Celebrating 3rd Place in the CYA Writing Competition

I’m so thrilled to share some exciting news—my picture book manuscript Grey Finds a Home has been awarded 3rd place in the 2025 CYA Writing Competition, in the Aspiring – Picture Book – Primary Non-fiction category!

Grey Finds a Home tells the story of a grey-headed flying fox on her journey to find food, escape predators, and finally settle with her colony in the city, where flying foxes and humans must learn to share the sky. It’s both an adventure and an introduction to an incredible species that plays a vital role in pollination and our ecosystems.

This recognition means so much to me. Writing competitions like CYA provide not only encouragement but also a wonderful sense of community among writers and illustrators who are passionate about creating books for children. Seeing Grey Finds a Home acknowledged alongside so many other inspiring works has given me fresh motivation to keep refining my craft and working towards publication.

A big thank you to the organisers, judges, and volunteers who make CYA such a supportive platform for emerging creators. And congratulations to all the other entrants and winners—it’s such a privilege to be part of this vibrant, creative community.