Angie Cui's road to becoming a published children's book author is a story of unexpected turns, persistence, and creative discovery.
“I was a new mum juggling family life and work when I decided to take one of your courses,” Angie shares. Initially aspiring to be a journalist, she found herself drawn to writing through a more unexpected route. “Writing had always been a passion of mine, but I didn't have the confidence or the time to fully explore it.”
It was through the Australian Writers' Centre, that Angie found the confidence. As a result, she had two picture books published in 2025 – Our Map with Wombat Books and My Mum is a Bird with UQP, with the latter picking up awards in the CBCA and Victorian Premier's Literary Awards in 2026. And her third book, The Festival of Ice & Snow was published in August 2026.
Finding her voice
Angie's writing journey began with the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Freelance Writing Stage 1 course, driven by a desire to be a published journalist. “I'd been toying with story ideas for years but struggled to turn them into something coherent and compelling,” she explains. What she sought was more than just a course – she wanted “guidance, structure, and a community of like-minded individuals to help me take my writing seriously.”
The course proved to be transformative and the feedback from instructors and peers gave her the confidence to embrace her unique perspective. “The practical advice on story structure and character development was invaluable, but what stood out the most was the encouragement to find my voice.”
Bringing her stories to life
Surprisingly, Angie's writing path took an unexpected turn towards books after reading to her children, and she enrolled in creative writing courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre, including Writing Picture Books. “Initially, I thought I would write adult fiction … children's books seemed so challenging to me – telling a big story with just a few words, often in under 500 words, was intimidating! But when I started reading picture books with my kids, I thought, maybe I could write something like that!”
Angie's debut books explored themes including individuality, empathy and identity. My Mum is a Bird uses a humorous lens to tell a story of an embarrassing parent at school, while Our Map is about a child who discovers that his parents’ homeland no longer exists on a map. Both books reflect her belief in the power of storytelling to bridge understanding.
Once she had polished her manuscripts, Angie attended conferences where she was able to successfully pitch to publishers. “Hearing back from a publisher with interest was surreal – it felt like a dream!” she recalls. She then worked closely with her publisher, editor and illustrator to refine her stories even further. “It was a collaborative process that helped shape the books into something even better than I had imagined.”
And on becoming a published author? “I was absolutely thrilled!” Angie says. “It felt like validation for all the hard work and late nights. It also felt deeply personal – proof that my stories and voice mattered.”
Speaking of validation, My Mum is a Bird, illustrated by Evie Barrow, has gone on to pick up a 2026 CBCA Picture Books Notables award and a Highly Commended Prize for Children's Literature at the 2026 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.
As for her third book, The Festival of Ice & Snow brought a new layer for Angie. “This was my first bilingual picture book (English and Mandarin Chinese), based on my treasured childhood memories of attending the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China.”
Writing in the real world
Despite working full-time, writing has become an integral part of Angie's life. “While I don't write every single day, storytelling is always on my mind,” she says. “I often find myself playing out scenes or imagining dialogues during quiet moments.”
Angie has completed at least a dozen courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre and has a simple message for those considering taking the leap: “If you have a story inside you – or even just a spark of curiosity about writing – this is the place to start. The courses are practical, supportive, and inspiring, offering the tools you need to bring your ideas to life.”
For more success stories see here:
https://mainstaging6.writerscentre.com.au/success-stories/
Courses completed at AWC:
- Writing Picture Books
- Writing Picture Books Masterclass
- Creative Writing Stage 1
- Novel Writing Essentials
- Fiction Essentials: Scenes
- Plotting and Planning
- Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation
- Fiction Essentials: Structure
- Freelance Writing Stage 1
- Freelance Writing Masterclass Program
- Inside Publishing
- Your Author Website
- Presenting to Kids
- Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds
