Author: Australian Writers' Centre Team
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Brigitte Stanton on how courses led to her dream coming true

Brigitte Stanton was working as a mental health nurse, a job that could be stressful at times. She had been wanting to write for a few years as a creative outlet, but didn’t know where to start. After discovering the Australian Writers’ Centre, Brigitte went on to complete several courses that fit around her lifestyle and has now published her debut picture book. Brigitte’s picture book Wanda Needs a Haircut is out now with Tiny Seed Publishing (an imprint of Starfish Bay Publishing).

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3 September 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

How Sandhya Parappukkaran followed her creative curiosity to become a published picture book author

Courses taken at AWC: 
Writing Picture Books
When Sandhya Parappukkaran quit her food technology job to pursue her creative dreams, she originally turned to arts and crafts. But while reading with her son, Sandhya’s childhood love of books was rekindled. After completing the Writing Picture Books course, her debut picture book The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name has been published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing.

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3 September 2024
Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Writing Podcast Episode 622: Louise Southerden on travel writing and her revealing memoir ‘Tiny’

Meet memoirist Louise Southerden about her book Tiny, which details her experience building a tiny house while going through a challenging relationship. Louise shares her journey into travel writing, the dynamics of writing personal stories, and techniques for capturing the essence of travel experiences. You can listen to the episode

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3 September 2024
Competitions and Opportunities
Australian Writers' Centre Team

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Girl Falling’ by Hayley Scrivenor

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Blue Mountains, this compelling story explores the complex relationship between two lifelong friends as their lives take unexpected turns that will keep you turning the pages. Here’s the blurb: Why

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2 September 2024
Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Writing Podcast Episode 621: Children’s author Carla Fitzgerald shares her five must-do tips for aspiring middle-grade authors

Children’s author Carla Fitzgerald is author of the middle-grade novel How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5. Carla shares insights into writing compelling stories for children and offers five must-do tips for aspiring middle-grade authors. Additionally, Nat Newman provides a practical app tip about the benefits of

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30 August 2024
Furious Fiction
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Furious Fiction: August 2024 Story Showcase

Welcome to August’s Furious Fiction story showcase – where we challenged writers this month to reach great heights. The prompts for this month’s challenge were: Each story had to take place UP IN THE AIR. (There were some specific rules, but essentially, stay off the ground.) Each story’s first sentence

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28 August 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Troy Hunter enters the scene with his award-nominated debut novel

Troy Hunter had completed a full first draft of his debut novel but felt it wasn’t working, particularly in the middle section. After discovering the Australian Writers’ Centre, Troy went on to complete FOCUS ON… The Second Act and has now published his debut young adult detective novel Gus and the Missing Boy with Wakefield Press. He was also recently shortlisted in the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut Crime Fiction.

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27 August 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Sarah Jane Lightfoot’s path to author and illustrator success

“I enrolled in the Writing Picture Books course to learn as much as I could about the industry I was entering and build on my confidence and capabilities as an author. I’m so incredibly grateful that I did.” With her newfound skills, Sarah went on to publish her debut picture book ‘Down the Road, Little Bee’.

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27 August 2024
Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Writing Podcast Episode 619: Picture book author Deborah Frenkel on her creative process and creating a successful career.

Meet Deborah Frenkel, author of four picture books including her most recent: 100 Schools Days and The Truck Cat. Deborah reveals her journey to publication, her creative process and tips for aspiring authors. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually

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23 August 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

How Lisa Kenway landed a book deal for her psychological thriller ‘All You Took From Me’

Lisa Kenway had a rewarding career as an anaesthetist and the young family she’d always wanted, but she felt that something was missing from her life. She discovered the Australian Writers’ Centre and loved that it offered short targeted courses she could fit around her busy life, and went on to complete eight courses. She kept writing, editing and honing her craft, before landing a publishing contract with Transit Lounge for her debut thriller, All You Took From Me.

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21 August 2024
Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Writing Podcast Episode 618: J.P. Pomare on writing gripping crime thrillers and his latest novel ’17 Years Later’.

J.P. Pomare on writing gripping crime thrillers and his latest novel 17 Years Later. J.P. discusses his writing process, research methods, and experiences with book adaptations into TV series. The episode features insights on maintaining creativity, the importance of method writing, crafting captivating crime narratives, and tips for aspiring writers.

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20 August 2024
Competitions and Opportunities
Australian Writers' Centre Team

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Precipice’ by Robert Harris

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Precipice by Robert Harris, author of nine best-selling novels! Harris is known for blending historical events with thrilling storylines making Precipice a highly anticipated release for 2024. Here’s the blurb: Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe. In London, 26-year-old

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19 August 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Ariane Beeston’s journey to writing her compelling memoir

Having a baby is a life-changing experience, and for Ariane Beeston it was profoundly so. She experienced postpartum psychosis, a rare and debilitating mental illness. As part of her healing journey, she started writing about her experiences. After completing Freelance Writing Stage 1 at the Australian Writers’ Centre, Ariane kickstarted her freelance writing career and has now published a memoir, Because I’m Not Myself, You See, with Black Inc.

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14 August 2024
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Matt Samuel turns his dream of writing picture books into reality

Matt decided to enrol in Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers’ Centre and was hooked. Finally, he could put his picture book ideas into practice. After a meeting with an editor at Yellow Brick Books, Matt was offered a contract and his debut picture book The Other Side of the Clouds will be published this year.

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14 August 2024
Competitions and Opportunities
Australian Writers' Centre Team

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Wilds’ by Sarah Pearse

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Wilds by Sarah Pearse. The Wilds, the third in the Detective Elin Warner series, is an atmospheric thriller set in a remote Portuguese national park. As Elin and her brother Issac try to reconnect, they are drawn into the mystery of

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12 August 2024
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