It’s Been Busy!

As a passionate creative, I often think out of the box to diversify and monetise my skills. I love discovering how other creatives do it too – it gives me ideas. A writer’s life isn’t just about sitting down in your uggies and opening up a laptop! With that in mind, I present to you my 2019 highlights!

None of the year’s lowlights are here, because they won’t inspire anybody, though be assured they came along and challenged me as they do everyone else.

I also haven’t included news about my creative support business – editing and mentoring writers, preparing books for publication with layouts for print and ebook, and teaching creative writing classes – as that’s all still chugging along nicely.

Publications

I was thrilled to have several stories published this year, selected from hundreds of submissions (in one case 450)!

• “The Call of the Gypsy Fetcher” – published, WhimsyCon Anthology (Denver WhimsyCon 2019) – Magic can be your downfall as well as your saviour, and when desperation reduces Lucetta’s choices, it becomes a question of life or death.
• “A Witch’s Place” – published, AntipodeanSF Magazine (Issue 250, 2019) – When Maggie’s aunt is accused of witchcraft, she can’t imagine her day getting any worse… FREE TO READ
• “Shy”– podcast, Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast (Manawaker 2019) – Evie is torn between three lives: the life she has, the life she needs, and the life she believes will never come. Trapped in their island village, her brother knows better than she does which life will be hers. FREE TO LISTEN
• “The Family Tradition” – published, Untitled: Issue Eight Anthology (Busybird, 2019) – A morning of daydreams has Mia reconsidering her relationship with food.
• “Spellbreaker” – published, Of Beasts & Butterflies Anthology (NBWG 2019) – Neglected teens Hansel & Gretel find their way to The Sugar House where only fire can save them, a modern Australian adaptation of the fairy tale.

Two of those are free to read/listen – just click above to access!

I also participated in a world record attempt, the ‘most authors to contribute to an anthology’; and was shortlisted for the Marjorie Barnard Short Story Award 2019 – what an honour!

I attended two writing festivals, the Speculative Fiction Festival and Writers Unleashed, both in Sydney. My novel, Towards White, is also still selling well, which is amazing!

And I’m writing a new novel – watch this space!

Young Adults

This year it’s also been wonderful to read a stack of writing by young adults. I judged the Mosman Literary Awards, young adult section; I tutored about a dozen HSC students in English; I taught school holiday workshops for young writers; and went into local schools to teach creative writing too.

The best thing about working with young adults is discovering what concerns they have in their lives, giving me insight into future generations. As a writer of science fiction, I truly appreciate the glimpses I get!

Blog

As well as sharing news on my blog about achievements and events, I also wrote about topics that interested a lot of online readers, such as:

• The Importance of Place – all about being an immigrant
• When Death Snaps at Our Heels – a watery near-death experience
• About Being a Book Layout Designer – an interview about this aspect of my creative support business and how I balance it with being a writer
• Are You Afraid of Technology – the cultural importance of science fiction writing
• Kri-ei-tiviti for Your Child’s Future – talking about the power of creativity, children and how it will save their future
• Challenge: Stamina – How to Keep Going – 10 tips on how to keep pursuing your creative endeavours
• 5 Tips for Young Writers – creative writing advice based on my experience judging the Mosman Literary Awards over the years
• FREE Critique Guide – advice for giving writers critiques and receiving them

More to come in 2020!

Inclusive Creativity Advocate

This year has also been full of community-based highlights, each upscaling the work I do to raise the profile of writers and promote writing.

I appeared on a panel talking about the future of creativity at the Glen Street Theatre. From the enthusiastic feedback I received afterwards, I clearly connected with audience members.

Next I was a Forest Ambassador for the Northern Beaches Council, helping kids from Cromer Primary School to express their appreciation for the endangered Spotted Gum tree through poetry. Their words created a collaborative poem that was then exhibited at Eramboo Artist Environment with the glorious artwork of Gloria Florez.

I appeared at the 2019 Seniors Festival to promote writing to seniors, and taught a creative writing workshop at Carer’s Day Out to promote writing to carers.

During the 2019 Manly Art Festival, I also taught a workshop the ‘Hidden Stories in Art’ at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, to explore the relationship between visual and literary art.

Finally, my biggest community project of the year was the inaugural Art & Words Project. I was thrilled to collaborate with the Northern Beaches Council Libraries and Manly Art Gallery & Museum to turn my idea of an anthology of twenty-four local writers and artists into reality. As well as all the set-up and organisation, I worked with the library and gallery to judge writing submissions, match writers and artists, edit stories, consult on the anthology’s production and organise a launch to remember. I’m very proud of the result.

2020

As you can see, 2019 was an extremely busy year. I’m grateful for every second of it. Yes, even the lowlights. Without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today – a weaver of words who gets to share that wonderful experience with others: in the community, in schools and at festivals, adults, children and young writers, seniors, carers, and most importantly… readers.

Thank you everyone for your continued support!