12 Curly Questions with children's author Brenton Cullen

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

When I was a kid, I had an acting agent – I auditioned for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.

2. What is your nickname?
Too embarrassing to repeat here...

3. What is your greatest fear?
Losing my partner.

12 Curly Questions with children's author Julianne Negri

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

My natural hair colour is dark brown.

2. What is your nickname?
When I was little, my family called me Fizzgig.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Easy. Vampires. So scared of vampires!

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Don’t need ten, just one: chaotic. Although that’s six words...

12 Curly Questions with author Stephanie Owen Reeder

It's a delight to welcome back  author, researcher and illustrator, Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder, who first answered our 12 Curly Questions back in 2015! Check that version out right here, and enjoy this fresh update on a remarkable creator.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
One of my manuscripts has been rejected by 23 publishers since I first wrote it in 1986. Although my motto as a writer is ‘Never Give Up!’, after 40 years of trying, it may finally be time to accept that this one is unpublishable.

2. What is your nickname?
As a child, my three younger siblings called me Neffie, as ‘Stephanie’ was too hard for them to pronounce. My latest nickname is ‘Dame Stephanie’ – bestowed upon me by my cheeky coffee-club friends after I was awarded an Order of Australia Medal this year.

12 Curly Questions with children's author Yvette Farmer

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Sometimes when I’m bushwalking alone I like to have a chat with the trees and currawongs.

2. What is your nickname?
Vettie. When I was little my parents called me 'chops'. 

12 Curly Questions with children's author Dr Niraj Lal

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I really like rainbows. I have this special diffraction-grating film that makes rainbows when the sun shines through it, and I’ve got it up on the windows at home and it shines rainbows all through the house. I track the summer and winter solstices with them – I’m obsessed.

2. What is your nickname?
Nij

3. What is your greatest fear?
Becoming too enmeshed in our rapidly-spinning consumption economy that makes us all want to work more and buy more – but have less time to properly live and be human.

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Louise Brooks

KBR welcomes new team member, Louise Brooks! What better way to get to know Louise than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I attended 6 schools - one ‘suggested’ I leave (through no fault of my own).

2. What is your nickname?
Flo - given to me by my brother.

12 Curly Questions with children's author Renae Hayward

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I love musical theatre! My favourite musical is Matilda – I’ve seen it three times.

2. What is your nickname?
Naiz or Nae. My niece and nephews call me Aunty Nae.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Sharks and crocodiles – eep!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I love writing in rhyme and using humour and fun.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, dedicated, patient (sort of).

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Kellie Nissen

KBR welcomes new team member, Kellie Nissen! What better way to get to know Kellie than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m a bit of a ‘closed book’ so there’s plenty to choose from but in 1991, I climbed Mt Fuji. Saw the sunrise then ruined a brand new pair of pants and new hiking books sliding down the other side on the lava trail.

2. What is your nickname?
Here’s another ‘not-so-secret’ – I’m not a fan of nicknames or of shortening names. Call me Kellie – never Kel. My grandmother was the only person ever allowed to shorten my name in that way. 

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Andrea Hillbrick

KBR welcomes new team member, Andrew Hillbrick! What better way to get to know Andrea than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
My grandma left me a treasured collection of over 100 salt and pepper shakers. Each has a unique character.

2. What is your nickname?
My nickname when I was young was – Andy Bear. I am very fortunate that it is now shortened to Andy.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Quokkas…. after a comical incident on Rottnest Island. I adore them from afar.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
I identify questions to investigate and share practical, thoughtful ideas.

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Nicola McGeown

KBR welcomes new team member, Nicola McGeown! What better way to get to know Nicola than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. I was born in Alice Springs!

2. What is your nickname? Nic or Nicoletta.

3. What is your greatest fear? I am not good with cold climates, so being bitterly freezing cold and not being able to get warm.

 

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Tiarna Georghiou

KBR welcomes new team member, Tiarna Georghiou! What better way to get to know Tiarna than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I am a very open book, so this is a hard question! But a fun fact is that I am also a singer.

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t really have one, but some people call me T.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am absolutely TERRIFIED of spiders. I have been bitten numerous times, and am paralysed with fear if one comes near me!

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Introducing Jo Staker

KBR welcomes new team member, Jo Staker! What better way to get to know Jo than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I wrote love songs for Boy George when I was in Primary School – and sent them to him.

2. What is your nickname?
My name is so short – I don’t really have one.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Moths. When I was a child, that giant moth at the end of the original Dr Dolittle movie really freaked me out.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Frequently forgetting that an idea is not an actual story.

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Introducing Jessica Finden

We are delighted to introduce new KBR Team Member - teacher librarian Jessica Finden! What better way to learn more about Jessica than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions?

 
1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
When I was in primary school, I wanted to be a mortician.

2. What is your nickname? 

Jess to most, Squishy to my brother and Jica to a select few in the know.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
Geckos - the way they fall on you and drop their tails. Ick!

 
4. Describe your writing style in ten words. I plan everything out and then overthink what I’ve written.

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Introducing Suzanne Houghton

We are delighted to introduce new KBR Team Member - illustrator and author Suzanne Houghton! What better way to learn more about Suzy than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions?

 
1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I have been ballroom dancing on and off for most of my life. There were gaps when life and family took up all of my time but next to creating art, twirling around a dance floor is my favourite place to be.

2. What is your nickname? 

Most people call me Suze (ooze when my nieces were learning to talk), but I have been called Suzy floozy more than once.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
Rats! Keep them as far away as possible.

 

NEW SENIOR EDITOR role for Sue Warren - 12 Curly Questions

We are delighted to announce that longtime KBR Team Member and reviewer - teacher librarian Sue Warren - is now a Senior Editor! We asked Sue to give us an update on her busy-bee literary life with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’d rather be an archaeologist.

2. What is your nickname? 

Los – it’s short for Losang which is my Buddhist name.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
I worry about the future world for our young people – the environment, the intolerance, the lack of ethics in leadership, inequality.

 
4. Describe your writing style in ten words. 

I write to please myself, if others like it – great!

12 Curly Questions with children's author Renae Hayward

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I love musical theatre! My favourite musical is Matilda – I’ve seen it three times.

2. What is your nickname?
Naiz or Nae. My niece and nephews call me Aunty Nae.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Sharks and crocodiles – eep!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I love writing in rhyme and using humour and fun.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, dedicated, patient (sort of).

12 Curly Questions with children's author Larissa Ferenchuk

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I once spent 10 nights out at sea learning to sail a tall ship.

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t really have a nickname. Everyone uses my actual name!

3. What is your greatest fear?
When a mouse sneaks into the house!

12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Yvonne Low

1.Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I studied dance for many years including flamenco and was teaching myself to play the castanets.

2. What is your nickname?
Y-von. I guess since my name is spelt with a ‘Y’ instead of an ‘E’.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I’d say snakes, as I’m spending more time in the Blue Mountains bush.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Whimsical, often with a dash of humour, wordplay and rhyme.

12 Curly Questions with author Tim Winton

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

 That would be telling. Everyone would know!

2. What is your nickname?
My kids and my grandkids just call me Timmy. Not very special.

3. What is your greatest fear? 

Getting a job where I have to wear a suit and tie – and shoes.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 

It’s about ordinary people in extraordinary situations and amazing places.

12 Curly Questions with children's author Adelle Frittitta

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I don’t hate airplane food. I often feel like I have to agree with everyone else in the world who hates it, but I actually don’t mind it at all.

2. What is your nickname?
Most people call me Del.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I just celebrated a birthday and I can officially cross off ‘dying young’ from my list! It’s likely something so tragic now that I can’t even bring myself to put it into words. Closely followed by being forced to work in an office cubicle from 9-5!