This could be you | Australian Writers' Centre

Writing Podcast Episode 384 Tania Blanchard’s ‘Letters from Berlin’ [Story Sessions series]

In Episode 384 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring Letters from Berlin by Tania Blanchard. Set in 1943 Berlin, 18-year-old Susanna Göttmann accepts the help of an influential Nazi officer to protect her family and the man she loves. But at what cost? Tania once again draws on her own family history to tell an extraordinary tale of tragedy and courage, love and loss, endings and new beginnings. We bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this book.

Writing Podcast Episode 381 Meet Frances Chapman, author of ‘Stars Like Us’.

In Episode 381 of So You Want To Be A Writer: You’ll meet Frances Chapman, author of Stars Liks Us. We also cover how to write scenes. Plus, there are 10x double passes to see High Ground – in cinemas 28 January.

Writing Podcast Episode 380 Penelope Janu’s ‘Starting from Scratch’ [Story Sessions series]

In Episode 380 of So You Want To Be A Writer: This ‘inbetweenisode’ is part of our Story Sessions series featuring ‘Starting From Scratch’ by Penelope Janu. Return to the town of Horseshoe Hill and Sapphie Brown as she grapples with her injured pride, and questions if it’s standing in the way of true love. Narrated by the author herself, we bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this charming rural romance.

Teacher Krys Saclier publishes a picture book about Australia’s electoral system!

Explaining Australia’s federal voting system seems like strange inspiration for a picture book – but that’s exactly what Krys Saclier did for her second book Vote 4 Me, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, and published through Wild Dog Books.
Krys is a graduate of several AWC courses, including History, Mystery and Magic, How to Write for Children and Young Adults, and Pitch Your Novel: How to Attract Agents and Publishers. Her debut picture book, Super Nova, was published in 2019 through Ford Street Publishing with illustrations by Rebecca Timmis.

AWC graduate Theresa Miller publishes debut novel ‘The Spin Doctor’s Wife’

Enrolling in the Write Your Novel program was just the push that Theresa Miller needed to finish the draft of her first fiction manuscript. There’s nothing like a deadline to motivate you to finish a project! That book, The Spin Doctor’s Wife, is out now through Critical Mass.

“The Write Your Novel program helped me finish and publish my novel – which is something I’ve wanted to do since I learned to read,” Theresa says. “[The program] had a huge impact!”

From newsreader to published author: Nicole Webb publishes debut memoir ‘China Blonde’

Nicole Webb was a trained journalist and newsreader, with a wealth of writing talent. But when she sat down to write her memoir of life in China, she knew she needed to learn and utilise a whole new set of skills. After taking three courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre, doing hundreds of interviews, writing thousands of words, and doing many rewrites, her debut China Blonde is out now with Brio Books.
“Without doing those courses, I really don’t think I would have had the knowledge or know-how to start a book properly, let alone finish a book,” Nicole says.

The turning point that led to James Antoniou becoming a published picture book author

James Antoniou was in the middle of a haphazard gap year when he decided to enrol in Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers’ Centre. He had always wanted to be a published author, had studied English at Oxford, and was ready to launch his writing career. But it was the course at the AWC that gave James the practical tools he needed to finish his manuscript.

Danielle Norton’s journey from teacher to travel and food writer

Danielle Norton was half way through the AWC’s Food Writing course when she managed to sell her first two recipes to an online magazine. Not bad for a former school teacher who, by her own admission, was naive about the media industry. Now a veteran of six AWC courses, Danielle is an established freelance writer and copywriter, and she is sought after by editors for her travel and parenting articles.

AWC alumna Astrid Scholte wins Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best YA Crime Novel

The Sisters in Crime 20th Davitt Awards have been presented and we’re thrilled that AWC alumna Astrid Scholte has won the Best Young Adult Crime Novel for her debut novel Four Dead Queens. It’s been an incredible year for Astrid, who also made the shortlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and published […]

Congrats to AWC alumna Dinuka McKenzie – winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize!

HarperCollins Australia has announced their winner of The 2020 Banjo Prize and we are thrilled it’s Dinuka McKenzie, one of our talented alumni! Dinuka took out the major prize for her manuscript Flood Debris (released in 2022 as The Torrent), winning a publishing contract with HarperCollins and a $15,000 advance. This is an incredible achievement […]