When Melbourne author Emma Mugglestone signed up for her first course at the Australian Writers’ Centre, she was finally ready to start the romance novel she’d been imagining for years. “When my youngest started kindergarten and I finally had a few free hours per week, I decided it was time to start working towards a goal I’d been thinking about for years and try to write my own romance novel,” she says. “I’d been reading them for years, and always been a big reader in general, and this persistent little voice in my mind just kept getting louder and saying, ‘Maybe you could do this too?’”
That decision set Emma on a steady, structured path: Creative Writing Stage 1 to learn the craft, then Novel Writing Essentials to develop her idea, and Write Your Novel to bring a full manuscript to life. Along the way, she refined her skills further in Cut, Shape, Polish and Fiction Essentials: Dialogue. The result? An award-winning indie series and now a major traditional release with Penguin Random House Australia, In the Long Run – a steamy, slow-burn romance set against running routes, pastries and a very public fake-dating scheme.
“I knew I wanted to write but I didn’t really know where to start,” Emma says. “A google search for writing courses led me to the Australian Writers Centre and I enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1 eager to learn about the craft of writing.” One prompt proved pivotal. “One of the writing prompt exercises sparked an idea that I knew I wanted to turn into my first attempt at a novel, so I then enrolled in Novel Writing Essentials and after that Write Your Novel.”
Structure and flexibility
The online format and structured rhythm helped. “I loved the online aspect because it allowed me to work when I had time and the weekly structure helped keep me on track,” she says. Just as important was learning to receive critique. “It was also my first time receiving feedback from my peers and I truly think that you learn so much about your creative process and your writing from receiving feedback from strangers. Let’s face it – your family and friends are always going to say nice things because they love you and that’s great, but it’s important to get unbiased feedback as well.”
Those foundations sparked a ripple effect. “The courses I did via AWC reinforced that writing was something I really wanted to do and taught me what I needed to get started and then to challenge myself,” Emma says. “And if it wasn’t for that story prompt that kickstarted the first novel I wrote, I wouldn’t have developed my award-winning independently published Wattle Junction series. And if I hadn’t indie published my Wattle Junction books, I wouldn’t have ever been commissioned to write a novel for Penguin Random House Australia. The ripple effect from my first course at AWC has been huge, and I’m so grateful for it.”
In the Long Run follows Gen – training for a marathon she never meant to enter while dodging an ex – and Knox, back in Melbourne to help his injured godfather and rescue a struggling pâtisserie. A flirty post-race clip goes viral, their pretend date turns very public, and the pair launch the Croissants & Kilometres Run Club to bring customers back with post-run snacks. The question is whether they can keep up the charade long enough to reach the finish line – and admit what’s real.
The book’s origin story still feels surreal to Emma. “In the Long Run came about under slightly unique circumstances and I still struggle to comprehend that it’s actually a book and available in bookstores now,” she says. “Basically, last February I received a message from best-selling Australian romance and women’s fiction author Rachael Johns saying that Penguin Random House Australia was looking for someone – possibly an indie author – to write a run club romance for them. Rachael knew I was a runner, and we had met through the Romance Writers of Australia, so she suggested my name.”
After meetings and a pitch with synopsis and sample chapters, the offer arrived. “I got the news that In the Long Run had made it through Acquisitions on a Wednesday afternoon and I don’t think I’ll ever receive a more exciting email,” she recalls. “I had convinced myself that the best outcome I could possibly hope for was a request for more chapters and/or a full manuscript so when the offer for publication came through, I just couldn’t believe it…”
Traditional and indie publishing
Before her traditional deal, Emma had already embraced indie publishing. “After I completed drafting my second novel, I knew I wanted to indie publish it,” she says. “Indie publishing felt like a very safe way to share my stories, on my own timeline, and see how I would feel about having them out in the world.” Success followed: “I’ve since indie published two full novels and a novella within that series and my debut, The Reality of Us, won the Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald award (best unpublished manuscript by an unpublished author) and the League of Romance Writers Emily award (long contemporary category). It also placed second in RWAus’s Romantic Book of the Year award.”
Today, writing is front and centre. “At the moment, I’m very fortunate to be writing full-time,” Emma says. “My indie series is ongoing, and I’ve released two of the four planned full-length novels with the third due to publish early next year. I’m also working on a few other projects that I hope to pitch to traditional publishers in the next year or so as well. I’m determined to keep sharing my stories and growing as a writer.”
For anyone considering an AWC course, her advice is simple. “I recommend the courses at AWC because they are comprehensive, engaging and best of all, encouraging,” she says. “It can be hard to find the courage to call yourself a writer – at least it was in my experience – and learning from AWC taught me what I needed to overcome that.”
Courses completed at AWC:
