What ages are your books for?

blanklit books are suitable for kids aged 0-100. Kids over the age of 100 are too old, so don’t bother. They are designed to interpret confusing medical jargon, but are kept concise so as not to overwhelm youngsters. They include further reading (a glossary and tips for parents/carers and healthcare workers), which older kids may find helpful. The books that aren’t medically-inclined do not necessarily have all those features, because that would be pointless.

Are blanklit books medically accurate?

Yes, except the books that aren’t about medical stuff; I think you’ll find that when you read What Are Your Hands Made Of?, most people don’t have chillies for hands. When writing the healthcare related books, the information comes from my experience as a nurse, patient, and mother. I keep myself up to date with current best practices to ensure that the information I provide is relevant to kids today.

Why do you write medical books for kids?

Medicine, doctors, and hospitals are scary for kids (and grown ups). Anything that isn’t familiar can be! I have had my own experiences as a teenager navigating hospitals and chronic illness, which inspired me to become a nurse. In my nursing I have seen what helps and what doesn’t, but have been frustrated by my inability to change systemic problems (because I am only one person!). I have always loved writing and decided to blend my passion for nursing with writing, in order to create resources that help kids (and parents/carers) take charge of their healthcare. If more people understand healthcare, they can advocate for themselves and their children.

Where are your books printed?

blanklit books are printed locally in Melbourne, Australia, from the Sustainable Printing Co, using 100% recycled paper and environmentally friendly inks and practices. Except the digital downloads. They are not printed anywhere.

Do you visit schools, hospitals, etc.?

I would be delighted to do school/hospital visits. Contact me to arrange something!

I want to use digital versions of the I Can Do Hard Things series in a hospital/clinic setting. How can I do this?

I am glad you asked. You’ll need a distribution license. Send me an email for a quote! With a distribution license, you would be free to put up posters with a QR code for your patients, or email the book to those coming in for appointments, or give it to them some other way. It’s pretty easy and then thousands of kids can benefit from it! Pricing is variable depending on size of the service (e.g. to use across multiple areas of a hospital compared to a small clinic would be quite different).

How many books are in the I Can Do Hard Things series?

I am working on a number of books for the series, and don’t currently have a number. However, I am looking to write books for the most common medical procedures kids undergo, as well as some for more complex medical issues. The first in the series is “Blood Tests,” and I am currently working on “Stem Cell Transplants.”

What is the best way to stay up to date on new releases?

My newsletter is the best if you just want to know what I’m doing every now and then. You can follow my Instagram/Facebook/Youtube accounts (@blanklitbooks), where I post about what I’m doing and I make a lot of jokes (humour is good for you, like fibre).