Alumni/Student success stories | Australian Writers' Centre

Alumni/Student success stories

Graci Kim becomes a published children’s author with her middle grade adventure ‘The Last Fallen Star’

Graci Kim has worked as a diplomat, cooking show host and even made kids toys – but it was when she sat down to reread her favourite childhood novels that she discovered her passion.

“It hit me – none of the books I read and treasured as a child had people like me in them. All the books I’d loved were about white people. I had been invisible on the page my whole life,” Graci says. She signed up for a course at the Australian Writers’ Centre and started writing books about Korean diaspora kids having magical adventures.

Graci’s debut middle-grade novel, The Last Fallen Star, has now been published by Disney Hyperion (Rick Riordan Presents) and the trilogy has been optioned by the Disney Channel for a live action television series.

12 May 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Writing Podcast Episode 401 Kaneana May’s ‘All We Have is Now’ [Story Sessions series]

This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series and features ‘All We Have is Now’ by Kaneana May. This is Kaneana’s second novel, following her incredible debut ‘The One’. Kaneana has once again weaved together the story of three different women who run a wellness centre together. It’s a

7 May 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

How Sam Buckerfield’s passion for writing led to a publishing deal with Hachette Australia

Sam Buckerfield knew he wanted to make a career out of writing, but he was initially held back by his own self-doubts.

“Although I was ambitious, I didn’t know for certain that I had the seeds of an author in me,” he says. That was until presenter Pamela Freeman invited him to join the Write Your Novel program at the Australian Writers’ Centre.

“It was in that very moment that I felt believed in by a professional,” Sam says. “And I, in turn, believed that I had the capacity to be a published author.”

Sam’s first published book is Generation Alpha, co-authored with Mark McCrindle and Ashley Fell, and it is out now with Hachette Australia.

5 May 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Sandie Jessamine becomes a published memoirist with her powerful story ‘Borderline’

Writing and publishing a memoir was never going to be easy for Sandie Jessamine. Living with borderline personality disorder meant that she could be one person at the start of a sentence and another by the end. Having suffered trauma, abuse and devastating loss, Sandie wanted to write her story to help her process her past. She turned to the AWC to give her the structure she needed.

“I turned into a writer,” Sandie says about the period that followed her decision to enrol in the Write Your Novel program with Pamela Freeman. “During Pamela’s course, I put all my attention and energy into completing a draft novel. The writing gave me a safe space to retreat into away from the emotional pain but eventually I began to write within the pain until the pain was writing itself”

Her extraordinary story, Borderline, has now been published by Bad Apple Press..

21 April 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Gaiti Rabbani becomes a published business book author in just one year

When global events affected her travel and business plans, Gaiti Rabbani thought it was the perfect time to channel her energy into writing a business book. She enrolled in the Write a Business Book course at the Australian Writers’ Centre – and just one year later, she not only wrote the book, but secured a publishing deal as well. Gaiti’s book Curious About Culture is out now with Major Street Publishing.

7 April 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Multi-talented Amy Adeney finds success as a children’s book author

Never in a million years did Amy Adeney think that she would be a published author one day. She had a varied career as a fitness instructor, PR executive, and primary school teacher before finally discovering her creative side. She has now published seven books for children – and it all started with a writing exercise during a course at the Australian Writers’ Centre.

“My debut picture book, Turning Cartwheels (EK Books, 2021), actually began its life as an exercise in the AWC Writing Picture Books course!” Amy says. Her tutor, Cathie Tasker, provided Amy with feedback that made her realise that her story idea had potential. “Cathie’s feedback became part of my pitch for the book, and even formed the basis of the book’s description in the EK Books catalogue.”

30 March 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Shankari Chandran’s newest manuscript acquired by Ultimo Press

We’re thrilled to hear that Shankari Chandran has had her latest novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens snapped up by Ultimo Press. Shankari is one of our superstar alumnae who found publishing success with her debut novel The Barrier after the Crime and Thriller Writing course at the Australian Writers’

29 March 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

5 tips for finding your ‘write’ people

It took me a while to find my people, but when I did things really started happening…fast!
I went from my world of “one” where no one other than my non-writing family and friends knew about my creative writing projects – to sharing my work with a community of like-minded writers. Here’s how you can fast track your way to finding your people…

18 February 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Writing Podcast Episode 384 Tania Blanchard’s ‘Letters from Berlin’ [Story Sessions series]

In Episode 384 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring Letters from Berlin by Tania Blanchard. Set in 1943 Berlin, 18-year-old Susanna Göttmann accepts the help of an influential Nazi officer to protect her family and the man she loves. But at what cost? Tania once again draws on her own family history to tell an extraordinary tale of tragedy and courage, love and loss, endings and new beginnings. We bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.

6 February 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Writing Podcast Episode 381 Meet Frances Chapman, author of ‘Stars Like Us’.

In Episode 381 of So You Want To Be A Writer: You’ll meet Frances Chapman, author of Stars Liks Us. We also cover how to write scenes. Plus, there are 10x double passes to see High Ground – in cinemas 28 January.

26 January 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

Writing Podcast Episode 380 Penelope Janu’s ‘Starting from Scratch’ [Story Sessions series]

In Episode 380 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘Starting From Scratch’ by Penelope Janu. Return to the town of Horseshoe Hill and Sapphie Brown as she grapples with her injured pride, and questions if it’s standing in the way of true love. Narrated by the author herself, we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this charming rural romance.

22 January 2021

Alumni/Student success stories

More than 70 books published by AWC alumni and presenters in 2020!

There are a lot of adjectives you could use to describe the year that was 2020, but our favourite is ‘superlative’. Why? Because so many of our amazing alumni and priceless presenters have been published, some for the first time. In fact, 2020 saw more than 70 books come out

16 December 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

Teacher Krys Saclier publishes a picture book about Australia’s electoral system!

Explaining Australia’s federal voting system seems like strange inspiration for a picture book – but that’s exactly what Krys Saclier did for her second book Vote 4 Me, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, and published through Wild Dog Books.
Krys is a graduate of several AWC courses, including History, Mystery and Magic, How to Write for Children and Young Adults, and Pitch Your Novel: How to Attract Agents and Publishers. Her debut picture book, Super Nova, was published in 2019 through Ford Street Publishing with illustrations by Rebecca Timmis.

23 November 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

AWC graduate Theresa Miller publishes debut novel ‘The Spin Doctor’s Wife’

Enrolling in the Write Your Novel program was just the push that Theresa Miller needed to finish the draft of her first fiction manuscript. There’s nothing like a deadline to motivate you to finish a project! That book, The Spin Doctor’s Wife, is out now through Critical Mass.

“The Write Your Novel program helped me finish and publish my novel – which is something I’ve wanted to do since I learned to read,” Theresa says. “[The program] had a huge impact!”

16 November 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

From newsreader to published author: Nicole Webb publishes debut memoir ‘China Blonde’

Nicole Webb was a trained journalist and newsreader, with a wealth of writing talent. But when she sat down to write her memoir of life in China, she knew she needed to learn and utilise a whole new set of skills. After taking three courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre, doing hundreds of interviews, writing thousands of words, and doing many rewrites, her debut China Blonde is out now with Brio Books.
“Without doing those courses, I really don’t think I would have had the knowledge or know-how to start a book properly, let alone finish a book,” Nicole says.

29 October 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

The turning point that led to James Antoniou becoming a published picture book author

James Antoniou was in the middle of a haphazard gap year when he decided to enrol in Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers’ Centre. He had always wanted to be a published author, had studied English at Oxford, and was ready to launch his writing career. But it was the course at the AWC that gave James the practical tools he needed to finish his manuscript.

26 October 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

Danielle Norton’s journey from teacher to travel and food writer

Danielle Norton was half way through the AWC’s Food Writing course when she managed to sell her first two recipes to an online magazine. Not bad for a former school teacher who, by her own admission, was naive about the media industry. Now a veteran of six AWC courses, Danielle is an established freelance writer and copywriter, and she is sought after by editors for her travel and parenting articles.

17 October 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

AWC alumna Astrid Scholte wins Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best YA Crime Novel

The Sisters in Crime 20th Davitt Awards have been presented and we’re thrilled that AWC alumna Astrid Scholte has won the Best Young Adult Crime Novel for her debut novel Four Dead Queens. It’s been an incredible year for Astrid, who also made the shortlist for the CBCA Book of

28 September 2020

Crime fiction author and Australian Writers' Centre alumna Dinuka McKenzie smiling in floral shirt

Alumni/Student success stories

Congrats to AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie – winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize!

HarperCollins Australia has announced their winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize and we are thrilled it’s Dinuka McKenzie, one of our talented alumni! Dinuka took out the major prize for her manuscript Flood Debris (released in 2022 as The Torrent), winning a publishing contract with HarperCollins and a $15,000 advance.

22 September 2020

Alumni/Student success stories

Congrats to the AWC alumni shortlisted for the 2020 Banjo Prize

HarperCollins Australia has released the shortlist for the 2020 Banjo Prize and we’re so proud that all four are from the Australian Writers’ Centre community. The 2020 Banjo Prize shortlist: The List by Megan Albany The Tuesday Afternoon Murder Club by Karli Florisson Roses of Budapest by Rachael Keene Flood

10 September 2020

Category: Alumni/Student success stories

Graci Kim becomes a published children’s author with her middle grade adventure ‘The Last Fallen Star’

Writing Podcast Episode 401 Kaneana May’s ‘All We Have is Now’ [Story Sessions series]

How Sam Buckerfield’s passion for writing led to a publishing deal with Hachette Australia

Sandie Jessamine becomes a published memoirist with her powerful story ‘Borderline’

Gaiti Rabbani becomes a published business book author in just one year

Multi-talented Amy Adeney finds success as a children’s book author

Shankari Chandran’s newest manuscript acquired by Ultimo Press

5 tips for finding your ‘write’ people

Writing Podcast Episode 384 Tania Blanchard’s ‘Letters from Berlin’ [Story Sessions series]

Writing Podcast Episode 381 Meet Frances Chapman, author of ‘Stars Like Us’.

Writing Podcast Episode 380 Penelope Janu’s ‘Starting from Scratch’ [Story Sessions series]

More than 70 books published by AWC alumni and presenters in 2020!

Teacher Krys Saclier publishes a picture book about Australia’s electoral system!

AWC graduate Theresa Miller publishes debut novel ‘The Spin Doctor’s Wife’

From newsreader to published author: Nicole Webb publishes debut memoir ‘China Blonde’

The turning point that led to James Antoniou becoming a published picture book author

Danielle Norton’s journey from teacher to travel and food writer

AWC alumna Astrid Scholte wins Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best YA Crime Novel

Congrats to AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie – winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize!

Congrats to the AWC alumni shortlisted for the 2020 Banjo Prize

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