Cathie Tasker, Presenter

Cathie Tasker is a fiction editor with over 25 years’ experience. She has mentored many manuscripts to publication and is experienced at guiding and motivating writers to improve their work.

Cathie has worked as an editor and publisher with HarperCollins, Scholastic Australia and Koala Books. She also worked as Marketing Manager for Koala Books and as a Book Club Editor at Scholastic Australia. In her career, Cathie has edited and commissioned nearly 800 books, many of which went on to become bestsellers and win awards.

Cathie has edited novels and picture books for many authors, including Jackie French, Wendy Orr, Garth Nix, Mem Fox, Cathy Wilcox, Bruce Whatley, Jennifer Fallon, Garry Disher, and three Australian Writers’ Centre presenters: Pamela Freeman, Judith Rossell and Sue Whiting.

She has judged and convened panels for numerous literary awards including the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year awards, the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and the Aurealis Awards (fantasy, science fiction, horror, short stories, novellas and novels). Cathie has also convened panels for the Bundanon Trust Artist in Residence, the Society of Women Writers, and the International Board on Books for Young People. Cathie also contributed to the Australasian update to The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature (Second Edition, 2015).

Cathie teaches Creative Writing Stage 1, Writing Picture Books, Writing Picture Books Masterclass, Short Story Essentials and Write Your Novel: 6-month Program.

Some of the books Cathie has edited include:

Testimonials about this presenter

“Cathie was extremely knowledgeable. It was beneficial to get an editor’s point of view – it felt like we were given an insider’s perspective on the picture book industry. The timing of the course over five weeks was also nice. It was just the right amount of time.”

- Laura Wuellner

“I thought Cathie was excellent. I appreciated her direct feedback and honesty. It was obvious that she had a great depth of experience and knowledge. I thought the course was interesting and Cathie’s directness and sense of humour made it fun!”

- Jodie Hamblin

“Cathie was a very knowledgeable presenter and I liked that she was open to all sorts of questions. It was great to hear how the publishing works from someone who has been there.”

- Catherine Golding

“Cathie was a genuine, honest presenter who was generous with her experience and quietly firm about what is expected of the author of a children’s picture book. She had a wry sense of humour and an engaging and organised way of delivering the work. I was really inspired to go home and get on with my book.”

- Catherine Falk

“Cathie is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of picture books, and with so much relevant industry experience, her tips and insights were invaluable. The workshop aspect of the course and meeting other writers was terrific. Cathie was awesome. She was direct, honest, informative, funny – perfect!”

- Natalie Keen

Presenter for:

Creative Writing Stage 1
Want to write fiction? Want it to be amazing? Dive into a supportive environment of creativity, information and inspiration!
Writing Picture Books
Want to be the next big thing for little people? Learn the essentials to creating the perfect picture prose that will delight small folk every time.
Writing Picture Books Masterclass
Remove the fog of this tricky transition from writing to selling your book. After all, you only have one shot at this, so it makes sense to get it right.
Short Story Essentials
This course is ideal for anyone keen to develop their fiction writing skills, enter writing competitions and build a body of work.
Novel Writing Essentials
You have a book in you and this course will help you to get it out, onto a page where others can enjoy it.
Write Your Novel
Want to get from draft to published sooner? Our program puts you on the fast track to success, with valuable critiques and detailed advice.