Allison Tait is the internationally published author of nine middle-grade novels, three non-fiction books, two ghost-written books and countless articles for magazines, newspapers and websites. This year, she has three new middle-grade novels coming out, including Willow Bright’s Secret Plot. Following her book launch at Storyfest Gold Coast, Tait reflects on her journey into writing for children, her work with Your Kid's Next Read, and the joys of fostering a love of reading and writing in young audiences.
Allison’s career as a writer began early when she secured a magazine journalism cadetship at 19. But it wasn’t until her eldest son was nine years old that she ventured into children’s fiction. In 2014, she released The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race to the End of the World, the first book in a series that introduced her to the magic of middle-grade storytelling.
“There is something about writing for that middle-grade audience that really unlocked the truth in my writing voice,” she shares. “It was the most fun I had ever had writing, and I could not wait to get to my computer every day to find out what happened next.”
Middle-grade readers, she explains, are uniquely curious and unfiltered in their engagement with books. “They will go absolutely anywhere with you in a story as long as you give them a good reason and as long as they can feel the ring of truth – even in the most fantastical worlds.” For Allison, this makes writing for them both a challenge and an incredible privilege.
Your Kid’s Next Read: A community of book lovers
Beyond her work as an author, Allison co-founded Your Kid’s Next Read (YKNR) alongside author, editor and teacher-librarian Megan Daley, and author Allison Rushby. YKNR is an online community dedicated to helping parents, educators, and young readers discover new books. What started as a Facebook group in 2017 quickly grew into a thriving platform, boasting over 40,000 members, a podcast, a newsletter, and a dedicated website.
“The strength of YKNR lies not just in the community’s passion for keeping kids reading,” Allison explains, “but also in the different strands of expertise that my co-founders and I bring to the mix.”
Through the podcast, Allison enjoys engaging in deep conversations with children’s authors and illustrators. “The interviews are officially called ‘ten minutes with [insert author]’ – but we never stick to ten minutes because children’s authors are such interesting people,” she laughs.
Sharing the secrets of storytelling
As an author and mentor, Allison is passionate about inspiring the next generation of writers. She believes that workshops and school visits are opportunities to demystify the writing process for children.
“An author talk or workshop is an opportunity to show kids that stories come from somewhere and books come from someone,” she explains. “Even the wildest and most outrageous stories and worlds originate from a person’s experiences, thoughts, and dreams.”
Allison hosted Secrets from the Kids’ Table at Storyfest Gold Coast, an event aimed at uncovering the hidden truths of writing for young audiences. When asked for a sneak peek of one of those secrets for those that missed out, she teases, “I think the biggest secret I can share is that children’s authors are not what you might expect.”
Looking ahead
With the upcoming release of her latest book, Danger Road, in July, and an appearance at the Sydney Writers’ Festival alongside the YKNR team, Tait has a busy year ahead. But whether she’s crafting new adventures for young readers or helping families find their next favourite book, one thing is certain – Allison Tait remains a dedicated champion of children’s literature, storytelling, and the power of imagination.
