Joining Hawkeye’s team of authors is Lawrey Goodrick, author and illustrator of the hilarious and clever middle grade fiction, Cans for Change.
Lawrey Goodrick started writing and cartooning when he was young, but even though he had a wild creativity and animated imagination, he never thought he’d actually turn it into a career.
It was only after he was well into his twenties that he discovered his favourite audience to entertain; teens and children, different ages that he himself wasn’t fully able to enjoy, as he was consumed with childhood anxiety and depression.
The thought of doing outrageous things makes him laugh so he decided to take those opportunities of fun, throw in a dash of danger to heighten the likelihood of being caught, and try to explore the mindset of youth in the moment, addled with the confusion that comes from adolescence and the thrust of being thrown into the adult world of harsh justice.
Lawrey has penned many screenplays and enjoyed some success, but he wanted to explore the inner psyche of characters, to reveal their identity, their true selves, which was something he found limiting in film.
‘It’s important to be able to explore the trials that occur in the teenage and childhood years to reveal not only the similar situations everyone has, but how these situations affect the way we are as adults,’ Lawrey says.
Lawrey receives personal prize – a note from favourite author Mem Fox.
Lawrey is a testament to the importance of faith and perseverance. He recently wrote to Mem Fox, one of his favourite authors and she wrote back! Not something you see everyday. Mem was kind enough to wish our new author all the best for his debut novel, Cans for Change.
Lawrey Goodrick’s debut novel, Cans for Change, is now available through all good bookstores, libraries or via the Hawkeye bookstore.
Read an extended review of Lawrey’s book here.
Media:
Between The Covers Podcast – Listen to this great interview with talented illustrator and author, Lawrey Goodrick here.
Buy Cans for Change
You can buy a copy of Cans for Change here.
Author Q&A…
Background:
- Student of Psychological Science.
- Creative writing.
- Cartooning.
- Husband.
- Dad.
- Kid at heart.
Favourite moments in life:
- Seeing my family happy.
- Witnessing the unique moments only parents have of their children.
- Being genuinely surprised.
- Being out of my comfort zone (always motivates creativity).
- Sitting in my office and writing.
Hobbies:
- Reading.
- Writing.
- Cartooning.
- Coffee-ing.
- Adding to my vintage Star Wars figure collection.
- Staring at my vintage Star Wars figure collection.
Bad habits:
- eBay.
Childhood dreams:
- To own a 1981 DeLorean time machine.
- To build a Dr Who TARDIS.
Adulthood dreams:
- To become an author – tick!
- To own a 1970 Ford XW GT-HO.
- To inspire my children to follow their dreams.
Favourite part of being an author:
- Having the freedom to be creative and write anywhere at any time.
Movies that inspired my sense of creative adventure:
- Star Wars
- Back to the Future
- Indiana Jones
- The Goonies
- Throw Mumma from the Train
- Harry and the Hendersons
- Romancing the Stone
- A Fish Called Wanda
- The God’s Must Be Crazy
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Origins of my humour:
- Monty Python
- Fawlty Towers
- The Vicar of Dibley
- British comedies
- South Park
- The Simpsons
- Ace Ventura
- Police Academy
Favourite books:
- Anything on Ned Kelly.
- Lorna Doone.
- Author bios, particularly those noting the extreme struggles toward success.
- Doctor Who
- Star Wars (Before Disney)
Favourite Quote/s:
- ‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger,’ Friedrich Nietzsche.
- ‘Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes,’ Jim Carrey.
- ‘Try Not. Do or Do Not, there is no try,’ Yoda.
Motivation for writing:
- Creating unpredictable and unusual stories that typically throw readers onto an emotional rollercoaster.
Places I’d like to visit:
- Kelly Country plus, Scotland and Ireland.
Would I like readers to contact me?
Yes, please. Your words will inspire further creativity. Touch base through here.
Lawrey Goodrick came to the attention of Hawkeye Publishing when he entered the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize in 2020. When he failed to long-list, he later reflected that he didn’t place his best story first in the collection of shorts he submitted as a full-length manuscript into the competition. Given the judges’ feedback from the competition, Lawrey asked if he could submit a different sample of his best work for consideration by Hawkeye, and was subsequently offered a traditional publishing contract for his brilliant stand-alone story, Cans for Change. We at Hawkeye are excited to bring you Lawrey’s amusing and surprisingly moving middle grade fiction.
Hawkeye began offering traditional publishing contracts in March 2020. We thank you for your support of our talented writers and dedicated publishing staff and volunteers.
The team that Lawrey Goodrick joins… other recommended reads by 2021 Hawkeye authors include:
- Welcome to Blackwood – as winner of Queensland Writers Centre Adaptable Competition, author Khaiah Thomson shortly pitches to a room of film producers from all over Australia.
- Lament – short-listed in the Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize 2019.
- Winning Short Story Competitions – a writing guide – an essential tool for serious writers.
- Hunt for the Virgin Rainbow – a pulp fiction mashup that thrusts you into the Australian outback, and beyond.
- Just Nat – biography of the inimitable Natalie Lowndes.
- Freedom & Hope – the immigrant woman, a divided self. An absorbing collection of fictional vignettes that explore how lives intersect.
