Category: AWC alumni

Shankari Chandran: From lawyer to published author

When Shankari Chandran took time out of her career as a lawyer to have her fourth child, she turned her hand to writing in between baby feeds and family demands. This pastime has turned into a new career and Shankari has now released her first novel The Barrier, a futuristic... read more

Shelly Unwin: “I visualised my success!”

Success: Shelly has written a series of counting-themed picture books for one to five-year-olds – published June 2017 through Allen & Unwin. AWC courses completed: Writing Picture Books Writing Books for Children and Young Adults Background: Shelly Unwin was a stay-at-home mum with a young family... read more

“I got published!”: “Delicious”, “Wellbeing” and more!

The sky is the limit when you’re a freelance writer and our AWC grads are definitely soaring high! We are back with another set of their fabulous pieces spread throughout various publications. Check out the results of their hard work and dedication: Above: Laura McGeoch featured in HRMonthly with... read more

Catherine Pelosi: From boring office job to book deal

Success: Quark's Academy – debut children's novel signed with Hachette in October 2016. Plus setting up her own copywriting and freelance travel writing business in Sydney. AWC courses completed: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults Copywriting Essentials Travel Writing Background Catherine Pelosi was living in London working at... read more

Road is good for Bridget’s memoir

Success: Road No Good – Finch Publishing, January 2017 (Runner up, Finch Memoir prize 2016) AWC courses taken: Start Your Novel: Introduction to Novel Writing Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques Background After living for two years in remote Vanuatu where she had helped develop the preschools in an isolated town called Luganville... read more

Sarah Bailey: Daydreamer to dream book deal

We all like to daydream about finding success with our writing, but simply wishing for something tends to be an unreliable strategy. Advertising executive Sarah Bailey was one such daydreamer, but she found a way to devote more time to her writing and ultimately land a book deal. Sarah’s... read more

AWC graduate Liz Anelli: Illustrator adds writing skills

When picture book illustrator Liz Anelli moved from England to Australia in 2012, she was keen to add something new to her two decades’ experience. And it was a chance encounter with Australian Writers’ Centre (AWC) presenter Cathie Tasker that would provide the spark to a new career as a... read more

AWC alumnus Anna Spargo-Ryan wins The Horne Prize

We’re so thrilled that AWC alumnus Anna Spargo-Ryan has recently been announced as the winner of The Horne Prize. This year, Anna’s debut novel The Paper House was also released to critical acclaim. Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo says: “When I first started reading Anna’s... read more

AWC graduate Penny Morrison: Published picture book author

It wasn’t so long ago that Sydney mum Penny Morrison would have laughed off suggestions that she could be a published picture book author. She never thought of herself ever writing books. However, now with half a dozen books to her name, including an industry recognition, she has no... read more

Tamsin Janu’s award-winning start in children’s fiction

Tamsin Janu published her award-winning book Figgy in the World after completing a course at the Australian Writers’ Centre. After taking the book world by storm, she has now followed up with a sequel, Figgy and the President. And it all started when she enrolled in a writing course that would change her life. “On the second day of the course I remember that's when I came up with the idea for my first book!” said Tamsin.