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This is a Dark Matter Zine podcast and I’m your host Nalini Haynes.
Today’s guests are Wendy Orr and Kimberley Kenna. Their books are for children, beautifully and discretely written. Between them, we’ll be discussing facing our fears and the truth setting us free. However, this is a podcast aimed at carers, teachers and librarians, not at the children themselves.
Podcast content is probably PG.
But before we get into this fascinating discussion, Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Kimberley Kenna
Kimberly Kenna studied psychology and trained as a counsellor while working as a breakfast cook whose poached eggs are still a disaster, a detective’s assistant hunting errant husbands and insurance scammers and a martial arts instructor. Then, for something different, she retrained to become a teacher. After teaching she left to study creative writing.
And now she’s writing stories with strong female leads for primary school students. Her latest novel is Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm, from her Brave Girls series. Jett must face her fears to be set free.
Find Kimberley Kenna
You can find Kim at her website, on Instagram, on Facebook and on twitter.
Wendy Orr
HOLLYWOOD – MARCH 30: Writer Wendy Orr arrives at the premiere of 20th Century Fox’s “Nim’s Island” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre March 30, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)Wendy Orr has a string of awards and accolades, including the Prime Minister’s Award for Children’s Literature. So far, Wendy Orr has written over 40 books for children, teenagers and adults and has been published in 29 languages. She appeared on some of the biggest conference stages. Wendy was the first Australian author to have a children’s book adapted for a Hollywood feature film: Nim’s Island, starring Jodie Foster. Jodie Foster was passionate about Nim’s Island because it turned her son into a reader. The sequel was also an Australian movie starring Bindi Irwin and celebrated its 21st birthday but, sadly, that was during lockdowns. Wendy’s latest book is Honey and the Valley of the Horses. Honey and her family must face their fears to be set free.
And you can find Wendy on her website, Twitter, Instagram and Allen & Unwin’s (her publisher’s) website.
Thanks
Thank you to today’s guests, Wendy Orr and Kimberley Kenna. This has been a Dark Matter Zine podcast and I’m your host Nalini Haynes. Thank you for listening, stay safe and have fun.
If you liked this…
If you enjoyed this podcast and Kimberly Kenna’s book, look at Bridget Hodder’s discussion of her kid’s book, her collaboration and representation of minorities.
Acknowledgement of Country
Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
(I have occasionally acknowledged Country in podcasts. This year I aim to lift my game in many areas, so I plan to Acknowledge Country in every podcast. An Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners can be done by anyone. It’s a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land where a meeting or event is held. For more information about Country and respect for Australia’s First Nations, read this post that also has links to useful websites.)
