Way back in late 2012, when Life in Outer Space was just about to become a real book, I started toying with a new idea. The idea was vague – a girl obsessed with failed genius, and a boy with a penchant for card tricks, a sort of star-crossed-lovers tale with maths and magic at its heart. It took a while for the thing to become something more than an idea. A really long while. In fact, it took so long that I managed to write an entire other book in between – The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl was born through this writer (figuratively) tossing her half-finished manuscript across the room, and deciding to read comics instead. Because as it turns out, some books need longer than others to gestate. Some characters are stubborn, and wilful, and only give up their stories after a whole lot of wrangling. Also, advanced maths? Yeah – kinda difficult. But this month, The Secret Science of Magic is finally out in the world. It may have taken longer than I planned, but I’m pretty proud to share Sophia and Joshua’s story – I hope you like it.

Now here are some pics from the very awesome launch that was held at Embiggen Books, Melbourne. There were cupcakes, and an amazing young magician named Lucas, and a whole lot of love from friends, family and the brilliant community of #LoveOzYA fans: