They say, ‘write what you know’. And for Kasey Whitelaw, a marine biologist with a passion for ocean education, there was probably only ever going to be one subject top of mind. In fact, it was during her day job that she identified an opportunity that has seen her now score TWO separate picture book deals. Her debut book is Flute – all about the wild dolphins – with another, The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt, on the way!
Learning the craft
Becoming a published author was never on Kasey’s radar growing up – although she did have a passion for storytelling. “I believe that’s what guided me toward becoming a marine biologist and ocean educator,” she says. She quickly discovered that picture books are an amazing tool for ocean education, and while she already possessed extensive knowledge as a marine biologist, she recognised the need to develop her narrative skills: “As I wanted to write narrative non-fiction, I knew I needed to learn more about the techniques of narrative writing.”
While on maternity leave with her first child, Kasey discovered the online course in Writing Picture Books through the Australian Writers’ Centre. “When I heard about the course, I jumped at the chance to enrol,” she recalls. “The course provided me with the fundamentals I needed to craft a compelling story. The encouragement and constructive feedback kept me on track and made the course extremely enjoyable. I would say my biggest take away is ‘less is more’ in picture books. This is where the beginnings of my book Flute began to take shape.”
Spotting an opportunity
Inspiration for Kasey's first book came directly from her daily observations working with wild dolphins at Monkey Mia in Western Australia.
“Working with Flute and other wild dolphins was like watching an underwater TV drama series – full of excitement, humour, conflicts and some crazy moments,” she says. And it was her role as an educator that sparked the idea for creating children's books: “Watching visitors, especially kids, light up with curiosity was one of the best parts. The more they got to know the dolphins – understanding their personalities, tight-knit family bonds, and fascinating behaviours – the more their interest grew into a passion for protecting them.”
In particular, Kasey noticed a gap in the available resources. “I lost count of how many times people asked for books or information on the beach dolphins. This sparked the idea of writing a picture book about them.”
But not just any fact book. “I wanted to ignite a sense of empathy and curiosity about their lives.”
Making a splash
Kasey’s journey to publication was not without its share of rejections as she honed her skills. However, her passion and persistence kept her focused. “I enrolled in more AWC courses, joined a critique group, and attended writing conferences,” she says. “Eventually, everything fell into place, and my hard work paid off when I received two contracts within a week of each other!”
Wombat Books contracted Flute, while CSIRO Publishing offered Kasey a contract to write a completely different narrative nonfiction, relating to shark education – The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt – which sees readers join young citizen scientists around the world on the hunt for weird and wonderful shark egg cases. “I’m still in disbelief!”
Flute – illustrated by Jenni Goodman – tells the story of a playful dolphin separated from her group, embarking on a journey back to safety. Alone and in danger, she begins a wild journey back to the safety of her family and friends. Inspired by true events and real friendships, Flute is a story of determination and triumph set in one of Australia's most vibrant landscapes.”
‘Beyond entertaining young readers, the book also has an important educational purpose – raising vital awareness of boating and noise pollution as threats to dolphins world-wide. For this reason, finding the right publisher was crucial for bringing her vision to life. “I was confident that Wombat Books would be a great fit,” she says. “And Jenni Goodman's watercolour illustrations truly brought the story to life, whilst staying true to the natural environment and ensuring the sea creatures were anatomically accurate.”
“Go for it!”
For Kasey, discovering a new way to share her passion and educate about marine environments has been a game-changer. “Becoming a parent, I fell in love with picture books all over again. Writing picture books felt like a natural transition,” she says. “I understood that the journey to publication wasn’t going to be an easy task, but I knew I needed to believe in myself.”
Kasey also credits the Writing Picture Books course. “It set-up me up for success; a great springboard to practicing and honing the craft of picture book writing.”
And her advice for those thinking about dipping their toes into a writing course? “Go for it! It’s not as intimidating as it appears. The entire AWC team is incredibly supportive. Regardless of where you are in your writing journey, they are happy to help. I was a complete beginner with a science background – AWC really empowered my creativity. If you have the drive and passion, you will love it.”
Courses completed at AWC:
