GRASSROOTS writers weekend presenters
Roby Aiken
Roby Aiken has been a member of Nambucca Valley Writers Group for seventeen years. She writes some very short stories and some very long ones, and enjoys playing with her characters; giving them life; making them sing; sometimes gleefully making them die horrible deaths.
Roby Aiken has been a member of Nambucca Valley Writers Group for seventeen years. She writes some very short stories and some very long ones, and enjoys playing with her characters; giving them life; making them sing; sometimes gleefully making them die horrible deaths.
Greg Barron
Originally born in Dorrigo, I lived in many parts of Australia and overseas before returning to the Mid-north Coast. I have qualifications in Education and Aquatic Science, and had a variety of jobs before I settled down to write seriously. I have had three novels published by HarperCollins and am almost finished the next title, while also working as a librarian and music teacher.
Originally born in Dorrigo, I lived in many parts of Australia and overseas before returning to the Mid-north Coast. I have qualifications in Education and Aquatic Science, and had a variety of jobs before I settled down to write seriously. I have had three novels published by HarperCollins and am almost finished the next title, while also working as a librarian and music teacher.
Michael Burlace
Michael Burlace lives in Coffs Harbour. He works as a newspaper sub-editor and runs workshops for writers and self publishers. He is writing a novel about an interesting, independent and smart woman who meets her match and can't have him. Or maybe she can. Ain't chemistry grand?
Michael Burlace lives in Coffs Harbour. He works as a newspaper sub-editor and runs workshops for writers and self publishers. He is writing a novel about an interesting, independent and smart woman who meets her match and can't have him. Or maybe she can. Ain't chemistry grand?
Diane Curran
Diane is a writer of fiction with attitude and particularly enjoys twisting fairy tales. She is also a collage poet, cutting out words from magazines and reassembling them into poems. Diane was on the executive committee of Romance Writers of Australia from 2009 -2015. She has been an unwavering member of NVWG for 15 years, currently president of the group.
Diane is a writer of fiction with attitude and particularly enjoys twisting fairy tales. She is also a collage poet, cutting out words from magazines and reassembling them into poems. Diane was on the executive committee of Romance Writers of Australia from 2009 -2015. She has been an unwavering member of NVWG for 15 years, currently president of the group.
Iris Curteis
I’m an oral storyteller, writer, mentor and academic. I love the power of language in all its forms. People and community are my other passion. I combined the above in my Ph.D., which focused on the power of storytelling to enable social change.
I’m an oral storyteller, writer, mentor and academic. I love the power of language in all its forms. People and community are my other passion. I combined the above in my Ph.D., which focused on the power of storytelling to enable social change.
Leonie Henschke
Leonie Henschke is a freelance journalist and writer with a background in newspapers and magazines and book publishing in Australia and Great Britain as Managing Editor of Angus and Robertson Publishers. Most recently she was Managing Director of the University of New England’s international corporate training arm, UNE Partnerships in Armidale.
Now living on the beautiful north coast at Sawtell she continues to write and teach writing and publishing and has become very involved in community cultural activities through her love of books, art, film and any artistic expression. When not writing herself she undertakes workshops for writers, manuscript assessments and guidance for writers on publishing options. Her favourite journalism is still human interest and personal profile stories and she likes to delve deeply into character and motives in her own writing.
Leonie Henschke is a freelance journalist and writer with a background in newspapers and magazines and book publishing in Australia and Great Britain as Managing Editor of Angus and Robertson Publishers. Most recently she was Managing Director of the University of New England’s international corporate training arm, UNE Partnerships in Armidale.
Now living on the beautiful north coast at Sawtell she continues to write and teach writing and publishing and has become very involved in community cultural activities through her love of books, art, film and any artistic expression. When not writing herself she undertakes workshops for writers, manuscript assessments and guidance for writers on publishing options. Her favourite journalism is still human interest and personal profile stories and she likes to delve deeply into character and motives in her own writing.
Kim Hodges
Kim Hodges resides on the North Coast of NSW, her birthplace, returning after growing up in Coolah, Central West NSW, then living in Sydney and abroad.
“Girl on the Edge: An Arresting Memoir” is her first book, published in 2016. Her adolescent experiences niggled away in the back of her mind from twenty years of age and worked their way into words. Kim has a Masters Degree in Policy from the University of Wollongong and undergraduate degree in Sociology from UTS. She has worked previously in the outer suburbs of Sydney at a local level using social action approaches and then in policy for government on health, gender and housing issues. Academia followed within the School of Arts and Social Sciences as a casual and contract Tutor/Lecturer for SCU. This memoir is written through a sensitive adolescent lens and reflections as an adult. It explores identity, belonging, and alienation, and also class, gender and power. It is set within a small town context, a local school and family. Humor to offset the confronting content.
She is the mother of three teenage lads.
Kim Hodges resides on the North Coast of NSW, her birthplace, returning after growing up in Coolah, Central West NSW, then living in Sydney and abroad.
“Girl on the Edge: An Arresting Memoir” is her first book, published in 2016. Her adolescent experiences niggled away in the back of her mind from twenty years of age and worked their way into words. Kim has a Masters Degree in Policy from the University of Wollongong and undergraduate degree in Sociology from UTS. She has worked previously in the outer suburbs of Sydney at a local level using social action approaches and then in policy for government on health, gender and housing issues. Academia followed within the School of Arts and Social Sciences as a casual and contract Tutor/Lecturer for SCU. This memoir is written through a sensitive adolescent lens and reflections as an adult. It explores identity, belonging, and alienation, and also class, gender and power. It is set within a small town context, a local school and family. Humor to offset the confronting content.
She is the mother of three teenage lads.
Wendy Laharnar
Wendy Laharnar, mother of two, grew up in the central west, NSW, graduated from UNE, Armidale, with a BA in English Lit., Classical Lit. (in translation), and History, both modern and ancient. She writes historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. Her medieval novel, The Unhewn Stone, won 3rd prize in the 2013 International Digital Awards for best YA novel and short stories. Wendy lives on the South Coast of NSW with her husband and mini Schnauzer. When she is not writing, she creates with fabric and wool and enjoys travel and photography.
Wendy Laharnar, mother of two, grew up in the central west, NSW, graduated from UNE, Armidale, with a BA in English Lit., Classical Lit. (in translation), and History, both modern and ancient. She writes historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. Her medieval novel, The Unhewn Stone, won 3rd prize in the 2013 International Digital Awards for best YA novel and short stories. Wendy lives on the South Coast of NSW with her husband and mini Schnauzer. When she is not writing, she creates with fabric and wool and enjoys travel and photography.
Fiona Macarthur
Fiona McArthur has been published in many genres including Medical Romance where she’s sold more than 2 million books world wide, articles in newspapers and magazines, Single Title Women’s Fiction with Penguin Random House – the most recent THE HOMESTEAD GIRLS, climbed to number 4 and stayed on Australia’s bestseller list for 6 weeks, while her RED SAND SUNRISE sold over 11k books in Australia since July 2014. HOMESTEAD SKIES comes out in July 2016.
Her most recent release - AUSSIE MIDWIVES – a Non Fiction Anthology of Australian Midwives from the city to the sea to outback Australia – will be published by PenguinRandomHouse in April 2016.
Fiona McArthur has been published in many genres including Medical Romance where she’s sold more than 2 million books world wide, articles in newspapers and magazines, Single Title Women’s Fiction with Penguin Random House – the most recent THE HOMESTEAD GIRLS, climbed to number 4 and stayed on Australia’s bestseller list for 6 weeks, while her RED SAND SUNRISE sold over 11k books in Australia since July 2014. HOMESTEAD SKIES comes out in July 2016.
Her most recent release - AUSSIE MIDWIVES – a Non Fiction Anthology of Australian Midwives from the city to the sea to outback Australia – will be published by PenguinRandomHouse in April 2016.
Annette Marfording
Creator and broadcaster of program on Australian authors and their work at 2bbb FM; Program Director, Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival – 2015; author of Celebrating Australian Writing: Conversations with Australian Authors
Creator and broadcaster of program on Australian authors and their work at 2bbb FM; Program Director, Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival – 2015; author of Celebrating Australian Writing: Conversations with Australian Authors
Lisa Milner
Lisa Milner is a writer, academic and filmmaker, and has been a member of the Nambucca Valley Writers Group for many years. She loves working with other writers to improve skills in a number of areas.
Lisa Milner is a writer, academic and filmmaker, and has been a member of the Nambucca Valley Writers Group for many years. She loves working with other writers to improve skills in a number of areas.
Ion Newcombe
Ion Newcombe is the editor of AntipodeanSF, Australia’s longest running online speculative fiction magazine, and runs his own publishing business, Wordright Editorial. He has a B.A. in Communications from USQ, a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Writing from Deakin Uni, and many years of experience teaching basic IT skills at local community colleges.
Ion Newcombe is the editor of AntipodeanSF, Australia’s longest running online speculative fiction magazine, and runs his own publishing business, Wordright Editorial. He has a B.A. in Communications from USQ, a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Writing from Deakin Uni, and many years of experience teaching basic IT skills at local community colleges.
Margaret Penhall-Jones
Margaret is a local writer and freelance editor living in Coffs Harbour. She loves writing, especially romances and memoir. She is a member of the Coffs Harbour Writers Group, Romance Writers of Australia and Romance Writers of America and is contest judge for Romance Writers of Australia. She has also been active in local critique groups.
Writing is an art and a craft. Margaret is passionate about creating opportunities for people to develop their skills in writing craft, enabling creative ideas to come to life. As a volunteer for the Coffs Harbour Arts Council, Margaret recently conducted a course on Memoir Writing. She and her husband Tom Benjamin have developed an online romance writing course. A free promotional video is available at www.openlearning.com.au Margaret is currently running a course for U3A, Coffs Harbour on Novel and Memoir Writing.
Margaret is a local writer and freelance editor living in Coffs Harbour. She loves writing, especially romances and memoir. She is a member of the Coffs Harbour Writers Group, Romance Writers of Australia and Romance Writers of America and is contest judge for Romance Writers of Australia. She has also been active in local critique groups.
Writing is an art and a craft. Margaret is passionate about creating opportunities for people to develop their skills in writing craft, enabling creative ideas to come to life. As a volunteer for the Coffs Harbour Arts Council, Margaret recently conducted a course on Memoir Writing. She and her husband Tom Benjamin have developed an online romance writing course. A free promotional video is available at www.openlearning.com.au Margaret is currently running a course for U3A, Coffs Harbour on Novel and Memoir Writing.
Carrolline Rhodes
Carrolline is a multi-award winning writer across a range of genres and has just been commissioned to write her seventh history. An inspiring teacher she says her greatest accomplishment is empowering other writers.
Carrolline is a multi-award winning writer across a range of genres and has just been commissioned to write her seventh history. An inspiring teacher she says her greatest accomplishment is empowering other writers.
Rosalie Skinner
Rosalie Skinner is a local Coffs Harbour grassroots writer and author of the eight book sci fi fantasy series the ‘Chronicles of Caleath’.
Rosalie is active in The Coffs Harbour Writers’ group where she enjoys sharing all aspects of writing with other authors. She has given numerous workshops, including being a presenter at the inaugural Grassroots Writers Gathering in Dorrigo.
Her books continue to enthrall readers locally and around the globe.
Rosalie Skinner is a local Coffs Harbour grassroots writer and author of the eight book sci fi fantasy series the ‘Chronicles of Caleath’.
Rosalie is active in The Coffs Harbour Writers’ group where she enjoys sharing all aspects of writing with other authors. She has given numerous workshops, including being a presenter at the inaugural Grassroots Writers Gathering in Dorrigo.
Her books continue to enthrall readers locally and around the globe.
