Veronica Lando is an Australian crime author who won the 2021 Banjo Prize for her then-unpublished manuscript The Whispering. As a child, she grew up above her parents’ Melbourne bookstore, surrounded by other people’s stories. Now, as an adult, she lives in Queensland and enjoys using the uniquely wild and sometimes
By Allison Tait It’s a wonderful time to become an author. Here are seven publishing opportunities you may not have considered. Remember to give yourself the best possible chance of success by reading the publisher’s guidelines carefully, and prepare to be patient! With declared waiting times of up to six
Many aspiring writers dream of an idyllic creative space where they can pen their next masterpiece. Sulari Gentill, who has recently released her 15th book, The Woman in the Library, turned that dream into reality when she installed a writing hut on her property in the Snowy Mountains in Australia.
Gabrielle Wang is an Australian writer and and illustrator who has been writing books for over 20 years. Her work includes Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon, The Beast of Hushing Wood, Ting Ting the Ghosthunter and more. She served as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022
By Allison Tait. Unless you’re planning to write just one amazing book and disappear (hello, Harper Lee), chances are you’re hoping to establish and build a long-term career as an author. But just what does that take? One person who has insider insights on that question is Sophie Hamley, currently
Kathy Reichs has written over twenty novels featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, including Cold Cold Bones. An international best-seller, she’s also worked as the producer of the television series based upon her work, Bones, and she’s one of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology.
By Allison Tait. Authors can earn money from a diverse range of income streams. Check them out …. Diverse income streams are key So, where does the money come from? How can you make a living as an author? If you’re an author, whether traditionally published, hybrid or indie published,
By Allison Tait. If you are a regular visitor to the Australian Writers’ Centre’s courses, a regular listener of our So You Want To Be A Writer podcast, or a regular attendee at our Zoom events and seminars, chances are you’ve come across our amazing director of creative writing, Dr
Kimberley Starr is an Australian novelist and teacher whose novels have won and been shortlisted for multiple literary awards, including the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and the Text Publishing YA Prize. She lives with her sons and their labrador in semi-rural Victoria and is currently completing a PhD in Creative
When you are launching a novel, particularly your first (but really, any novel), getting publicity for that book can feel like a blend of luck, magic and random intervention. The truth is, though, that book publicity, like so many aspects of publishing, is a job, and it takes a lot
By Valerie Khoo. Bestselling author Kate Forsyth has written 48 books, across all age groups and many genres. She is published in 20 countries and her most recent book is The Crimson Thread, a reimagining of ‘The Minotaur in the Labyrinth’ myth, set in Crete during the Nazi invasion and
Even after a writers’ festival, smart writers know there’s still plenty of chances to build relationships with the writers, publishers, and friends they met at the event. Australian Writers’ Centre CEO and podcast host Valerie Khoo shares the quick steps you can take to build on your festival experience.
Pamela Hart is an award-winning, best-selling author of more than 40 books and novellas, plus short stories and scripts. Her novel, An A-List for Death, is the second book in the Poppy McGowan mystery series, and she’s published regency romances, historical novels, and (as Pamela Freeman) multi-award winning picture books
By Allison Tait. Every author, whether aspiring or emerging or established, dreams of writing a bestseller. A book that will rocket up the sales charts, whether propelled by word of mouth or prize-winning status, dragging its writer behind it into a dream life of champagne and literary lunches. Whether the
By Angela Slatter. In your travels as a new writer, you’ve probably heard the term ‘beta reader’ but you might not quite know what that means. So, what’s a beta reader? A beta reader is someone who reads through your completed manuscript and gives their feedback. So, not just someone
Overwhelmed by the crowds and bustle of your local writers’ festival? Breaking out in a cold sweat at the very thought of making connections when you don’t know anybody there? If that describes you, fellow introvert (and Australian Writers Centre CEO) Valerie Khoo offers some great tips for meeting new
By Allison Tait. When people talk about landing pages, writers seem to look the other way, assuming that landing pages are for people with, I don’t know, products to sell. The fact is, though, that if you are an author, with a book to sell, you have a product. Not
Congratulations to Al Campbell and Sandhya Parappukkaran, both Australian Writers’ Centre graduates, who are finalists in the Queensland Literary Awards 2022! Al Campbell is author of the incredible novel The Keepers. As a graduate of several Australian Writers’ Centre courses, including the Write Your Novel program, Al’s wonderful story has
What are the five Ps for making sure you have the best writers festival experience? Planning, pre-Booking, packing a lunch, remembering to make time for pleasure, and purchasing great books! Find out why these five Ps make such a difference with Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo, onsite at Sydney
Sarah Vaughan studied English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. She spent eleven years at The Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her first thriller, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, translated into twenty-two languages,
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