#interviewswithwriters

AWC graduate JoJo Leslie publishes her first picture book, ‘Fish Don’t Hop’, with Woodslane Press JoJo Leslie’s picture book Fish Don’t Hop has been published by Woodslane Press, and she both wrote and illustrated it. JoJo is a graduate of our Writing Picture Books course, and she credits it with changing the way she approaches writing for children. “For me it was a game changer,” she says. “Once I understood […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/jojo-leslie-fish-dont-hop/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters

From bestselling thrillers to kids’ books: Tim Ayliffe on ‘Web of Spies’ Tim Ayliffe has spent years scaring adults. His John Bailey thrillers – The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within, Killer Traitor Spy and The Wrong Man – are the kind of books you start on a Sunday afternoon and finish at 2am, cross with yourself but unable to stop. Drawing on his 25-year […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/tim-ayliffe-web-of-spies/ #Fictionwriting #Interviewswithwriters

From illustrator to published author: Andrea Innocent’s ‘Lamington Left Behind’ Andrea Innocent has spent years bringing other people’s stories to life on the page – but the story that wouldn’t leave her alone was her own. Her debut middle-grade graphic novel, Lamington Left Behind, has been published by Hardie Grant. Its journey from haunting idea to 304 illustrated pages was shaped, in part, by the […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/andrea-innocent-lamington-left-behind/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters

Zookeeper Tina Strachan’s wild publishing success For former zookeeper Tina Strachan, writing had long been a passion, but she never imagined she would ever see her own work published ‘in the wild’.   It would take a writing competition to reignite the spark and set her on track to telling stories that drew heavily from her own life and career. And now […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/tina-strachan-neeka-and-the-wilder-zoo/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters

Katie Hoskins: Turning a dream into a two-book deal When Sydney writer Katie Hoskins took Creative Writing Stage 1 with the Australian Writers’ Centre, she discovered the confidence and structure she needed to write her debut novel. Her commercial fiction When the Party’s Over will be published by Pan Macmillan in March 2026. https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/katie-hoskins-when-the-partys-over/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters

How Inessa Jackson went from stay-at-home mum to published crime novelist with Simon & Schuster When Inessa Jackson left her career as PR Manager at eBay to be a stay-at-home mum, she was looking for a creative outlet – something to keep her brain active. She wondered if she had it in her to write a story. Starting with Creative Writing Stage 1 at the Australian Writers’ Centre, Inessa went […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/inessa-jackson-devil-mountain/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters

From dream to debut – Sam Elliott lands a two-book deal Sam Elliott always dreamt of becoming an author. And now that dream has become reality thanks to the release of his debut novel, Haze. However, it wasn't long ago that he almost gave up on his dream.  “I’d gotten to a point where I’d accepted, in my heart of hearts, that I might not get […]… https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/sam-elliott-haze/ #AlumniStudentsuccessstories #Interviewswithwriters