Tell us more about your recently signed deal with Penguin
Penguin Random House UK has bought the worldwide rights to my new book False Versus Facts as well as my most recent book Eww Gross. This means they will be releasing them in the UK later this year and also selling both on to other countries for international licensing. It’s very exciting for me and means my books will hopefully be reaching a much wider global audience.
They’ve retitled Eww Gross to be called Did You Know There’s Poop On The Moon? which has really tickled me too. Designing the cover for this has been a lot of fun. Even more exciting though is the new book I am working on that they will publish directly. It doesn’t have an official title yet, but it’s an illustrated book of mind blowing cosmic facts. I’ve wanted to do a space-themed book for a while as it’s the subject that fascinates me the most.
Congrats on the launch of False Versus Facts! Can you tell us what it’s about and how we can get our hands on it locally?
My new book is all about the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth. It uncovers all those wildly known ‘facts’ that actually might not be true. Can you really see the Great Wall of China from Space? Is there such a thing as the five second rule? And was Napoleon really that short?
You can buy it now at all major bookstores, including locals like MacLean’s and Harry Harthog.
You recently spoke at the Sydney Writers’ Fest - how was that?!
I did a talk and an illustration workshop at The State Library of NSW and it was brilliant fun. I always get very nervous beforehand but the auditorium was brand new and had the biggest screen I have ever presented in front of. This always helps! The kids seemed really into it as well and there was a big queue for the book signing afterwards which is always a good sign.
What characters or concepts from your books would you love to see kids dressing up as this Book Week?
That’s a great question. I’d love to see someone dressed up as Slimon, the character in Eww Gross. Last year I was sent a photo of a young lad dressed up as a scientist from No Way! which made my day. When someone chooses one of your books as their costume for Book Week, you’re definitely doing something right.
Dream dinner party guests:
- Theoretical physicist Professor Richard Feynman
- Football manager Jurgen Klopp
- Musician Kevin Parker
- Comedian Joan Rivers
- Musician Dolly Parton
- Astronaut Kathy Sullivan
- Broadcaster and particle physicist Professor Brian Cox
It’s a mad lineup, but the conversation would definitely flow. There’d be some big laughs too.
Podcast recommendation for anyone wanting more mind blowing facts?
- There’s No Such Thing As A Fish
- Science Vs
- BBC Discovery
- Sean Carroll’s Mindscape
- The Infinite Monkey Cage
- BBC inside Science
- Curious Cases
- Radiolab
- Into The Impossible with Brian Keating
