Category: AWC alumni

Mandy Foot lands children’s book deal as writer and illustrator

Courses taken at AWC: Writing Picture Books Congratulations to Australian Writers’ Centre Writing Picture Books graduate Mandy Foot on her publishing deal with Hachette Australia.   Her charming book Joey and Riley (about a young boy and his beloved dog in rural Australia) will be published next year and in the... read more

Maggie Hutchings – from counsellor to children’s author

Course taken at AWC: Writing Picture Books Maggie Hutchings’ determination to improve and keep writing until she was published has paid off, thanks to taking AWC’s Writing Picture Books course and the subsequent publication of her children’s book Unicorn! by Affirm Press. “I was absolutely committed to the... read more

Shelly Unwin blasts off with another winning children’s book!

AWC courses completed: Writing Picture Books How to Write for Children and Young Adults Prolific children’s author Shelly Unwin is blasting onto bookshelves with her new picture book Blast Off!, which rockets through the solar system in a funny, fact-filled space trip around the planets. Inspired by her... read more

Ingrid Alexandra fulfils a lifelong dream to be a published author

AWC courses completed: Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques Ingrid’s tenacity and stubbornness to keep at it no matter how many rejections were thrown at her has paid off with the launch of her psychological thriller The New Girl  published by HarperCollins imprint Avon Books UK. Investing in skills “I'd... read more

Astrid Scholte: Now a successful author of young adult fiction

AWC Courses completed: Creative Writing Stage 1 Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques (Creative Writing Stage 2) Start Your Novel History, Mystery and Magic Blogging for Beginners What Publishers Want Lofty ambitions pay off Astrid Scholte had always hoped to be published. In fact, she had the lofty goal of being published... read more

Announcing the 2018 Australian Book Industry Awards Longlist

A HUGE congratulations to everyone on the ABIA 2018 longlist – especially our alumni Sarah Bailey for The Dark Lake and Tania Blanchard for The Girl from Munich. Great to see our graduates kicking so many goals. Bravo! Also to these fantastic authors who have all featured in the Australian Writers... read more

AWC alumnus Penelope Janu has won the 2017 XO Romance Prize

AWC alumnus Penelope Janu has won the 2017 XO Romance Prize for her unpublished manuscript, On the Same Page. Described by guest judge Alexandra Nahlous as “A wonderful, captivating story about a writer desperate to keep her identity hidden, and the man determined to expose her”, Penelope receives a $5000... read more

Brad Kelly: From history teacher to full-time freelance writer

AWC courses completed: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 Freelance Writing Masterclass Program Copywriting Essentials Profile Writing The Business of Freelancing Writing Australian History After a 15-year career as a history teacher, Brad Kelly was ready for his next challenge. With a keen interest in the world of writing... read more

Joy Adan: Living her dream as a freelance writer

AWC courses completed: Writing for the Web and Mobile Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 Freelance Writing Masterclass Program Profile Writing Reinvent Yourself Creative Writing Stage 1 Make Time to Write Life Writing Even though Joy Adan dreamt of becoming a writer, she initially didn’t have the confidence to... read more

How Jennifer Johnston gained the confidence to become a freelance writer

Success: Learning the practical skills and gaining the confidence to pursue a career as a freelance writer – regularly getting paid for her stories. AWC courses completed: Travel Writing Profile Writing Copywriting Essentials Freelance Writing Masterclass Program (current member) Background: Jennifer Johnston is living proof that you never stop learning – in... read more

Tania Blanchard: From physiotherapist to full-time fiction author

Success: Debut historical novel The Girl from Munich, published by Simon and Schuster in 2017 (two-book deal). AWC courses completed: Become a Children's Author [Writing Books for Children and Young Adults] Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques Background: A debut historical novel kicking off a two-book deal with a... read more

Jenna Guillaume: Journalist turned YA fiction author

Success: After putting off the idea of creative writing for many years, Jenna Guillaume signed a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan for her YA fiction. AWC courses completed: Creative Writing Stage 1 Become a Children’s Author Background: Sometimes it takes a ‘sign’ for things to fall into place... read more

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