The children’s horror author, along with filmmaker Jem Garrard and Tubi’s VP of Original Scripted Content Josh Van Houdt on bringing 'Pumpkinhead' and its sequel to the screen, and the streamer's future with 'Afraid of Clowns' and 'The Babysitter.'

Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief secures second place, while Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe rounds out podium dominated by men

Cloudstreet, Tim Winton’s sprawling Australian family epic, has been voted Australia’s favourite book in a poll run by ABC Radio National.

The broadcaster announced over the weekend the results of a nationwide poll to determine a list of readers’ top 100 Australian books.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Stephanie Convery/The Guardian

© Photograph: Stephanie Convery/The Guardian

© Photograph: Stephanie Convery/The Guardian

A girl called Àìná was captured by an African king and later taken to England to become Sarah Forbes Bonetta, protege of the imperial monarch

When she was seven years old, Bayo Randle’s great-great-grandmother Sarah Forbes Bonetta was presented to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle as a “diplomatic gift” from an African king.

Victoria would go on to pay for Bonetta’s education, approve her marriage to one of west Africa’s wealthiest men, and become godmother to her eldest daughter.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Royal Collection Trust / William Bambridge (1819-79)

© Photograph: Royal Collection Trust / William Bambridge (1819-79)

© Photograph: Royal Collection Trust / William Bambridge (1819-79)

The author shares his favoured reads