Rod Howard is an author, ghostwriter, copywriter and freelance journalist, with a background in arts management, media, publishing and strategic communications. In his narrative biographies, Rod has a passion for illuminating under-known and arcane corners of social history. Rod's books include The Fabulist (Random House), The Man Who Invented Vegemite (Murdoch Books) and A Forger's Tale (Arcade Publications), winner of the FAW Walter Stone Award for Biography. He has written regular columns and features in arts, travel and parenting. Rod was also founding Chair of the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival in NSW and a peer of the Australia Council.
Website: https://www.rodhowardwriter.com/

Wendy Howitt has written on staff for publications such as Vogue Australia, Harper’s Bazaar and The Sydney Morning Herald, and worked as a freelancer. She has written press releases, website content and advertorials. She has self-published two young adult books and has a BA, majoring in English, and a MA in Writing.
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Website: https://www.wendyhowitt.com/

Sarah Malik is a Walkley award winning senior investigative journalist, author and broadcaster, with two decades of media experience. She is the creator and EP of the SBS podcasts My Ramadan and The SBS Book Club. She also co-hosted and co-produced Let Me Tell You (winner of the gold Best Arts/Culture podcast at the 2022 Australian Podcast awards, and honoree at the 2023 Webby Awards), and the New Writers Room podcast. Her New Writers Room interview with Larissa Behrendt and Jazz Money was awarded bronze for Best Interview at the 2022 Australian podcast awards. Her work focuses on domestic violence, asylum and in its intersection with gender and race. She has been featured in the Sydney Review of Books, New York Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian. She has also produced and presented programs for ABC Radio National and Al Jazeera. Her debut memoir Desi Girl: On feminism, race, faith and belonging was published by UQP 2022. Her second book Safar: Muslim women’s stories of travel and transformation was published by Hardie Grant. In 2023 she was a keynote speaker for International Women’s Day at UTS speaking on the power of education, intersectionality and advancing women’s rights globally.
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Website: https://sarahbmalik.com/

Annika Tague is a publishing professional, having worked for Australia's largest independent publisher and as a bookseller for 4+ years. She has both an undergrad and postgrad degree in Creative Writing and currently works as a freelance literary editor and content writer. Annika has worked on editorial projects with a number of major publishing houses in Australia. She helps writers and aspiring authors fine-tune their manuscripts to reach their full potential. Annika works as a copywriter for businesses of all sizes. Annika is currently working on her debut novel, a family drama set in the heart of wine country.
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Website: http://www.polishedprose.com.au/

Kathy Prokhovnik writes fiction (long form, short stories, microfiction) and nonfiction. She is currently finalising her second novel and preparing her social history of Sydney, Seeking Sydney, for a podcast series. She is also a technical writer with extensive training and experience in research, writing and editing expertise. She has worked extensively on the production of examination materials, print books, ebooks, articles, newsletters, media releases, user guides, publicity material, fact sheets, equipment manuals, business reports and websites. She has been successful in many Australian short story writing competitions and has been published in anthologies and online and print journals.
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Website: http://kathyprokhovnik.com/

Laura Boon worked in book publishing for over thirty years and is now a writer, editor and tennis coach. The stories she enjoys most include love, adventure and friendship. She has a BA in English Language and Literature and is an accredited editor with the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd). Laura is the author of two romance novels and three non-fiction books, including Tips from a Book Publishing Industry Insider. She is a hybrid author, both traditionally and indie published. Laura lives in Sydney with Beau and Arrow, a Pekingese and a Shih Tzu who rule her world.
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Website: https://linktr.ee/lauraboon66

Emma Darragh lives and works on Dharawal Country. Her novel in stories, Thanks for Having Me, will be published by Joan Press in March, 2024. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong and her thesis, The Short Story Cycle in the Twenty-First Century, received the Examiners’ Commendation for Outstanding Thesis. Her writing has appeared in numerous Australian publications, including Cordite, Westerly, Meniscus, TEXT, and The Big Issue Fiction Edition. Emma is an experienced mentor and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Wollongong.
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Website: https://emmadarragh.com/

Dannielle Viera has been involved in the Australian publishing industry for over 20 years – first as a copywriter and then as an editor, project manager, proofreader and author. Many of her children’s stories and poems have appeared in anthologies, in The School Magazine and on the Australian Children’s Poetry website. In 2021, her first illustrated children’s book, Amazing Grace, was published by Library For All; in 2023, her debut picture book, The Leftover Lemon Dilemma, was published by Loose Parts Press. She is a member of SCBWI, and she reviews children’s books for the Buzz Words website.
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Website: http://www.dannielleviera.com/

Bronwyn Birdsall is a writer and editor. Her first novel Time and Tide in Sarajevo was shortlisted for the 2023 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. Bronwyn is passionate about the power of story and supporting storytellers. She has spoken at festivals, at events and on podcasts about her novel and the creative process. Bronwyn’s writing centres around contemporary life and finding meaning in the everyday, and has been selected for development programs and residencies. As well as working as an editor for over fifteen years, she has also assessed entries for mentorship programs and competitions.
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Website: http://www.bronwynbirdsall.com/