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In this episode, I chat with award-winning Australian middle-grade author Amelia Mellor, whose Grandest Bookshop in the World trilogy has captivated readers with its irresistible blend of real Melbourne history and magic.
Amelia shares the fascinating journey from collecting dozens of rejections to becoming a full-time author, and why she believes the success of The Grandest Bookshop in the World wasn't just about the writing. It also had a clear hook, strong structure, and something publishers could immediately see how to sell.
We dive into how Amelia turns meticulous research into magical stories, why history can be such powerful inspiration for children's fiction, what she's learned about writing authentically for young readers, and the enormous amount of thought that goes into making fantasy accessible rather than overwhelming.
Amelia also takes us behind the scenes of working with a traditional publisher, collaborating with editors, planning an entire five-book series, revising drafts, marketing books, and somehow fitting actual writing around everything else an author has to do.
And if school visits terrify you (like they do me!), stay until the end, because Amelia's wonderfully simple teacher-approved framework for structuring an author workshop might just change everything.
A warm, funny and genuinely inspiring conversation about imagination, persistence, craft, research and what it really takes to build a career writing books for children.
MORE ABOUT AMELIA:
Amelia Mellor is the author of the award-winning Grandest Bookshop Trilogy, a fantasy series for children inspired by Melbourne history. She started writing when she was eight years old, wrote plays for her high school during VCE, and holds postgraduate degrees in creative writing and teaching (primary and secondary).
When Amelia isn’t writing, surrounded by her collection of matryoshkas and tropical fish, she enjoys drawing, spotting wildlife and playing indie puzzle games.
Her new five-part children’s fantasy series, Oceanforged, launched in August 2025.
CONNECT WITH AMELIA:
Amelia Mellor’s website
Follow Amelia on Instagram
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Want to go deeper? Every week I write about the craft and psychology of writing children's books that transform young readers. It's free, it's called No More Boring Kids Books, and you can join us at nomoreboringkidsbooks.substack.com
And if you're ready to write your own children's book, The Picture Book & Middle-Grade Writing Blueprint is my complete step-by-step course.
