At the heart of every beloved children’s book lies a spark – a sense of magic, wonder, and pure joy. For Andy Geppert, the award-winning author and illustrator, that spark is drawing – and it’s something he’s bringing to kids across regional Queensland through the Squigl Club.
When Andy Geppert first visited Longreach with Storyfest, he wasn’t expecting it to change the direction of his work. But after a whirlwind few days connecting with outback students – some of whom had travelled over 13 hours just to hear him speak – the award-winning author-illustrator left with more than a sense of inspiration. He left with an idea.
That idea became the Squigl Club.
From art director to book illustrator
A Sunshine Coast-based creative, Andy has worn many hats – art director, designer, illustrator, and published children's author. His love for storytelling was rekindled mid-career after years in advertising. "I wanted to immerse myself back in illustration and drawing again," he said. “It was a love I had when I was little.”
Since then, his creative journey has taken flight. His debut picture book won the Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator, followed by Meep, which was recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. During COVID, he penned Backyard Birdies, a unique non-fiction picture book that educated and entertained kids, encouraging them to rediscover nature from their back verandahs.
His growing success brought him into contact with Storyfest. His bucket list dream of being an author at Storyfest came true after a few years of determination and timing paid off, and Andy finally got his opportunity – first presenting at Storyfest Gold Coast, then being invited to Longreach.
“Storyfest Out West was incredibly inspiring from start to finish – non-stop go, go, go,” he recalled. “But the kids… they were incredible. Genuinely kind, inquisitive, really grown-up for their age. I fell in love with that connection.”
It was during that trip, after visiting the Longreach School of Distance Education (LSODE), that the seed for Squigl Club was planted. Seeing how these isolated students learn – from remote classrooms, with limited access to books or libraries – made Andy realise how much he could offer, even from afar.
“I thought, at the very least, if I just set up a little club that shares books that the kids can’t access, that’s pretty cool,” he said.
So he emailed LSODE. Then he reached out to Storyfest. Naturally, everyone was on board!
The beginning of Squigl Club
What began as a simple book share grew into something much more – a monthly, virtual creative club where Andy connects directly with 50–60 regional students (and often their families), exploring books, art, storytelling, and drawing in an engaging, hands-on way.
The Squigl Club is intentionally lo-fi and accessible. Each month, Andy prepares a contents page and outline for a new session. The structure is loose, the atmosphere relaxed, but the goal is always the same: inspire creativity and confidence through stories and art.
A central feature of each session is the shared book. One student selects it, and together, they read and analyse it – unpacking themes, illustration styles, character development, and tricky bits that might challenge their age group. From there, the club dives into drawing – sometimes themed, sometimes technical. One standout activity involved drawing their favourite toy, with plans to revisit the same toy a year later to see how much their drawing skills have grown.
There’s also a healthy dose of fun. One session saw the launch of the “Christmas Cow” colouring competition, where students had to draw a cow in festive flair. Winners received prize packs from Andy’s local bookshop. “It was pretty fun,” he laughs, holding up the winning entries with pride.
Importantly, Squigl Club fosters a sense of community. Andy is working on mailing “Squigl Legend” pennants to the students, so they can hang them in their learning rooms when they join the calls. Plans are also in motion to bring in guest illustrators and even have students co-host sessions – giving them the chance to take the lead on discussions or book selections.
Squigl Club 2026 calendar
But perhaps the most ambitious idea is the Squigl Club calendar.
The calendar idea started with the simple premise of sharing creativity and helping raise some funds. But if Andy has taken one lesson from the Storyfest team in Longreach, it is that you GO big! And that’s when a fresh take on the idea was born. The calendar will feature drawings submitted by the kids. Twelve of the best Australian picture book illustrators have been lined up to choose the ones that inspire them, and together, two artists will create a bespoke art piece inspired by each other.
The result will be something quite special… We will see remote kids from 3-12 years of age published for the very first time alongside their picture book heroes!
Proceeds from the sale of the SQUIGL Club calendar fund buses and cover the cost of tickets to make Storyfest Regional Writers’ festival accessible to more kids.
“It’s art with purpose.”
At its heart, Squigl Club is a love letter to the joy of connection and creativity. It’s a club with no uniforms, no buildings, and no limits – just a shared space for kids to feel seen, heard, and inspired.
As Andy puts it, “It’s a bespoke little club. It’s not big, but it’s meaningful. And that’s all I really wanted it to be.”
What’s next for Andy?
While working on the club, Andy hasn’t lost sight of his own creative practices either. Right now, he’s channeling his energy into two new projects: a standalone Christmas book and a picture book series called The Tired Adults Book Club.
The Christmas book, inspired by a gap he noticed in stores while buying presents for a Squiggle Club drawing competition, is nearing completion.
The Tired Adults Book Club, meanwhile, is aimed squarely at weary parents. “They’re short, high-quality stories with twists, cool characters, and a proper arc,” Andy says. “But short enough that bedtime doesn’t last 50 minutes.” Tentative titles include Cat Cat, Baby vs. Dragon, and Frog-Urtle—a frog–turtle hybrid, naturally.
Unsurprisingly, much of his inspiration comes from his own kids – a five-year-old and a two-year-old – who constantly amaze him with their playful logic.
For Andy, books and storytelling are more important than ever. “It’s a way to slow down,” he reflects. “In a world full of screens and noise, reading a book—touching a book—matters. If Squigl Club just helps kids find a new favourite book, or start drawing again, that’s a win.”
