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The life of beloved children’s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale.

In the penultimate episode, memoirist Julia Lawrinson discusses the notion of rootlessness by taking a look at her peripatetic childhood and her teenage years finding a home in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth. From rat-infested flats to suspicious items in the refrigerator, Julia takes us on a tour of her youth and how she eventually planted her roots.

About the host 

Julia Lawrinson has published more than 15 books for children and young people, many of them award-winning. She works as a consultant on legislation and policy; How to Avoid a Happy Life is her first book for adults.

Books by Julia Lawrinson: (middle fiction)  Mel and Shell and Maddie in the Middle; (memoir) How to Avoid a Happy Life; (contributor) Minds Went Walking: Paul Kelly’s Songs Reimagined

Socials

Connect with Julia on her social media on Instagram or via her website https://julialawrinson.com.au/.

Producer and music credits

This episode was produced by Danae Gibson, and recorded at RTR RM. Music was written by Late Night Shopping (Nikki Jones and Shaun Salmon), and includes voice work by Nikki Jones and Zoe Warwick.

For The Opposite of Boredom: Fair use recordings of Kelmscott Primary School’s choir were from the 1978 LP My Heart is like a Singing Bird, with thanks to the City of Armadale’s Library and Heritage Services. Nikki Jones and Judy Bridge gave permission for the excerpts from Dickheads and The Furniture Song (recorded 1996).