Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Maria Blackman is a writer and illustrator living on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia). She is a lifelong bookworm who studied art and then later became a high school English teacher. Becoming a parent rekindled her passion for creating her own art and stories. Being immersed in children’s literature, she began drawing and writing again. She loves the tactile experience of working with traditional illustration mediums and having fun writing stories that children (and grown-ups) can relate to. When a Tawny Frogmouth flew into her front garden one night, it became the inspiration behind Little Boo and her adventures as a cheeky Tawny Frogmouth chick. Maria is not sure where that original Tawny Frogmouth is now, but she is lucky to live near an urban wetland with many Tawny Frogmouths and other wildlife. Her first picture book,
Hoo Hoo, Peekaboo! was published in 2023. Hoo Hoo, Squawk Squawk! will be published in March, 2025.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writingwa.substack.com/subscribe (writingwa.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
Maria Blackman is a writer and illustrator living on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia). She is a lifelong bookworm who studied art and then later became a high school English teacher. Becoming a parent rekindled her passion for creating her own art and stories. Being immersed in children’s literature, she began drawing and writing again. She loves the tactile experience of working with traditional illustration mediums and having fun writing stories that children (and grown-ups) can relate to. When a Tawny Frogmouth flew into her front garden one night, it became the inspiration behind Little Boo and her adventures as a cheeky Tawny Frogmouth chick. Maria is not sure where that original Tawny Frogmouth is now, but she is lucky to live near an urban wetland with many Tawny Frogmouths and other wildlife. Her first picture book,
Hoo Hoo, Peekaboo! was published in 2023. Hoo Hoo, Squawk Squawk! will be published in March, 2025.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writingwa.substack.com/subscribe (writingwa.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
