It's never too late to become an author – and you need only look to bestselling author Penelope Janu – now one of Australia's beloved romance authors – for proof of this.
A decade or so ago, Penelope had the grand sum of zero published books to her name – but she did have a dream. After are career as a solicitor and legal academic, she thought it was high time she finally followed her creative impulses. So she completed a short course at the Australian Writers’ Centre (AWC), which gave her the confidence to pursue a creative writing degree – and led to her first novel, In at the Deep End, being accepted for publication.
Now, Penelope has carved a successful writing career in the romance fiction space – with more than a dozen titles to her name, including her latest (released in May 2026), Out of the Blue.
Finding her groove
“I write romances about clever and adventurous women who don’t mean to fall in love, but do, and I like to write about characters who have interesting careers, passions, and backstories,” Penelope says. “Family relationships and friendships are all a part of that.”
Penelope now considers herself a full-time writer – and in many ways, she has her daughter to thank for the turn of events. “My daughter Tamsin* took a weekend course at AWC a few years ago and sent me a link,” she recalls. With the link was a quick note – “Mum, this might be good for you.”
Penelope enrolled in an AWC creative writing course and instantly loved the supportive environment. “I had never written creatively before that – I was nervous. But [the tutor] was really encouraging to all of the course participants, whatever stage of our writing journeys we were on. I guess it gave me the courage to think, ‘gee, this is something that I can do.'”
As well as confidence, it gave her a new tribe. “People within the community are supportive and encouraging and they are people you need to connect with in order to grow and to succeed as a writer.”
The course also gave Penelope the drive to do a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing. “It got me thinking about it as a serious possibility.”
Getting published
That confidence yielded results with the news that Penelope’s contemporary romance novel, In at the Deep End, would be published by Harlequin MIRA.
“I actually pitched the novel to them at the Romance Writers of Australia conference. They loved it and wanted to take it to acquisition. I wasn't popping champagne quite yet, but I knew that there was a likelihood that Harlequin MIRA would support the novel and publish it.”
After a busy year of editing, her first book was published in early 2017. “I don't think I would have done it unless I had done weekend course,” admits Penelope. “Certainly some of the things I learnt there just gave me the encouragement to think I could start.”
The publisher offered Penelope a two-book deal – and once the ink dried, the reality and celebrations could finally kick in. “The two-book deal was a real bonus,” she says. “It demonstrated Harlequin's commitment to me as a writer.”
Penelope has now established herself as a firm favourite amongst readers who love her realistic and compassionate characters, intriguing storylines, beautiful settings and, of course, her thrilling romances.
Building the collection
That very first book, In at the Deep End, would end up being reprinted and categorised in her catalogue as one of two (so far) romantic comedy ‘coastal fiction' novels (the other being On the Same Page, published in 2022).
But it was inland where she soon began to turn her attention, carving a place for herself in the hugely popular rural romance arena. Starting in 2018, Penelope published one book a year – beginning with On the Right Track, set in the world of horse racing. “I more or less grew up on a horse and, purely because of the horses, I have an interest in thoroughbred horses,” she says. “And I have a legal background – money laundering, horse racing, a mystery…were all elements that developed as I wrote the story.”
Horses continued to feature heavily, with Up on Horseshoe Hill following in 2019, Starting from Scratch in 2020, then Clouds on the Horizon (2021), Shelter from the Storm (2022), Sunshine through the Rain (2023) and The Summerfield Saddler (2024). Her eighth rural romance is Out of the Blue (2026) – with all books published through the HarperCollins HQ imprint.
But wait – there's more! Four Christmas-themed rural romance novellas have also been published to meet the insatiable demand over the years. A total of 14 titles in just nine years!
Happily ever after
The biggest adjustment in Penelope's new writing career has simply been trying to fit it into all the other pieces of her life. “I love the writing process, but it is hard and time-consuming work – a challenge I am really enjoying. I've always had a busy schedule, working full-time as a solicitor, and then as an academic. My husband and I have also raised six children who are quickly growing up. But writing takes time and from a career point of view it is now my first priority.”
And for someone who took her time to get into the creative writing game, Penelope is now showing no signs of apprehension. “I started a bit later in life,” Penelope says. “There are benefits in that because you're someone who's already had a career and raised a family.”
Her success was one thing that didn't come ‘out of the blue' – the generous advice gained in that very first course at AWC helping shape her path. “I was introduced to the concept of ‘voice' – and I was only likely to succeed if I wrote what I wanted to write, and how I wanted to write it. This gives the writer joy in the writing itself. When publication happens, the joy is enhanced because it gives the writer the opportunity to share their writing with readers. My own voice is unique to me. I have something to say that other people might want to hear.”
For Penelope, that initial course will always be a memorable starting point to becoming not just a writer, but one of the leading names in a hugely successful Australian genre.
You can find out more about Penelope at penelopejanu.com
(*Penelope’s daughter Tamsin has also been successful as a children’s book author. You can read about her experience here!)
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Course/s taken at AWC:
- Popular Women's Fiction
- Blogging for Beginners
