Our Alumni Library

Having a book published is a dream for many writers. So when those in our community achieve this awesome accomplishment (sometimes going on to be published many times), we want to celebrate it! That’s why we created this Alumni Library – and we’re enormously proud of each and every one of these writers on this page. Will YOU be on here one day?

AWC graduate Julie Modra lands a publishing deal for her middle-grade novella ‘Oscar Was Here’

Tania Blanchard: From physiotherapist to full-time fiction author

AWC graduate Whitney Fitzsimmons lands a publishing deal for her thriller ‘The Rising’

AWC graduate JoJo Leslie publishes her first picture book, ‘Fish Don’t Hop’, with Woodslane Press

Cassy Polimeni achieves her dream of becoming a children’s author

AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie is an award-winning published author

Jenny Marshall turns her passion into a career

Angie Cui maps a unique journey into picture books

AWC graduate Jess Horn’s train of thought

At 71, DJ Taylor made her debut with ‘Anna’s War’

Jemima Parker – on becoming a children’s author

Anne Freeman wrote her first novel on her phone – and became a three-book author

Shannon Kelly-White’s secret dream became her debut novel ‘Billie King’

How Bethany Loveridge wrote the book of her childhood dreams

How Sharna Carter dreamed up picture book success

Samera Kamaleddine’s growing book catalogue

Susannah Glenn’s reinvention to become an author

Ariane Beeston’s journey to writing her compelling memoir

Natalie Murray’s path from journalist to successful romance author

How Emma Warrender went from first draft to a multi-publisher bidding situation

How John Stanton’s stories for his kids turned into his debut novel

Melissa Garside builds on her children’s book publishing success

How teacher and mum Nicole Kelly went from Creative Writing Stage 1 to two published novels

How Inessa Jackson went from stay-at-home mum to published crime novelist with Simon & Schuster

How Penelope Janu built a bestselling romance fiction career

How Reece Carter became a full-time children’s novelist

From Furious Fiction to UQP: Seetha Dodd’s debut ‘Myra in the Middle’

From illustrator to published author: Andrea Innocent’s ‘Lamington Left Behind’

Judith Stewart’s path from AWC courses to a debut novel with Affirm Press

Anna Johnston on her global two-book deal

Sarah Clutton’s remarkable publishing truths

Camille Booker’s joyful journey to published author

Gwen Wilson: the reluctant retiree publishes her first memoir

Wendy Rudge gave up cakes to write a book that could save lives

How Leearna Shaw rewrote her manuscript and landed a two-book deal

Katie Hoskins: Turning a dream into a two-book deal

Sarah Bailey: Daydreamer to dream book deal

Picture book author Sarah Speedie goes from strength to strength

Tina Strachan’s wild ride to publication

Bridie Blake’s dream of becoming an author turns into reality

Deborah Frenkel is now a successful picture book author

Craig Sheather reaches new heights with his picture book publishing

Sam Elliott: From dream to debut – Sam Elliott lands a two-book deal

Rebecca Grant: from physiotherapist to picture book author

From law to writing – how AWC graduate Leonie built a new creative life

David Hall on his powerful memoir ‘Superbeast’

More success for children’s author Jo Dabrowski

Joanna Nell: From GP to bestselling author

How Rory H. Mather turned his writing dreams into reality

How Emma Mugglestone turned a writing class into a Penguin Random House book deal

AWC graduate Emily Paull celebrates her Fremantle Press debut

Andrew Pettifer turns his lifelong love of Spurs into a moving memoir

How William J. Byrne transformed a long-held dream into his debut novel ‘The Warrumbar’

Leesa Allinson turns her passion for koalas into a picture book

Graci Kim channels Korean mythology with new book, ‘Dreamslinger’

Amy Hutton builds on her rom-com success

Rhonda McCoy’s debut novel ‘Crow’ is out now

How Rory H. Mather turned his writing dreams into reality

Alex Dook – persistence pays off with crime fiction success

Physio-turned-author Megan White adds to her Anatomy series

Mette Menzies: From Australian Writers’ Centre to a debut with HarperCollins

Shelly Unwin adds to her picture book collection

Alli Parker – sharing new Japanese-Australian stories

Holly Brunnbauer took the ideal pathway to publishing success

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

How Rory H. Mather turned his writing dreams into reality

How Karen Wasson became a picture of publishing success

Ali Berg’s successful publishing double act remains on track

Kasey Whitelaw combines ocean education and storytelling for a 2-book success

Miranda Luby continues to shine as a YA fiction author

Jo Skinner: balancing writing and medicine

How Susannah Hardy’s new year’s resolution turned into a new career

Sophie Gillies: How wombat poo led to picture book success

Tania Blanchard: From physiotherapist to full-time fiction author

Mitch Jennings went from journalist to crime writer

Kell Woods finds international success as fantasy author

Bec Nanayakkara shares 5 tips for picture book success

Millie Lewis builds on her picture book success

Shankari Chandran: From lawyer to award-winning author

Graci Kim completes middle grade trilogy with ‘The Last Fallen Realm’

Bidding war as Emma Pei Yin publishes ‘When Sleeping Women Wake’

How Emma Pignatiello went from teacher to romance author

Claire Thompson adds more picture books to her collection

Shelley Dark’s writing group and travel memoir

Karina May keeps delivering ‘that rom-com feeling’

Rhonda Ooi | I am NOT an Owl and Ned needs to Build

Kirsten Ealand’s journey to picture book success

Peta James now a published picture book author

How Danielle Camer forged a new career as a picture book author

Mo Davey’s new career as a picture book author

Amanda Willimott’s journey from marketer to fiction writer

Sandhya Parappukkaran is a successful picture book author

Brigitte Stanton’s writing dreams came true

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

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

Matt Samuel turns his dream of writing picture books into reality

Jenna Lo Bianco went from 160 rejections to a successful career as a romance author

Jane Sullivan discovers her inner crime writer with ‘Murder in Punch Lane’

Deborah Frenkel is now a successful picture book author

How Paula Gleeson scored a two-book six-figure deal

Bec Nanayakkara is a published picture book author

From soldier to storyteller: How M. Dane found his voice

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

How Kyra Geddes became a published author

Deborah Pike masters her storytelling skills in her novel ‘The Players’

Larissa Ferenchuk’s dream of becoming a picture book author came true

Laura Holloway turned her idea into a published picture book

Kerryn Mayne went from police force to published author

How Amy Tan gained confidence to write her first novel

Astrid Scholte is now an award-winning author of young adult fiction

Liz Foster on the steps she took to get published

From research scientist to author: Nancy Cunningham’s debut novel

Meet Penelope Janu, the lawyer who became a bestselling romance novelist

How Ruth McGurk got her picture book contract for ‘The Dinosaur Did It’

Serra Rose | The Shadow Within

Michelle Upton goes from school teacher to successful author

Joanna Nell: From GP to bestselling author

Ryan Abramowitz’s picture book ‘Elegy for an Elephant’

Bronwyn Hall’s thriller ‘The Chasm’ and ‘Gone To Ground’.

Karina May published ‘Never Ever Forever’ and ‘Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast’

Vikki Marmaras scores three book deals after AWC course

Apsara Baldovino’s picture book ‘The Lucky Shack’

Lucy Lever’s journey from aspiring writer to published author

Chenée Marrapodi goes from hobby writer to published children’s author

Fiona Lloyd’s debut novel ‘Being Jimmy Baxter’

Claire Thompson fulfils her dream to be a published picture book author

Jo Dabrowski gets three book deals as a children’s author

Carla Francis loves cats – and is making a career out of writing about them

How Jennifer Mackenzie Dunbar went from writing student to published novelist

Judy Wollin’s creative collaboration leads to her middle grade novel

Heidi Walkinshaw’s new career as a picture book author and copywriter

Miranda Young’s biography on Olivia Newton-John

Sarah Rodgers releases her novel ‘In the End’

Philippa Kaye | Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun

Carolyn Swindell’s brilliant novel ‘We Only Want What’s Best’

Racquel Collard publishes her book ‘Marketing Launchpad’

Sarah Wallace | Emma’s Freckles

Dannielle Viera | The Leftover Lemon Dilemma

Ky Garvey’s picture book ‘Easy Peasy’ is published

How AWC courses helped Luke Rutledge get his book deal for ‘A Man And His Pride’

Pete Mitchell | Darwin’s Wake

How Gabriella Margo became a published romance writer

Anna Spargo-Ryan on writing beautiful sentences

How Louise Bassett found success writing murder and mayhem

My Big Break: Author Carla Fitzgerald on how she got her book deals

Debra Clewer | Ah-Fur, Super Sleuth – The Case of The Missing Moggies

Veronica Lando is an ‘unmissable new voice on the Australian crime fiction scene’

Seth Haddon published his novel ‘Reforged’ and ‘Reborn’

Naomi Hart publishes her memoir

Al Campbell went from full-time mum and carer to published author of ‘The Keepers’

Vikki Conley’s path to becoming an award-winning author

How Julie Fison learnt to build suspense in her novel ‘One Punch’

Paula Stevenson publishes her picture book ‘Buster Follows His Nose’

Bettina Deda publishes her memoir ‘Dare to Dance’

Cathrine Mahoney quit her day job and wrote her memoir on divorce and dating

Millie Lewis finds success with her picture book ‘Mr Price’s Pet Emporium’

Penelope Janu | In at the Deep End and On the Same Page

Rebecca Marshallsay on ‘Facing the Wave’ and becoming a published children’s author

Valerie G Miller | Everything in Between

Susea Spray | A Big Blue Boat

Jeanette Stampone becomes a published author with her picture book ‘Shadow and the Girl’

Monica Lunin | What She Said

Vikki Conley | Tomorrow Girl and Amira’s Suitcase

Charlotte Barkla | Edie’s Experiments: How to Make Friends and From My Head to My Toes I Say What Goes

Young adult sensation Astrid Scholte on novel ‘League of Liars’ and ‘The Vanishing Deep’.

Penelope Janu | Clouds on the Horizon and On the Right Track

Shankari Chandran went from lawyer to award-winning author

Sarah Epstein | Sugarcoated

Ali Berg knew she wanted to be an author from the age of three

Jacinta Froud: From teacher to published children’s author

How Rashida Tayabali became a freelance writer and author

Freda Chiu combines her creative talents with debut picture book ‘A Trip to the Hospital’

Gary Nunn | The Psychic Tests

Jenna Guillaume | The Deep End

Linda King | The Smart Travelista’s Guide: How to protect your travel health & safety

Sandhya Parappukkaran | The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name and Stay for Dinner

Samera Kamaleddine fulfils her publishing dreams

Chelsea Davies | Where I Love to Be and Come Home Ella

Gabriella Kelly-Davies becomes a published biographer with debut book

Pat Simmons | The Cat Thief

How Rebekah Campbell’s 138 dates led to a publishing deal with Allen & Unwin

Children’s author Victoria Mackinlay releases two remarkable picture books

Author-illustrator Mandy Foot shares the creative process behind her gorgeous picture books

Rachel Givney | Secrets My Father Kept and Jane in Love

Sandie Docker reveals her inspiration and writing process

Amy Suiter Clarke |Girl, 11

Meet Sam Buckerfield, co-author of ‘Generation Alpha’

Fiona Murphy becomes a published author with her debut memoir ‘The Shape of Sound’

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

Inda Ahmad Zahri achieves her childhood dream to become a published author

Magnolia Cardona | When the Time Comes

Sandie Jessamine becomes a published memoirist with her powerful story

Sylvia Petter | All the Beautiful Liars

Amy Adeney | Tilda Teaches Drawing and Turning Cartwheels

Craig Sheather reinvents his career to become a picture book author

Larissa Collins | Be Brave Beatrice

Penelope Janu | Up on Horseshoe Hill and Starting from Scratch

Rae Cairns | The Good Mother

Sandy Barker | The Christmas Swap

CJ Fentiman discovers her perfect career path writing about pets

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

How Felicity McVay reignited her creative passion to become a published book author

Speech pathologist Sonya Bates finds license to thrill with debut novel

Stef Gemmill | In my Dreams

Maggie Hutchings | Your Birthday Was the BEST!

Renee Irving Lee | Rosie Leads the Way

Rick Foster | Why Worry Wally?

Katie Jones went from a career in finance to children’s book author.

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