Magic, Mystery & The Incredible Phyllis Wong

In this episode, Jed welcomes back Australian author Geoffrey McSkimming, creator of the much‑loved Phyllis Wong and Cairo Jim series. Geoffrey joins from Sydney to celebrate Phyllis Wong and the Lure of the Lighthouse, the eighth book in the series, and talks about why Phyllis remains one of his favorite characters—resourceful, brilliant, magical, and deeply inspired by his wife, Sue-Anne Webster, a renowned stage magician.

Geoffrey explains how magic and mystery writing overlap: both rely on misdirection, red herrings, and staying several steps ahead of the audience. He shares how he loves constructing mysteries that feel surprising but satisfying, so readers say, "That got me!" instead of feeling let down at the end. He also reveals he's working on a new collection of interrelated, humorous mystery short stories for young and young-at-heart readers.

Language is at the heart of Geoffrey's writing. He talks about using rich but accessible vocabulary, giving kids context clues instead of talking down to them. He recalls how acting in Shakespeare plays immersed him in great language and how many of his early readers grew up to become professionals—some even crediting his books and their sophisticated language as an influence.

Later in the episode, Jed chats briefly with Barbara Brown, an elementary music teacher and author of I Am Musical: Adventures with Waffles. Barbara shares how her picture book—starring her real-life dog Waffles—aims to remind kids that being musical isn't about perfection or virtuosity; it's about how music makes you feel, connect, and communicate.