Issue 3 - May/Jun2011

issue3 may-jun_2011

Welcome to the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre

The Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre is a full-time centre that provides resources, information and literary activities for writers and readers. The Centre offers a year-round program of workshops, seminars and events as well as the annual Byron Bay Writers' Festival. Find out more.

What's New

Katherine Howell in conversation with Jesse Blackadder

kath_howell Join Katherine Howell in conversation with Jesse Blackadder on Thursday, 31 May, at the NRWC in Byron Bay. The evening kicks off at 6pm with a glass of bubbly, following by a fascinating conversation between two wonderful authors at 6.30pm. Seats are strictly limited and bookings are essential. This event is FREE for members of the NRWC. To register email Siboney Duff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 02 6685 5115.

ABOUT KATHERINE HOWELL:

Katherine Howell's first novel, Frantic, was published in 2007 by Pan Macmillan and set a paramedic alongside Sydney police detective Ella Marconi in 'an adrenaline rush of a thriller' (Sydney Morning Herald). It won the 2008 Davitt award for best crime fiction. This was followed by her second book, The Darkest Hour, (described by the Guardian UK as 'a finely paced and engrossing novel') and then Cold Justice (which made the Australian bestseller list, saw Katherine travelling on a P&O cruise as guest author, and was described by NYT bestselling author Tess Gerritsen as 'one of my favourite books of the year'). Her fourth book, Violent Exposure, was described by Bookseller & Publisher as 'arguably her best yet - four stars', while the fifth, Silent Fear, was chosen as a ‘Guaranteed Book You Can’t Put Down’ by the national Get Reading! programme. Katherine’s books are published in multiple countries and languages and have been likened to the work of Karin Slaughter and Patricia Cornwell.

ABOUT JESSE BLACKADDER: jesse_in_convo

Jesse Blackadder really was born with that surname. When she finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson, she travelled to Scotland to find the origins of her surname. Her novel The Raven’s Heart (4th Estate, 2011) grew from there and won the Varuna HarperCollins Manuscript Development Award in 2009. Jesse’s previous novel After the Party (Hardie Grant Books 2005) made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in 2010. Jesse is an award-winning short-story writer and freelance journalist fascinated by landscapes and belonging. She is writing her next novel about the first woman to reach Antarctica.

THE INSIDERS: The Dos and Don'ts of Children's and YA Publishing - JUNE

hilary rogers profile web Are you writing a children’s book? Beavering away on your young adult novel? This workshop is ideal for aspiring and emerging authors, as well as published writers looking to move into children’s or YA.

This intensive and inspiring workshop covers a range of topics including:

what’s happening in children’s publishing in Australia
who is publishing what; how best to hone your pitch and manuscript
how to develop and rework your ideas; the pros and cons of getting an agent
how to figure out what publishers are looking for; which publisher might best suit you
and how to work with an editor.

Hilary will also share her pet peeves for manuscript submissions and other opportunities for emerging writers.

Hilary will be conducting one-on-one consultations on Sunday, 10 June. This is a rare opportunity to get practical, professional feedback on your writing. Consultations are strictly limited and available to NRWC members only for a fee $90. To register for a consultation, contact Siboney Duff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HILARY ROGERS is one of Australia’s most successful children’s and young adult publishers. In her role as Publishing Director at Hardie Grant Egmont, Hilary has commissioned blockbuster series (such as the multi-million-selling Zac Power and Go Girl! series, and more recently Billie B Brown) as well as a shelf-full of acclaimed individual titles, ranging from picture books to young adult novels.
As head of HGE’s editorial department, she is responsible for commissioning and editing its diverse and dynamic list, and for finding and developing new and established authors and illustrators. Hilary is also one of the few major publishers in this country to develop ideas collaboratively with writers.