Meet Carl Merrison

Meet Carl Merrison — a writer of rad children's books that put Indigenous experiences and stories onto bookshelves around the country.

In this conversation Carl tells Lunch Lady about his life as a kid in the outback, his love of sport, and the importance of diversity in books.

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Can you tell us where you’re from and about your family?

I'm Carl Merrison a Gija and Jaru man from Halls Creek in the Kimberley. I am one of four children. My mother was one of 10, so I have lots of cousins.

What was your experience like growing up?

I grew up in a small, remote outback community with red dirt, big mountain ranges, and big flat desert stretches. I ran around with friends and family who were everything. We went out on Country hunting, fishing, quad biking, exploring, collecting bush tucker and listening to stories. There was so much to do — and not a lot to do — so you made your own fun.

Tell us about the Backyard Sports series so far?

The idea for Backyard Sports came about when I was remembering my childhood. We didn't always have the equipment or facilities for sports — so we made do. The most important part was having fun with friends.

We used old milk crates tacked onto trees for basketball rings, clotheslines to swing on, trees as goalposts, and tin can rollers as cars. The first book, Backyard Footy, features real-life AFL and AFLW players from the East Kimberley. They called Halls Creek the 'footy factory' of the Kimberley. They are my nieces and nephews — I'm proud of what they achieved and the role models they became, so they made sense as characters in the book.

The book follows the friends as they jump from backyard to backyard, gathering new players and having fun. Finally, they arrive at the town oval and play together. It's about friendship, community, health and fitness, diversity.

My latest book is called Backyard Tennis. In this book, the mother teaches the child about a new sport: tennis. The curious neighbourhood children pop their heads over and join in the game. The children develop a passion for a new sport, encouraging them to include others and try new things.

When did you realise you wanted to write books?

I remember writing a long story when I was in Year 3. I was really proud and remember it to this day. But then life got in the way and it was a long time before I ever wrote a story again.

I am good at having a yarn and enjoy hanging out and telling jokes or stories with people — I have lots to tell. But I never realised that my stories were unique, special or worth telling — it was just everyday life to me. But when I had time to sit down, waiting for my daughter in a town far from home, I realised that my ordinary stories were interesting to others. And I saw the opportunity to have us mob see ourselves in books — not just white princesses in chariots. I wanted the kids back home to see their faces, stories, Country, language and culture.

Can you share your own relationships with sports?

I have played any sport I could since I could walk. I have always played AFL and coached it at the elite level. I also played basketball, and I'm not bad at ping-pong. I have always joined in with sports because I like the team and family aspects — these are also very valued by my culture. In the outback, sports unite people, give purpose and drive, and encourage healthy lifestyles.

What’s been your favourite book to write?

I have enjoyed writing them all, but my favourite book to write was the Kimberley Kickers series. The first in the middle-reader series, which comes out in September, follows Jy Farrara — a Gold Coast Suns player — through his early life and how he achieved his AFL dreams.

Can you share a favourite comment or reaction from a kid about your books?

Haylee Rivers, the narrator of Black Cockatoo and Dirrarn, said that she felt we had written the books about her because they were so relatable. We were also giving an author talk at Halls Creek and one of the year 5 girls told a story about how she had recently saved a bird. Her story mirrored Black Cockatoo, and she was our target audience. It is powerful seeing kids relate to the books and see themselves in them.

How important is it to diversify our bookshelf?

It's so important. AIATSIS has a great guide on how to choose First Nations resources. Cara Shipp recently published an excellent book on this topic that I highly recommend to everyone, too.

I often post about how to do this on my social media pages as well. It is important for children to see mirrors, doors, and windows in texts — mirrors of their lived experiences, windows into the lived experiences of others, and doors as pathways they can follow, similar to the characters. That is why diversifying your bookshelf is so important.

I couldn't see myself in the books in my school library in the 1980s and 90s. But there is so much great work by many amazing authors these days that shows the diversity, depth, and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Just to name a few of my favourites: Anita Heiss, Jared Thomas, Thomas Mayo, Sally Morgan, Dub Leffler, Melissa Lucashenko, Ambelin Kwaymulina, Tony Birch, Claire Coleman, Ellen van Neerven, Bruce Pascoe, and Aunty Joy Murphy.

Thank you for this deadly opportunity to share about my writing and books.

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Meet Carl Merrison is a post supported by the good folks at Hachette Publishing.

Carl Merrison's books can purchased online and you can follow him on Instagram.