Every month we take a moment to congratulate Writers SA members on their writing successes, from new book releases, to prizes, fellowships, awards, publication credits and more.
If you’re a Writers SA member who has celebrated a writing achievement recently, fill out this form to be included in our next feature.
May 2023
Verity Laughton has been shortlisted for the 2023 $10,000 Text Prize, for Una and the Many Worlds of Dream. The recipient of the Steph Bowe Mentorship will also be chosen from the shortlist, and both winners will be announced on 19 June. Find out more.
Alysha Herrmann‘s speculative short story Drowned was published in Issue 3 of The Saltbush Review. Drowned is a short story told in verse vignettes imagining a very different future for the dry land farming community of Pinnaroo in regional South Australia (hint: a future featuring mermaids and magic). Read here.
Guthrak, also written by Alysha Herrmann, premiered at the DreamBIG Festival in Adelaide in May 2023. School audiences travelled from right across regional South Australia and Adelaide to see the show, and there were four general public performances. The show received a 5-star review from Glam Adelaide. Find out more.
Mandy Foot‘s Bev and Kev has been awarded a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, presented annually for PAL books that represent excellence in the field of children’s literature. View more here.
JV Birch‘s new collection, ice cream ‘n’ tar, has just been published by SurVision Books. A winner of the James Tate International Poetry Prize 2022, it offers ‘a somewhat surrealist take on climate change’. Read on.
Tony Doyle‘s Vistas and Visions of a Blind Man is out now. ‘These poems will entertain, challenge, amuse and perhaps even shock you. Some of them take a critical look at modern life, recent cultural changes and possible future scenarios. The widening gap between rich and poor is referred to in several poems. Some of Tony’s poems will make you laugh.’ Find out more.
Lauren Mullinder’s Birdie Lights Up The World is out now, and she is hosting a book launch with fun activities for kids at Burnside Library, Saturday 24 June. Find out more.
April 2023
Steve Evan‘s poem Storm was selected for the top ten showcase for publication in the Mind Shine Bright’s anthology Storm. A second poem by Steve Evans, Coackroach, Honey was commended. Find out more here.
Jude Aquilina‘s poem Storm Over Lake Alexandrina, was shortlisted for publication in the Mind Shine Bright’s anthology Storm. Find out more here.
J V Birch‘s poem ‘Turning’ has been nominated by Ink, Sweat & Tears for the Forward Prize Best Single Poem 2023. Find out more here.
Pam Makin has been appointed Spoken Word SA’s Poet in Residence at Adelaide City Library – the first for 2023. Pam will be conducting a sonnet writing project titled Shakespeare’s Monkeys. The project will culminate in a showcase of works on Sunday 6 May. More here.
Kerry Taylor‘s debut novel Mr Smith to You, is to be published May 30 by Affirm Press. Inspired by the true story of an Australian jockey’s life lived in secret, this is a work of fiction that explores themes of gender identity, solitude and trust. The novel will also be available in audiobook form. Available here.
Ryan Morrison was hired as a creative consultant for a new podcast hosting service here in Adelaide, P. Zinner & Co. Ryan was asked to flesh out the mysterious origins of the fictional benefactor of the company, P. Zinner, through a fictional (and contradictory) article. Read here.
Rob deKok invites you to the launch of new book The Clearing, at Mitcham Memorial Library, 154 Belair Rd, Mitcham, Sunday, April 30, 2:30 – 4pm. Admission is free, and wine and nibbles will be provided. Please RSVP by email [email protected].
Fay Patterson was interviewed on Vision Australia Radio’s new Emerging Writers program. Listen here.
March 2023
Heather Taylor-Johnson has been shortlisted for the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize for her manuscript The Guggenheim: “during their honeymoon in New York, Julia and Dex survive a massacre that veils their marriage in tragedy and death. Four years on from the shooting, The Guggenheim sees them back in Adelaide, where Julia finds the chaos of her coping unsustainable.” Winner to be announced 15 June 2023.
Edoardo Crismani, Writers SA’s First Nations Writers Coordinator, was awarded the 2023 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship for Finding Billy Brown, a fast-paced story about an AFL player who is hit by a car, only to wake up in the 1930s, where he meets his boxer great-grandfather; and will be mentored by Wiradjuri writer Tara June Winch.
Jill Jones has been shortlisted for the Red Room Fellowship for 2023, awarded to a previously-commissioned poet to foster and enhance their poetic and professional development. Established to recognise and develop the achievements of contemporary Australian poets, the Fellowship supports the artistic growth of the individual as well as the wider community.
Allayne Webster is launching her book Selfie at 6.00pm Wednesday 12th April 2023, register via this link or contact Dymocks Adelaide.
Mandy Foot has been shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood for Bev and Kev.
Lucia Schwenker‘s non-fiction essay ‘Pandemonium’ has recently been published by Puentes Review, in their Issue 3.
Eddy Pengelly‘s latest book in a series of 25 relates to astounding time travel discoveries made by Queensland reseacher Ronald Pegg, has been added to the World Breaking Discoveries title list and is now available here.
Stella Damarjati’s poetry collection, My Home, was published on the 29th of March 2023 thanks to Ginninderra Press. Stella is originally from Indonesia, migrating to Australia when she was young. My Home invites the reader into Stella’s world and what home means to her. More information here.
Fay Lee was interviewed about her sc-fi thriller Empathy on The Evening Show on 7 March, Peter Goers calling it an “extraordinary book”.
February 2023
Natalie Pearce published her novel Don’t Fade Away after completing our Manuscript Incubator program.
Janeen Brian released a new, lighthearted, mid-grade novel (for the younger end), The Fix-it Princess, published by Walker Books Australia, with illustrations By Cherie Dignam,, and has a free launch event on March 18 at Burnside Library.
Walter Marsh’s deep dive into the origins of the Murdoch press, and how truth, power and newsprint collided in 1950s Adelaide is now available for pre-order. ‘Young Rupert: the making of the Murdoch empire’ is out in August via Scribe.
Lisa Stanbridge self-published her latest novel on 16th January, which is first in a three book series. Available here.
Derek Pedley‘s CRAZY BASTARD – A memoir of forced adoption went to press early (Thanks, Wakefield Press) so he could take copies to Perth Festival for Writers Weekend. Derek says: “Living the dream!”
Caroline Reid‘s ‘Rhyming Poem’ was highly commended, Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize.
Harald Shulten self published his first book, a partial memoir, Stories from my Home-based micro-Business. Available here.
Bronwyn Tilley (writing as Bronwyn Stuart) has been longlisted for Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable program. More information here.
January 2023
Bronwyn Stuart‘s latest novel Dear Diary was released on January 31, in print, ebook and Kindle Unlimited. He’s under a court order to rein in his temper but when a cat lady in training crashes into his life looking for Mr. Right Now, she’ll test his patience to its limits. He might even enjoy it just a little bit… Buy here.
Allayne Webster‘s 2019 novel Sensitive (UQP Books) has been selected by IBBY – The International Board of Children’s Books as a 2023 Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities. Sensitive was one of 20 books chosen from across the globe to be awarded this honour. The novel will now be displayed at the IBBY stand at the forthcoming Bologna Book Fair in Italy. More information here.
David Lewis‘s short story/picture book Penelope Poet and Billygoat Bubble was commended in the 2022 Toolangi CJ Dennis Poetry Competition.
Paul Kohn‘s debut poetry collection titled Soul Refraction was released 4th February 2023 thanks to Dragonfly Publishing. A blend of written and spoken word poetry and prose, it takes the reader on a journey from soul break to soul heal, soul grow to soul soar. Order here.
