklin Award and CBCA Awards. Sarah represents best-selling children's author Scott Stuart, internationally-award-winning crime writer Shelley Burr and some of the country's most exciting emerging authors. Sarah currently serves as Secretary of the Australian Literary Agents’ Association and teaches final year students in RMIT’s Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing.
During the ‘In Conversation’ session with Caz Goodwin, Sarah discussed the publishing industry, focussing on middle grade, junior fiction and picture books. She also talked about her literary agency and there was plenty of time for questions from the audience.
It was great to have access to Sarah’s experience, knowledge and thoughts on the current state of the industry and insider advice for creators at all stages.
Following Sarah’s Q&A with Caz, Judy Watson our illustrator extraordinaire held up her hat while Sarah drew winners’ names of generously donated book prizes. Congratulations to all the winners!
We closed the event with a photo of our amazing attendees who all helped to make the afternoon a special one. Thank you to our committee of ARA Caz Goodwin, Amy Adeney, Judy Watson and me, Kaye Baillie for putting the event together and everyone who joined us.
And a special thank you to our wonderful speakers, Angie, Sarah, and Deb. We’ll be back in May! Happy creating until then.
