Welcome to debut children's author KARYN (KAZ) SAVAGE! She kindly agreed to stop by my blog to speak about her debut picture book MY PET ARCHIE, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow, and published by Riveted Press in August 2025. Visit Karyn on her website at and on Instagram @karynsavageauthor Welcome, Karyn! What prompted you to write your debut picture book MY PET ARCHIE? How did the idea come about, and what was the writing and rewriting process like? This is a great question because Archie was never written to be a picture book! I love experimenting with words, and playing with language and poetry is something I enjoy writing. So, Archie began as an 'ABCDarian poem' that I included in a collection of children’s poems. I signed up for Crystal Corocher’s Write Now Mentorship program, and when she read the poem, she said, “Kaz, this needs to be a picture book.” How did it find a home with Riveted Press, and what was the publication experience like for you? I tweaked My Pet Archie into a 24-page picture book manuscript and submitted it to CYA’s manuscript competition in 2024, and it was shortlisted! This was a great encouragement, and I had booked an assessment with Rowena Beresford from Riveted Press, who made some great suggestions to make adjustments to create a 32-page picture book. I was invited to resubmit it, and 2 months later, was ecstatic to receive a “Yes!” What was it like when you first saw Tam's artwork bringing your story to life? Do you have a favourite illustration from the book? I was in absolute awe when I saw the cover of Archie. It was like this character that I had written about suddenly had form and personality. He was nothing like I imagined, and yet everything I hoped for all wrapped into one lovable character. I don’t even know if I can choose a favourite spread, but I think when we see Archie so sad and his world has become a puddle, the emotion that Tam so cleverly creates, is impacting both visually and in a way that connects the reader to Archie’s experience. Do you have a typical writing process? And what is your writing space like? I have such a sporadic approach to many things in my life. I can live with mess and laundry piles for ages, and then suddenly hit a cleaning spree, and this is the same with my writing process. I can have several months of writing drought, and then I can write prolifically for several weeks. I’ve learnt to go with the flow and use the weeks of quieter creative input to edit, critique, prepare submission cover letters, read and play with words, and then get ready for the flood of ideas that will come. In the same way, I don’t really have a designated writing space. I usually work at a desk that we have in a spare, guest room, but most of my writing is actually done in my head, walking the dog or strolling along the beach, and then I’ll grab out my phone and record ideas, scribble in a notebook, write at a café or park bench. What is in the pipeline? Can you share anything you are working on next? Wow, I have about 10 picture book manuscripts doing the rounds as well as my collection of poems for children. A notebook full of ideas and to borrow an expression from Tina Clark, I need the ‘Bum glue’ to stick myself in the chair to write a few JF & MG manuscripts that I know are calling me to write. Anything else you would like to add, at all? I guess I just feel so privileged to be a part of such a genuinely fabulous network of people. It is often said that the kid-lit world is full of truly genuinely lovely people, and I have definitely found that. I think in the midst of all the rejections and knockbacks, it is important to find your ‘why.’ Why keep writing, why continue to submit, why continue to engage, and for me, writing is one thing, but I can do that for myself. What keeps me going are the connections and relationships, and the people I get to hang out with some virtually and some in person. The thing is, I think as humans we are never really satisfied. One contract satisfies a major life goal, and I will always feel so deeply grateful to Rowena for saying “yes”, but how many more will truly satisfy? So, for me, it’s the connection, the sharing of stories, and the sharing of the journey that keeps me going. Thanks so much Brenton!  Karyn's 'woof-reader' at one of her favourite writing spots!
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