Music is key to setting the tone for my writing. The music I listen to when writing a book puts me in a certain mood and then the words go down on the page in a certain key. I try to find the songs that I would use for the movie if I made it. For my novel Two Wolves, I listened to a lot of Gotye, Band of Horses, Foals and Keane. (You can read more about that book soundtrack and listen to it here). Something felt authentic and true about those artists. They were 100% themselves and that…

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The reviews are in! Raised By Wolves, the companion novel to Two Wolves is on the streets, or on the shelves, and I’ve just launched and toured the book in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Canberra and Byron Bay. It’s so good to hear such positive reactions from real, live humans (ie: not just me and my editor). Here is a collection of quotes from key reviewers. You can click the pic to link to the full review. The book is a paperback, published by Penguin Random House Australia and available, as they say, in all good bookstores. It’s also an audiobook…

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I’d love you to join me at four upcoming launch and panel events for my new novel, Raised By Wolves online, at Sydney Writers Fest and in Canberra. 18 May Your Kid’s Next Read Online Launch Event. Available to all. Book your free ticket now! 24 May Sydney Writers’ Fest Family Day Panel – Riveting Reads For Tweens – with Sue whiting and Suzanne Leal. Tickets & Info Here. Limited Tickets Available 25 / 26 May Sydney Writers Festival Secondary Schools Days. Bookings and Info Here 27 May Canberra Book Launch at Canberra Grammar School in association with Canberra Writers Fest Bookings…

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I have two events this week in Adelaide and Fremantle to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Raised By Wolves and I’d love you to come along. Adelaide I’m launching Raised By Wolves on Thursday 7 May, 6pm at Shakespeare’s Bookshop. Join us in celebrating the release or let your Adelaide friends know. I’ll be in conversation with author Mike Lucas, sharing the writing process on the book, the journey from Two Wolves to this book and how readers inspired the writing of the sequel. I’ll also share the images, video and music that kept me writing through the difficult times and…

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Raised By Wolves, a follow-up to Two Wolves, is out 5 May so I’m touring five states, with book launches in Adelaide, Canberra and Brisbane so far as well as Somerset StoryFest, Sydney Writers Fest and others TBA. I hope you can make it along to one of my events and help me launch the new book into the world! April 30 March-1 April Somerset StoryFest , Gold Coast. Bookings here. Brisbane and Gold Coast school tour week to celebrate the launch of Raised By Wolves  5 May Raised By Wolves released! 🎉 📚 May Perth, Adelaide and Canberra schools…

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Here is the cover for my new middle-grade novel, Raised By Wolves (out 1 May 2026)! A sequel to CBCA Honour Book, Two Wolves 🐺 🐺 , I’ve spent the past two years writing it. Out in May with my long-time publisher @penguinkidsaustralia. Once again, the cover is designed by @christabella_designs. I’ll be touring five states and a territory (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA & ACT) in 2026 to bring the book to life for readers! See my Events page for booking details and public events. You can click here to pre-order the book and be one of its first…

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WIN all of my crime-mystery-suspense novels, signed, for Christmas. Perfect for ages 10-14. Just follow me on Instagram and repost ♻️ this post. Or share as an Insta story. Or follow and share the post on FB. Let me know in Insta / FB comments you’ve done it (as some share notifications are hidden) and you’ll be in the running. Entries closed and winner will be announced by 9pm Sunday 7 December 2025! Merrry Christmas. If you don’t happen to win this year but would still like to read or gift the books, you can link to lots of online…

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The play based on my book Detention is coming to theatres in November 2025 thanks to the extraordinary Monkey Baa Theatre Co. Bookings and info here. Starting at Parramatta Riverside Theatre 11-14 November, the production moves on to Wagga Wagga 18 November, Leeton 21 November and Bathurst 25 November, with sessions for schools and general public. I hope you can make it along or tell your friends and educators you know in those areas that it’s on! If all goes well, the play will tour other states in 2026. Detention was a CBCA Notable Book, won the YABBA and KOALA Children’s Choice…

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I’m very proud to have an essay included in The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation, an inspiring, heartfelt and entertaining collection on the power of reading and nurturing a passion for stories in the next generation. Out 19 June 2025 in the UK, 1 July in Australia and 15 July in USA. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane and curated by Jennie Orchard, an anthology of essays about the joys of giving books to children and young people, from some of the world’s most beloved writers. Remember the books that shaped your childhood, sparked your imagination, and ignited a lifelong…

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On 30 May and 13 August 2025, I am hosting two online one-hour talks for schools. The events will be fast-paced, action-packed, focusing on my middle-grade books for 10-14 year-olds, with a Q&A at the end. My in-person talks for this year are all booked up, so this is a great option if you are hoping I might be able to do something for your school this year. These particular events are bookable by emailing Lora at Booked Out. More details in the flyer above. If you are 13 May and 13 August 11.30am AEST Online. Link provided the day…

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