PUBLISHER & ART DIRECTOR, Naarm/Melbourne

I have been working in publishing for more than a decade, in both Melbourne and London. In 2011 I took up the role of Art Director at Scribe, and in 2016 I launched Scribe’s first picture-book imprint, Scribble.

My favourite books as a child were The Quangle Wangle’s Hat by Edward Lear, with illustrations from Helen Oxenbury and Tove Janson’s Who will Comfort Toffle? I think I am still chasing that infectious combination of surreal absurdity and existential angst!

My job at Scribble is to choose the books we will publish, work with authors and illustrators on developing their projects, and dip my oar into all other moving parts of the business. One of the great things about working in children’s publishing is the constant process of learning and unlearning. Every day provides new things to work on and to be challenged by.

DESIGN, Naarm/Melbourne

I was obsessed with The Wind in the Willows when I was little — I loved the beautiful picnic scenes and any detail of what Rat and Mole ate, as much as the mania of Toad’s story. I judged the quality of an edition by the illustrations of Toad Hall, the more detailed the better. I wish Maira Kalman was making books when I was young — her Max series is sublime, and Fireboat is a profoundly moving book for anyone of any age.

I have been a graphic designer for more than 15 years, working in Melbourne, London, and Cambodia. At Scribble I work with the whole team to help make everything look the very best it can!

PRODUCTION, Naarm/Melbourne

One of my favourite picture books growing up was Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan, with illustrations by Pamela Lofts. Although, it should be said, I was a much fussier eater as a child and definitely didn’t like stews. I would mostly eat peanut butter sandwiches. I remember copying the cover illustration with my best pencils. My drawing was hung in a prime location on the family fridge and it was a beacon of joy for me. This is my earliest memory of falling in love with illustrating and local storytelling. I have a passion for books that have a small, local feel, and tell the stories of everyone that we live together with on this land.

I have been working in the Australian publishing industry for more than 15 years. As a member of the Production team, my role at Scribble is to take the stories and illustrations from our brilliant creatives and help realise how these will be made into books that you and I can hold in our hands.

PRODUCTION, Naarm/Melbourne

I’m a relatively recent entrant into the publishing industry and a transplant from Aotearoa. In production at Scribble, I help make the book a physical object – a job I love, because our art direction and design team are so thoughtful about making books that match the substance, purpose, and playfulness of their contents. They are also geniuses with colour.

As a child, two intensive re-readers for me were Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes, and Eloise by Kay Thompson. I imagine I was drawn to anything with a precocious and complex lead character, and to illustrations with sensitive and good-humoured physicality. I would say that I am still drawn to all those characteristics today, in both people and books – probably why I’m at Scribble.