Brenton's KIDLIT & WRITING Blog
Writing updates, book reviews, writing tips I find and share, and a smattering of things in between.
 Caz Goodwin is an award-winning, internationally published children’s author. Her books have won or been shortlisted for awards including 2024 CBCA Book of the Year (Early Childhood), Speech Pathology Book of the Year (three-five years) and the National Arts Council Beyond Words Award (Singapore). Caz is passionate about children’s literacy and has spoken at numerous local and international festivals, conferences, community events, libraries and schools. She heads the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Victoria and is on the Young Australian Best Book Awards (YABBA) council. She is also an Australia Reads ambassador. Caz has been the recipient of an ASA mentorship, a May Gibbs Creative Time Residential Fellowship and was a resident at the Police Point Artist in Residence Program. Her books have been produced in Braille for blind and low-vision children and included in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Caz’s books have also featured on Sarah Ferguson’s Fergie and Friends show, CBCA Storytime, podcasts, newspapers and radio. Find her online at cazgoodwin.com 1. Caz, congratulations on your latest picture book Little Matilda and the Lost Bunny, the third in the Little Matilda series. You have also written Dragon’s Egg, Lazy Daisy and Daisy Runs Wild and Grace and Mr Milligan. What attracts you to the picture book form? I love the way picture books can create rich emotional experiences that reflect the strong feelings experienced by young children. They can facilitate important conversations and encourage language acquisition and literacy. They are often the books that instil in young children a love of words, books and reading. I also find picture books fun to write, and it’s a privilege seeing my words brought to life by an illustrator. 2. Are there particular joys, or even challenges, when writing picture book texts? Writing is full of joys and challenges. Trying to capture the essence of the story along with relatable characters, an interesting narrative arc, rich vocabulary and a satisfying conclusion, all in a limited word count can be challenging. But it’s a joy when it all comes together. The thrill of holding a new picture book, poring over the illustrations and finally reading it to children is always wonderful. 3. Is writing in rhyme a pleasure or does it prove to be hard work behind the scenes? I’ve always enjoyed rhyme and I love writing it. To me, it’s a challenge and a pleasure. I usually write my picture book manuscripts in prose first, even if I intend to re-write them in rhyme, as it’s important that the story itself is strong enough. It also helps ensure that the rhyme doesn’t drive the storyline. The story must come first, and the words need to fit the story, not just the rhyme. One of the challenges of rhyme is getting the rhythm right. It’s important to maintain a regular beat and that the beats fall on the syllables that would be accented in normal speech. Working out the puzzle of a rhyming manuscript is half the fun. 4. Do you have a typical writing and rewriting process? Or does it vary depending on the book? I don’t have a typical process when writing my manuscripts. It is often trial and error, finding the voice, trying a different tense or point of view. I do lots of drafts. It usually takes me a long time to get a picture book manuscript to a state where I’m happy with it. I agonise about the story itself, individual words, rhymes, character names and so on. You name it, I agonise about it. But I always leave a manuscript for several weeks before I review it one last time before sending it to a publisher, even if I think it’s perfect. With the benefit of time and fresh eyes, I can often spot areas that need further development. 5. What do you know now about the writing and publishing world that you wish you knew earlier in your career? There is so much that that it would have been good to know when I started writing for children. I would have found it helpful to understand how slowly the industry works, and that being patient is essential. I’m not a patient person and I have had to adjust my expectations around how long everything takes. I also had no idea how much I had to learn when I started out. I thought it would be easy to write a picture book because they are so short, but I found the opposite is true. I also thought I’d find it easy because my corporate jobs involved writing. However, the craft of writing for children is very different to writing for an adult audience, and has unique rules and conventions. It seems obvious now, but there was so much to learn and it continues to this day. 6. Your gorgeous, heartfelt picture book Grace and Mr Milligan is currently on the 2024 CBCA Shortlist! Congratulations! What does this honour mean to you, for this book? Can you share the process of Grace and Mr Milligan from idea to publication? Having the CBCA recognise my picture book is such an honour and a career highlight. Grace and Mr Milligan is shortlisted for the 2024 Early Childhood Book of the Year, as well as in the New Illustrator category. Pip Kruger’s bright and lively illustrations are stunning, and balance the pathos surrounding Charlie’s death. Her use of bright colours along with subdued hues and delightful details complement the book’s emotional landscape. The process of writing the story took several years. It was difficult to write, but a manuscript I never gave up on. Death can be a confronting and confusing concept for young children. It can also be a challenging topic for adults to discuss. I wanted to depict a child struggling as she watches a much-loved adult grieving after a loss. I aimed to keep the tone light, yet sensitive and show how children often want to help those who are suffering, but don’t know how. My hope is that the book will foster conversations about death and dying, but also grief, friendship, kindness, hope and the circle of life. 7. You have a very exciting picture book A Wish for Baby (illustrated by Sara Acton, published by Affirm Press) coming out in July. Can you talk a little about the origin of this book and what we have to look forward to? I’m excited about ‘A Wish for Baby’. It is a celebration of a new baby’s arrival, expressing all the hopes, joys and dreams for a little one’s future. ‘I wish you health and happiness, but even when there’s pain, I hope you see the rainbows as you’re running through the rain.’ When my children were born, I would spend hours watching them, wondering what their futures held. Those memories came flooding back to me as I was writing this book. The birth of a baby inspires their loved-ones to dream of all the wonderful adventures and experiences they will have, and the relationships that will flourish over the years. I hope this book captures those feelings and expresses the love and good wishes that we feel towards a much-loved newborn or youngster. 8. For a fun but tricky 2-part question to end with! a) Which of your own books, that best express your storyteller's heart, do you recommend to a new reader and why? Very tricky. Today, I would nominate, ‘A Wish for Baby’. Made up of gentle, rhyming verses, A Wish for Baby is designed to be read by an adult to a baby or young child, expressing their hopes and dreams for the little one's future. Wishes for happy days exploring rockpools by the beach, to tranquil times watching restful rivers flow. From fun with dress-ups, baking and giggling with friends, to adventures climbing snow-topped mountains and riding camels in the desert. There are wishes for supportive friends and importantly, to know that whatever happens and wherever they go, they are loved. b) Which 3 Australian children's books, that you did not write, do you think everyone should read? I wish I’d written, ‘All the Ways to be Smart’ by Davina Bell, illustrated by Allison Colpoys. It’s such a special, clever book. I love ‘Magic Beach’ by Allison Lester. The text and illustrations beautifully showcase all the things we love about the beach, with a dose of nature-inspired imagination. ‘Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge’ by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas is another important book that everyone should read.
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