Somewhere to Dream: Janeen Brian on Childhood, Calm & Craft episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 3, 2026 · 56 MIN

Somewhere to Dream: Janeen Brian on Childhood, Calm & Craft

from Totally Lit! · host Ky Garvey

Host Ky Garvey interviews children’s author Janeen Brian about her new picture book Somewhere You Can Dream, her early TV work (including Humphrey Bear), collaboration with illustrators, writing habits, and the importance of persistence, community, and hope for emerging writers. She also discusses upcoming projects like Water Baby and offers practical tips for writers starting out. About the book: From the smallest cubby to the highest hilltop, this heart-warming, read-aloud picture book is all about finding your own special place in the world. From award-winning creators Janeen Brian and Hilary Jean Tapper. Do you love shadowy secret nooks or cosy hideaways? Leafy, shady trees or sheltered, rocky bays? Do you love comfy little cubbies or tree forts way up tall? Or spaces behind places where you can curl up small? A beautiful, lyrical story that asks readers to consider where in the world they feel most at home, exploring safe spaces and cosy feelings, self-awareness and belonging. Perfect for reading at bedtime, with glorious illustrations by award-winning illustrator Hilary Jean Tapper.   About the author: Janeen Brian is an internationally published, award-winning children’s author and poet with over 110 books published. She enjoys writing picture books, junior fiction, poetry, novels and non-fiction. More than 200 stories, poems, plays and articles have been published in children’s magazines or anthologies. Janeen received a May Gibbs’ Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship in 2009, was the recipient of the 2012 Adelaide Festival of Literature Carclew Fellowship in 2012 and is an Ambassador for Raising Literacy Australia. She lives in the seaside city of Glenelg in South Australia and loves reading, creating, Yoga, Aquarobics, theatre and seaside and country walks. Janeen Brian Somewhere You Can Dream - Janeen Brian, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper -- A&U Children's - 9781761181764 - Allen & Unwin - Australia Buy the book: Books | Online Bookshop | QBD (This is an affiliate link) Host: Ky Garvey Theme Song: Claire Houghton Logo: Tondo Creative - https://www.tondo.com.au/ Production: Aud Pitch - https://www.virtualcreatrix.com/ Totally Lit is an independent podcast. You can help support us to continue to chat with wonderful Australian creatives by leaving a review on Itunes or sharing our socials with your friends.  You can also make a contribution at: www.buymeacoffee.com/Totallylit For those of you who know me I am kind of a caffeine addict! So you can keep me fueled with caffeine and this will also help with equipment & podcasting platform fees etc.  I love to interact with our listeners so feel free to say hello either by email or social media: [email protected]  

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 3, 2026

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Somewhere to Dream: Janeen Brian on Childhood, Calm & Craft

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