Congratulations to Australian Writers’ Centre(AWC) graduate Bec Nanayakkara whose debut picture book Grow Big, Little Seed has been published by Hardie Grant. Her second picture book The Book Star is out in June published by Affirm Press. It’s based on an idea she workshopped in our Writing Picture Books course with tutor Zanni Louise just a year ago!
In this special time-sensitive episode of ‘So You Want to be a Writer,’ Valerie Khoo discusses the prestigious Richell Prize with Vanessa Radnidge, Head of Narrative Nonfiction and Literary at Hachette. The episode dives into the details and benefits of entering this unique prize, which offers a $10,000 reward and
Welcome to June’s Furious Fiction story showcase – where we celebrate flash fiction creativity and the power of storytelling. The creative prompts for this month were: Each story had to strongly feature a relationship between TWO characters. Each story had to include someone whispering. Each story had to include the
Anna Johnston started telling stories at a young age, writing plays and short films for her parents as a child. But she left her storytelling passion behind when she went into healthcare and started her family. A course at the Australian Writers’ Centre changed that, reigniting her love of creative writing, and Anna is now celebrating the publication of her debut novel The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, in a two-book deal with Penguin Random House.
Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his latest novel Smoke. He discusses his research process, where he gets his ideas, how he uses a whiteboard in his writing process and transition from journalism to fiction writing. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add
This week, we’re giving away three copies of Death in the Air by Ram Murali. Ram Murali’s debut novel is a gripping locked-room mystery, blending high society intrigue with sharp wit. Here’s the blurb: Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at
Meet author Pamela Freeman and illustrator Liz Anelli. They discuss their collaborative process in creating the picture book Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree. They talk about the research, writing, and illustration process, how they balance text and visuals, and the importance of accuracy in children’s non-fiction. You can
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada. The Bookshop Woman is a delightful and heartwarming memoir that intertwines a bookseller’s journey of self-discovery and human connection through the lens of book recommendations, capturing the profound impact of literature on our lives. Here’s the
I’m the author, ghostwriter and coauthor of 7 books about entrepreneurship. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in business. Ruslan Kogan from Kogan. Gabby Leibovich from Catch of the Day. Jane Lu from Show Po. Naomi Simson from Red Balloon. Simon Griffiths from Who Gives a Crap. And many
After a 17-year career in the army, M. Dane was facing a medical discharge. The dramatic change in lifestyle was a difficult period for Dane, and after some soul searching he decided to embark on a transformative journey to realise a long-held dream – becoming a successful author. This led him to the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Valerie interviews B.M. Carroll, whose latest thriller, One of Us Is Missing, revolves around a family dealing with a mysterious disappearance of one family member during a concert. The conversation also touches on B.M. Carroll’s writing process, character development, and the importance of feedback and rewriting. You can listen to
This week, we’re giving away three copies of Blackwater by Jacqueline Ross, author of The Third Room and Messy Business. An engaging narrative that intertwines the present and the past, Blackwater is a gripping novel that will keep you up at night. Here’s the blurb: A baby will never be
Having worked for years in the visual effects and animation industry, Richard Pritchard knew a lot about storytelling. But when he wanted to write a middle grade novel, he felt that he needed solid guidance, so he turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love. Amy discusses her journey from TV producer to successful romance novelist, the importance of social media presence for authors, and practical tips for aspiring writers. Host Valerie Khoo also chats to author Nat Newman who shares her experience with
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins, the international bestselling author of The Binding and The Betrayals. The Silence Factory is a captivating gothic tale exploring themes of family, longing and corruption. Here’s the blurb: 1820: Sophia Ashmore-Percy reluctantly accompanies her husband James
By Andrea Barton, author of The Godfather of Dance Andrea Barton’s novel, The Godfather of Dance, dives into murder, dance and family secrets. Journalist Jade is determined to write a career-defining article. Her dance instructor Anton wants to know who killed his fiancée. Anton’s life is set between the glamorous
When television producer Amy Hutton decided she wanted to switch careers and become a writer, she went all in. After making such a decisive move, Amy knew she had to learn the craft of writing if she were to succeed. She liked the variety of courses on offer at the Australian Writers’ Centre and she jumped in, learning the essentials of Fiction and Grammar, Plotting and Planning and how to Pitch Your Novel.
Welcome to May’s Furious Fiction story showcase – a celebration of flash fiction creativity for this month. The creative prompts were: Each story had to take place on an IMPORTANT DATE from the past 50 years – i.e. from May 1974 onwards. Each story had to include a character who
Sarah Speedie was a full-time stay-at-home mum and, when her children reached an age where she could carve out time for herself she chose to embark on a new journey – one that would reignite her passion for learning and storytelling. Sarah enrolled in the Writing Picture Books course at the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Explore the world of co-writing and collaboration with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, discussing challenges, the process of co-writing, the importance of capturing emotional depth in storytelling, and the profound impact of building a
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