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Notice Board

This is an area where you can all share news about events and meet-ups: a place to reach out to other members with your news.

These announcements/listing will be categorised by State or Territory, as well as a national category. Want to add to the notice board? Submit your listing here.

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National Notices

SHORTY: Mistaken Identity or Stitch Up?

Stephen ‘Shorty’ Jamieson was declared a ward of the state a few days after his birth. His physical disabilities caused by foetal alcohol spectrum disorder meant multiple surgeries and years of his life in foster care. In September 1988, he was arrested for the abduction, rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding. His four juvenile co-accused said he was the wrong Shorty. Shorty Jamieson went to trial with two of the four juveniles. It was the first criminal trial in Australia where DNA evidence helped convict the accused. But Shorty Jamieson always maintained his innocence. Now DNA testing has advanced to the point where new technology may incriminate another Shorty. After 37 years behind bars, has Shorty Jamieson always been the wrong Shorty? In a recent court hearing, the judge said that Mr Jamieson has the right to pursue an inquiry into the evidence against him – a right that exists for any citizen.
 

Tess Merlin's 'Red Dirt Blue Lights' named as finalist in Queensland Literary Awards

Historical Fiction novella Red Dirt Blue Lights has just been announced as a finalist in the Queensland Literary Awards Courier Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award! The acknowledgement of this story about an important part of Australia’s history is encouraging and exciting. It is a story about two women with choices to make in Cherbourg in the 1970s. It is about respect and love and the harsh truths of history. Tess writes from personal experience as a young policewoman in the area at the time, and with the advice of Senior Wakka Wakka Elder, Uncle Eric Law AM.
 
As a ‘People’s Choice Award’, the winner will be decided by your votes! Please go online and vote before closing on 16th Sept. If you haven’t yet read Red Dirt Blue Lights but support the concept of this story, please vote. Red Dirt Blue Lights is also a valuable resource for upper high school teachers and students.
 

Luke Icarus Simon releases first novel 'The Art in my Palm'

After a writing career spanning 5 decades and 7 books poet/playwright/screenwriter Luke Icarus Simon releases first novel, The Art in my Palm. 
 
Release date: September 14, 2025 Hardcover $49.99, (Pb and eBook editions forthcoming) Stirling Publishing Australia 
 
The Art In My Palm is a genre-defying debut novel blending fiction, memoir, dual narration and historical events. As the 51st anniversary of Cyprus’s forced partition is marked in 2025, this timely and evocative novel sheds light on a legacy of colonisation, war, and resilience. Set between the divided streets of Nicosia and the migrant suburbs of Australia, The Art In My Palm is a poignant exploration of cultural identity, abuse and the healing power of art.
 
For more information, head to Luke’s website.

Windy Washing Day

Excited to announce that my new debut-as-author picture book Windy Washing Day has now been released. Available at all good bookstores.
 
My Sydney Book Launch is Saturday 6 September 2025, at BOOKFACE St Ives Village, 11.00am. Would love to see you there!
 
Windy Washing Day is a delightfully funny rollicking romp, filled with crazy animal antics. How an ordinary day turns extraordinary…
 
Published by MidnightSun Publishing, Author Yvonne Low, Illustrator Kate Talbot.
 
For more information, visit Yvonne’s website.

Blake-Beckett Trust to offer Writer's Retreat in Kiama

Dear ASA member,

The Blake-Beckett Trust would love to invite members to make use of a beautiful retreat in the months of November or March.

If you can answer yes to the following questions, then you qualify to apply for the use of the cottage:

  • I am an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • I am aged 18 or over
  • I have published at least one traditionally published book in any genre (for the avoidance of doubt self/independently published works, poems, short stories and articles published in anthologies and journals, literary and academic, are not eligible to meet this criteria).
  • I have the intention to work on a fiction or biography manuscript in English.
  • I have a current financial FULL membership of the ASA

 

Please email your application to [email protected]

Your application must include the following:

  • Your full name
  • Your full address
  • Your mobile number
  • Your car: Make, Model, Colour & Registration number
  • Emergency contact:  Name & Mobile number
  • How this retreat would benefit your writing
  • Outline of manuscript you will be working on (5 pages)
  • Selected dates in March or November (2-4 weeks)

 

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE

This property is a working horse farm and would require that the writer speak with management on arrival and once weekly to check in throughout their stay. Otherwise, the writer is free to enjoy the isolation and complete their work unhindered. 

No pets please.

Debut Historical Novel by Uma Srinivasan

Etched in Gold, the debut historical novel by Sydney-based writer Uma Srinivasan, brings alive a forgotten chapter of South Indian history through the intertwining lives of two courageous women—Amba from 1610, and Maya from 2010—each seeking liberation through music, memory, and voice. 
 
With echoes of lost trade alliances between Tanjore and Denmark, a Danish fort standing sentinel on India’s Coromandel Coast, and the rediscovery of female authorship buried in history, Etched in Gold is a novel about cultural memory, artistic defiance, and the enduring legacy of women’s voices.
 
For more information and to purchase the book, visit Uma’s website.

The Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2025 - Get 20% off tickets!

The ASA community is invited to enter the following discount codes for 20% off full-price tickets to the whole weekend, a one-day pass, or the opening night keynote (delivered by Jordan Shea):

FULLFESTIVAL20 – ONEDAYFESTIVAL20 – KEYNOTE20.

Further information and current program can be found at currency.com.au. Tickets via Humanitix.

This year’s lineup includes: Joanna Murray-Smith, Patricia Cornelius, Lucy Hayward, Claire Pullen, Damien Ryan, Virginia Gay, Alana Valentine, Wesley Enoch, Jane Harrison, Eamon Flack, Michelle Law,and many more!

Location: 22-24 August, Rebel Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People

Save the Date: OutWOMEN Leadership Breakfast

Hachette is partnering with Out Leadership to host an OutWOMEN Leaderships Breakfast, as part of the annual Out Leadership Australia Summit. 

Save the date: 21 October 2025

9AM: 11AM AEST Sydney, Australia

Member Allocation: 3-5 per company. 

Calling all First Nations Australian authors (or emerging authors)!

For the second year running, I will be taking pitches for my Bundyi Publishing imprint at the Romance Writers of Australia conference, in Hobart, August 22/ 23.

I’m specifically looking for rom coms / commercial women’s fiction and I have 10 one-year memberships to the RWA to give away to the first to book a timeslot with me.

You do not have to be registered for the conference, and you do not have to be in Hobart.

If you are onsite at the conference, you can pitch in person with me.

If you are not attending the conference, you will be sent a meeting link closer to the conference.

For more information, how to prepare for your pitch, and to book a spot, please click the link: Meet with Anita Hiess at RWA

Reviews Wanted for John Stuart's "The Sharing Series"

John Stuart was born and raised in the Rainbow Region near Byron Bay and has spent most of his life there, as a writer and teacher.

In recent decades he has lived and worked abroad, most recently at Xiamen University in China.

John’s work is spiritually oriented reflecting cultural diversity, observed and experienced. It has been widely published in Australia and overseas.

John’s mentors include Phillip Adams, Eric Bogle and Bruce Dawe.

Review John’s work on Amazon, or visit his website. 

 

7-ON A Collection

7 ON, a playwrights collective, celebrate 20 years of working together, supporting each and advocating for other playwrights with the publication of 7-ON A Collection , a collection of 7 of our favourite, unpublished plays. The works represent the diverse styles, interests and histories of 7 playwrights who have over 200 plays produced in Australia and around the world as well as accumulating over 40 writing awards between them. The publication is a celebration of longevity in Australian playwriting.
 
7-ON A Collection will be launched on Saturday 23 August at ATYP’s Rebel Theatre, 5.15pm, as part of Currency’s Festival of Playwrights 2025.
 
For more information , see Currency Press’ website: https://www.currency.com.au/australian-playwrights-festival/

Laureate Week Silent Auction

As part of Laureate Week, the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation (ACLF)—together with the Australian School Library Association (ASLA)—is hosting a special silent auction.

All proceeds support the Foundation’s work to promote children’s literacy and inspire a love of reading, especially in regional communities.

Browse a unique collection of exclusive items and experiences generously offered by current and former Australian Children’s Laureates.

The auction runs until 31 July, so don’t miss your chance to bid and support a wonderful cause!

New Poetry Collection by Nadine Ellis Published by Hill of Content Publishing

Australian Poet and ASA member Nadine Ellis’ collected poems The Grey Between, shines an emotional spotlight on the challenges of everyday life: focussing on family dynamics, motherhood, imploding relationships, emotional damage, through to death and the wake left behind … with a spray of spite and loathing for added flavour. 

The Grey Between is available globally on Amazon, or can be purchased via Hill of Content Publishing: The Grey Between

For more information, visit Nadine’s website: https://www.nadineellis.com/ and Nadine on Instagram

Five book contracts for Andrea Rowe

Award-winning, best-selling children’s author, Andrea Rowe has signed 5 new picture book contracts with Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing.

For more information, see here: https://andrearowe.com.au/new-book-news/

Peter Bycroft's book makes the finals of the 2025 International Books Awards - Religion general category

I was advised just two weeks ago that my first book “Prehistoric Precedence: How the Human Species Invented the Bible” was one of just two books to make the finals of the Religion – General category of the 2025 International Books Awards adjudicated from Arizona in the USA. Whilst not the winner, as a first-time author, I regard this as a great achievement and international recognition of my work. 

For more information, see here: https://www.clark-mackay.com.au/peter-bycroft/

New Release: The Keys to Successful Healing

ASA member Ann Williams-Fitzgerald’s book The Keys to Successful Healing, is an engaging work in which Williams-Fitzgerald presents a framework for explaining and plan for dealing with our discontent. This is an intelligently constructed piece of work: sensitive to the requirements of her readership, the author takes time to explain the foundations of spiritual healing and answer some commonly asked questions clearly, simply, and unambiguously, before presenting her own ‘plan of action’. The prose is lucid and fluent while the writing remains rich and textured.

For more information, visit Ann’s website: https://anniefitz.com.au/author/

Mick the Tick

Check out Australian author and ASA member Kara Perrin’s write up on the Lyme disease Orgs page in the USA. Kara has suffered from a Lyme disease for the past 8 years and released her vibrant 56 page children’s book, Mick the Tick in May 2024. Kara is an active advocate for Lyme disease, a condition yet to be recognised in Australia. She was awarded a 2025 Community citizen of the year award for her book, which is now available worldwide on Amazon and Kindle. For more info check out Mick the Tick on Instagram: @mick_the_tick  and on the web: Mick the Tick

Flight new novel by Anne Vines published by Glass House Books

‘Flight’, the second novel by Anne Vines has just been released. ‘Flight” is set in Melbourne in 1942. The world is at war and Melbourne is on edge. Australians are living with the threat of a Japanese invasion and the reality of an American mini-invasion. “Flight” tells the story of an American pilot and of two Melbourne girls from very different parts of Melbourne society.
 

Victoria's first Ambassador for Public Libraries announced

Award-winning, best-selling children’s author Andrea Rowe has been announced as the inaugural Ambassador for Victoria’s Public Libraries.
 
Congratulations Andrea!
 
Read more here.

A book editor and grammar teacher in one!

I edit books and other publications, undertake editorial reviews and manuscript assessments, write and rewrite copy, teach traditional grammar and punctuation, publish ‘Grey Areas and Gremlins: A grammar and punctuation refresher’ and various course notes, post a weekly ‘Grammar Guru’ column on LinkedIn, help Australians advance their written English so they can communicate clearly, and publicly comment on the need to fight ‘dumbing down’ and the death of meaning.
 
Website: debdoyle.com.au

Launch of second Short Story collection, HARD HITS by Ian Laver

Following the success of DEADLY SINS, Sunshine Coast fiction writer Ian Laver has just published his second collection of short stories called HARD HITS. These stories explore the lives of the good and the bad as these characters are forced into making tough decisions about weakness and strength, love and hate, darkness and light; all there to be confronted. Maybe you can recognise one of these characters because some of the stories are based on real events? Ian has published two novels, CRUCIAL STEP and UNEASY and is working on the follow-up novel to UNEASY, titled COMEBACK, which follows the journey of Detective Sergeant FitzMichael in his quest to regain his stipes in the Queensland Police Service. 
 
Website: www.IanLaver.net