​2025 CBCA WA Love to Read Local Month Event

An Afternoon with Kelly Canby and Karleah Olson was a most enjoyable event attended by 16 people on a wintery day.
Both authors have books shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Kelly’s A Leaf Called Greaf is on the Picture Book of the Year Short List, while Karleah’s debut novel, A Wreck of Seabirds, is on the Book of the Year: Older Readers Short List. It’s no surprise that both books are also shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards.

Karleah Olson and Kelly Canby

Even though Kelly and Karleah hadn’t met before, the ‘in conversation’ format made for a relaxed atmosphere in which they responded generously to each other’s questions as well as to those from the audience. 

Aniek Regan, Francine Nababan, Kris Williams

Tracey Willis, Jen McKay, Denise Robins, Trish Montgomery

The audience were enthralled as both creatives shared honest and entertaining insights into their writing process including the highs and lows, their schooldays and their paths to publication.

Jan Nicholls, Kelly Canby and the audience

This event was enabled by Writing WA and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.