Married creative collaborators Marc McBride (Deltora Quest illustrator) and Sofie Laguna (author and 2015 Miles Franklin Award winner), share the individual and joint paths that brought them to the incredible creation of Blunderbore - a new, fractured fairytale graphic novel that is truly mind-blowing.

Throughout this episode, Sofie and Marc share how creativity shaped their childhoods and careers. Sofie describes moving from law to acting, working as a jobbing actor (including being a fairy at children’s parties), studying writing at RMIT, and the path to publishing her first contracted picture book, My Yellow Blanket, with illustrator Tom Jellett, which has recently been re-published.

Marc recounts early drawing and storytelling, studying design, art-busking on the sidewalks of Ireland, as well as producing murals around the world. He did set-design work before his break through contributions to Revelation Magazine, which led to illustration contracts. Soon after moving to Sydney, Marc landed a contract to illustrate the covers of Deltora Quest, which gained worldwide recognition and awards.

Sofie and Marc discuss their 'meet-cute' at a children's book festival in 2005, sharing the social demands of festivals and school visits. Sofie then shares her vulnerable Miles Franklin award-winning experience while caring for a young baby.

The chat then moves into the years-long evolution of Marc's dream project - the fractured-fairy-tale graphic novel Blunderbore, written by Sofie and illustrated by Marc, as well as the art's various iterations through other children's novels Sofie wrote, as well as The Glimme by Emily Rodda.

Blunderbore releases 27 October 2026 with a Halloween launch at Mill Park Library, Melbourne.

LINKS:

Blunderbore

Marc McBride on Instagram - @marcmcbride2

Marc McBride Website - marcmcbride.com

Deltora Quest

Sofie Laguna on Instagram - @sofielagunabooks

Sofie Laguna Website - sofielaguna.com

The Eye of the Sheep - 2015 Miles Franklin Award winning novel

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Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:

Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett)

Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)