A big congratulations to these Writers’ Centre members, who have achieved amazing successes in 2014. Many have had their first short stories or poems published, some have won writing competitions, received valuable fellowships or residencies, and others have had their first book published. They are novelists, children’s writers, poets, writers of non-fiction, memoir and more, and they serve as an inspiration to all of us to keep writing, reading and striving for our goals.
Raghid Nahhas has published a collection of his writings in Arabic in a book titled Tallon wa Sharar, published by Dew & Sparks.
Tima Maria Lacoba’s debut novel titled Bloodgifted, Book 1 of The Dantonville Legacy series, has been released on Amazon. It ranked #38 on their Hot New Releases list and remained in the 100 Top New Releases for over a week.
Gabrielle Tozar published her debut YA novel, The Intern, with Harper Collins in February.
Andy Porter, who writes under the pen name Tilney Cotton released his children’s book, Little Chef, Big Curse with Scholastic Australia in February.
Rosamund Dallow-Smith has published her novel Broken Rhythms, which was launched it at the Writers’ Centre in February.
David Blissett, whose first non-fiction title, Snake Catcher – co-written with Tony Harrison – is being published by Melbourne Books, with an expected release of July this year.
Laura Daniel’s book The Garden Gate: An Inner Journey (second edition) (Mistymoon Mountain 2012), was picked up by Hay House and has been released under their Balboa Press imprint. It is now available in print and ebook formats through local booksellers and on (nearly) all electronic book sales platforms worldwide.
Libby Sommer has had two short stories ‘Au Poor’ and ‘Undulations’ accepted for publication in Quadrant 2014.
Denis Fitzpatrick has published three short stories, ‘An Undying Love’, ‘My Very Last’ and ‘A Very Quiet Guest’ with www.shortstoriesclub.com. Denis has also, with the assistance of Smashwords, now published his debut novel, This Mirror in Me, to the majority of the Kindle and non-Kindle markets.
Fiona McCallum’s book, Time Will Tell will be published in April. It is the second book in The Button Jar series, the much-anticipated sequel to the Australian top-ten bestseller, Saving Grace.
Christine Johnson has received a professional development grant from Arts NSW and Ageing, Disability and Home Care’s ‘Amplify Your Art’ program towards her first novel, The Chinaman’s Horse, which will entail a ten-month mentorship with professional editor Elizabeth Cowell.
Christine Johnson has won first prize in the following short story competitions – ‘Annandale Dreaming’ in The Heart of Annandale Art Exhibition and Prize NSW, ‘Irish Stew’, Laura Literary Awards SA and ‘Final Bid’, Eyre Writers Annual Literary Awards National Open Section.
Christine Piper’s first novel, After Darkness, won the 2014 The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award and is published this month by Allen & Unwin. She also won the 2014 Calibre Prize for her essay ‘Unearthing the Past’.
NSWWC tutor Zena Shapter has been nominated for a Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. The Ditmar Awards recognise and celebrate achievements by Australians in speculative fiction writing.
Judy O’Connor had four short stories long listed for Fish Publishing Short Memoir Writing Contest (Ireland) 2014 (1100 entries). ‘The Day Harry Left,’ ‘Full Circle,’ ‘War is Not Suitable for Children’ and ‘Cut Me Out.’
Kathleen Fernandes has had her poems, ‘Waiting Room’and ‘Long Interlude’ published in The Mozzie, Issue 21, 2013 & Issue 2, 2014 respectively. She has also had two short stories, ‘In The Shadow’ and ‘Blackberry Blues’ published by Tamba and Beyond the Rainbow.
Mardi Davies’s first picture book, Found You! will be published by Ford St Publishing later this year.
Colin Burrough’s new novel Or Forever Be Damned was published by Silky Oak Press earlier this year.