Local author Paul Jennings has built a huge following amongst young readers, so what's prompted him to write a novel for teenagers?
Towards the end of my chat with Paul Jennings he stops and puts his hands over his face while recounting an incident from his own life which has made its way into his first book for older readers - the story involved having to deal with a small bird which had become lodged in the radiator of his car while driving home to Warrnambool, and the agony of how best to help the bird.
On the one hand it seems like such a minor event, but on the other it's obviously something which has weighed on Paul's mind for a long time, as have many other themes which have worked their way into The Nest.
When talking about the process of creating the book, Paul explains there's a certain amount of the writing that's very much for the writer, as he says 'there is a thing about writing fiction that's cathartic'.
It's fascinating to realise how much of his own experience and life may be reflected in this book, and the process he's gone through to find the best way of balancing the story with the needs of the reader.
Paul Jennings is something of a legend amongst younger readers who've been enthralled by his work through books like the Rascal series and his many short story collections including 'Unreal!' and 'Unbelievable!', but the themes he wanted to write about, and perhaps excise in the process, weren't suitable for such a young audience.
He explains that in a sense this book is something he's been working towards for a long time - something which has almost been a part of the reason why he became a writer.
In this interview, Paul talks more about the formation of the book, as well as exploring its various themes and what they mean to him.