When AWC graduate Ali Berg (pictured left above) gave up her job in advertising at the age of 24 to travel the world, little did she realise it would culminate in a co-author career with her friend Michelle Kalus. An initial two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Australia resulted in the romantic comedy novel The Book Ninja (2018) and Ali and Michelle have since established
themselves as a powerful book duo, publishing three further books – their fourth book, Love Overdue (2025), arriving at precisely the right time!
Publishing dreams come true
“I always dreamed I would be a published author, but I'm still pinching myself that my dream has actually come true!” Ali says. “I never thought it would actually happen. When I was three years old I remember everyone announcing in class that they wanted to be superheroes, firemen or rockstars when they grew up – and I stated quite seriously that I was going to be an author!”
Ali attributes her success to the Creative Writing Stage 1 course she took with the Australian Writers’ Centre.
“When I decided to go to England I knew I was about to visit The Elephant House in Edinburgh, which is where J.K. Rowling wrote her early novels. I'd always dreamed of writing in that cafe, or similar ones around the UK, and was so excited to do so. I had an idea of what I wanted to write but I needed help getting pen to paper. I knew how to write ads, but books were another story – enter AWC!”
“The most useful thing I took from the course was to get to know your characters back to front before you start writing them. Don't just make them realistic. Make them real.”
Author in ‘training'
Ali's debut novel, The Book Ninja, was co-authored with her bestie Michelle Kalus – the result of a fascinating community initiative called ‘Books on the Rail' which they both started together.
“Books on the Rail is made up of a team of ‘Book Ninjas', all of whom leave books on public transport for people to take, read and then return to the rails for someone else to enjoy,” Ali says. “Michelle and I founded it back in April 2016, shortly after I returned from London – where I had met Hollie Fraser, the founder of ‘Books on the Underground'. I was so inspired by the concept, that I decided to take it to Melbourne. I approached Michelle to start it with me, and together we started planting our own books on trains, trams and buses all around Melbourne.”
The initiative is now Australia-wide, with many Australian publishers providing books to distribute onto public transport. And off the back of that initiative, Simon and Schuster approached Ali and Michelle to publish with what would become the internationally successful The Book Ninja and was followed up with While You Were Reading in 2019.
By this point, the book-writing train had well and truly left the station, as Ali and Michelle realised that co-authoring was the perfect vehicle for them to succeed. Two further novels have since followed (both via Allen & Unwin) – Fancy Meeting You Here in 2021 and Love Overdue in 2025.
On track for continued success
Ali's continued career has meant that as well as finding titles by many Australian authors through Books on the Rail, the chances are higher than ever that you'll now find one of hers! And her advice to anyone who has a burning yearning to write?
“Do not pass go, Do not collect $200 and go straight to doing an AWC course! It's such a great way to not only learn how to be a better writer, but also to surround yourself with other writers, and to give yourself the courage to JUST DO IT!”
AWC courses completed:
Creative Writing Stage 1
