Tasmanian author and Australian Writers’ Centre graduate Rhonda McCoy has published her debut novel Crow, a rural family saga set in the central highlands of Tasmania.
Rhonda’s path to publication began after she retired from a long career in health, managing hospitals and aged-care facilities. Following her husband’s cancer diagnosis, she shifted her focus to family. Alongside this, she started writing.
“Like so many people who read, love words, and like to be connected, I always harboured a flimsy thought that pieces of my rich and at times challenging life might make their way into books that other women might like to read,” says Rhonda.
Her daughter Brooke gave her a voucher for the Australian Writers’ Centre. By then, Rhonda had already begun drafting her first manuscript and was starting to realise she needed specific skills. So she registered for her first AWC course. “I didn’t know what to expect, but wanted to be able to tell Brooke I’d duly booked in. At that stage, I felt a bit of a fraud about telling people I was a writer. I didn’t realise that connecting with AWC was going to open up a whole new world for me.”
Building skills and confidence
Rhonda threw herself into AWC courses and quickly discovered how much they could shape her writing practice.
“I have loved Pamela Freeman’s courses. Her style is conversational and peppered with useful tips based on her own successful career. I’ve also enjoyed her Focus On seminars. Weirdly, they’ve come at just the right time for me. Focus On Chapters was just what I needed as I limped my way to the ending of CROW… Focus On Handling Multiple Points of View is one I dip into frequently to keep me on track.”
She also says AWC’s newsletters, podcasts and blogs became a steady source of encouragement. “Valerie’s shout outs to new authors have kept me on track… They remind me of who I am and I congratulate myself that I am adding to my tool box each time I complete a course.”
From first draft to published novel
Crow begins with the sudden death of Hal Crow, an outsider whose presence unsettled a small Tasmanian town. His passing exposes long-held secrets, fractured loyalties and hidden relationships, drawing the community into a turbulent year.
Rhonda says her writing process was both structured and immersive. She set weekly word goals, filled her planner with writing days, and drew on lived experiences and local research to bring authenticity to the story. “At the end of the week, I tally up my word count and either pat myself on the back, or tell myself I need to work harder the following week.”
The manuscript went through several drafts and professional editing before Rhonda began pitching. With persistence and the support of her agent, she eventually signed with Ventura Press.
“I’ve read so many times – in the AWC newsletter – about writers’ responses to that call. It sounds like a cliché, but it was everything and more that I wanted to feel… I knew that Crow had found its rightful place. I decided early on in my writing that I wanted to be published traditionally, so I could learn about the business and grow as a writer.”
Never give up
Now living on the Tamar River in northern Tasmania, Rhonda is already working on her next novels and continuing to grow as a writer.
She says her approach to writing is guided by the same mindset that shaped her professional career. “I have always approached professional challenges with a can-do attitude. I’ve taught my daughters that everything is possible if you want it enough, and get the skills you need. My mantra in my leadership roles was: ‘Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.’”
Courses completed at AWC:
