As well as teaching creative writing at the Australian Writers' Centre, Brisbane-based author Charlotte Barkla has also been an engineer, plus a maths and science teacher. This back story may provide some clues to the inspiration behind her latest book – Robo-teacher – illustrated by Gabrielle Petruso and published through Larrikin Press.
And it's just the latest in a string of successes for this rising star in the children's publishing world.
Getting started
Turn back the clock and Charlotte never imagined she’d become a published writer.
She had always loved writing, but instead chose to study engineering at university before working first as an engineer then as a maths and science teacher. It was during her maternity leave that she rediscovered her love for creative writing and was fortunate to score a contract with Hardie Grant Children's Publishing for her first picture book, All Bodies Are Good Bodies in 2018.
“I had two young kids and had been reading a lot of picture books at the time!” she says. “I researched the publishing process and started submitting to publishers who were open to unsolicited submissions. I also joined a local writers' group, to get to know other local writers in the area.”
Honing her skills
Firmly bitten by the writing bug, Charlotte went on to hone her skills via the Australian Writers' Centre – initially as a student in courses including Writing Picture Books. “I knew my first book was going to be published, but I was keen for more!” she says. “It was a great course to take for developing my knowledge and skills in this area.”
Charlotte also had an eye on the future, up-skilling in Writing Children's Novels and the Freelance Writing Stage 1 courses – the latter beneficial in helping her publish articles in Engineers Australia, MiNDFOOD, the Australian Education Union (Victoria) Magazine, the Australian Educator magazine, Good Health Magazine, Domain and The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Each course has really helped hone my writing skills, and helped me get to where I am today!” she says. “The AWC offers a range of courses that can really help kick-start your writing career.”
Teaching and growing
In a full-circle moment, Charlotte is now a presenter with the Australian Writers' Centre, and her body of work has continued to grow.
After learning her skills through the children's fiction course, Charlotte wrote her Edie’s Experiments series and secured an agent to help build her author brand. She received a two-book deal from two different publishers as a result – eventually signing with Penguin Random House.
“It was wonderful to know that I’d have someone to champion the manuscript for me,” Charlotte recalls.
Since then, she has returned to picture books with Hardie Grant Children's Publishing, creating From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes and a board-book version of All Bodies Are Good Bodies. In 2024, she also published picture book Let's Try Again Another Day with Hachette, along with two books in a new 11 Ruby Road middle-grade series through Walker Books – the latest being 11 Ruby Road 1950.
And as if that wasn't enough, Charlotte's books have been shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards and the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature.
New and future books
Charlotte's latest children's book, Robo-teacher, follows 10-year-old Hazel, who has the meanest teacher at Plonkton Primary. Hazel and her friends design an AI Robo-teacher to replace Miss Horrid, but it's not long before Robo-teacher turns robo-evil, with hilariously devastating consequences.
“I had so much fun writing this book,” Charlotte says. “It’s quirky and humorous with Roald Dahl vibes. My favourite character is Miss Horrid, the evil teacher. (But is she really evil, or just misunderstood?) Either way, kids will love reading her horrible exploits.”
Larrikin House released Robo-teacher in September 2025, with publisher Dani Vee saying: “What better way to explore the impact of AI through creating your own teacher, and a fun way to explore technology gone wrong!”
You'd think Charlotte would be ready for a break. But no – she's just getting started, with another busier slate planned for the coming year. “My next books include a fiction series with Scholastic,” the author reveals.
Congratulations Charlotte – we cannot wait to see what you do next!
