Editor's note
Hello and welcome to the September edition of eWriteabout, and a warm welcome to all our new subscribers!
We have thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading through all the entries to our short story competition which closed on August 31. Once the GCWA readers have finalised the shortlist, we will hand over to our judges and await news of the winning stories. Keep an eye on our website and socials in October to see if your story takes out one of the prizes.
The next GCWA meeting is this Saturday (16th September) at Mudgeeraba Community Centre, starting at midday. Along with our guest speakers, we will also hold the GCWA Annual General Meeting where you will have the opportunity to hear more about our Association, and vote for your new committee members.
The audience for this newsletter is growing month on month and we are delighted to know you're based all over Australia and overseas, as well as on the beautiful Gold Coast. We are always open to hear ways we can improve so if you have any suggestions, please get in touch via email at gcwa.editor@gmail.com
Jane O'Connell, Editor
eWriteabout |
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President's Report
Hello, Judy Wollin here. As GCWA Vice President, I will be acting President until the GCWA AGM on September 16 after Kate Kelsen stood down due to personal reasons.
Kate has guided GCWA through a challenging year. She has been a positive leader and implemented changes that have encouraged committee members to run with their strengths and take on roles that have resulted in a stronger GCWA, which has benefited our growing membership. Thank you, Kate.
The issue of ongoing accommodation for GCWA has been a tricky one. The Gold Coast City Council asked us to vacate Burleigh Waters Community Centre so they could renovate. This took months longer than anticipated. We moved to lovely rooms at Mudgeeraba Community Centre but have found that parking is impossible for some meetings. The committee will continue to find a solution that suits our membership.
We have had a long list of exciting and informative speakers so far this year. I want to thank them for generously giving their time and providing such rich sessions for GCWA. The Write and Sip evenings run by Christine and Kate at the Whisky Lounge Mudgeeraba have been a huge success, resulting in new members and funds for GCWA.
Our members have had a successful year, too, with many being published including Kelli M Cox, Christine Betts, Kate Kelsen, Philip J. Bradbury and me. Congratulations to everyone on track to meet their personal writing goals and thank you to all the committee members for their hard work over the past year.
Judy Wollin, Acting President
Create, Inspire, Connect. |
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SEPTEMBER MEETING ORDER OF EVENTS
11:45 Arrive and register
12:00 Meeting start 12:05 Opening and news 12:30 GCWA Annual General Meeting
13:00 Speaker 1: Peter Watt 13:45 Afternoon tea: Refreshments provided or BYO 14:15 Speaker 2: Richard John
15:00 Meeting close Members and visitors are encouraged to arrive at 11:45 to complete the entry process so we can start on time. If you have flu-like symptoms or feel unwell, please stay at home and get better quickly. GCWA members: $ 5.00
Visitors: $10.00
EFTPOS payment preferred however cash is accepted. |
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Meet our September speaker: Peter Watt
About Peter
Described by many as the Australian Wilbur Smith. Peter Watt’s life experiences have included time as a soldier, articled clerk to a solicitor, prawn trawler deckhand, builder’s labourer, pipe layer, real estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant and adviser to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. He has lived and worked with Aborigines, Islanders, Vietnamese and Papua New Guineans. He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin – and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.
Peter writes historical fiction and has 25 years' experience in publishing nationally and internationally. He will talk about how to sustain a writing career, tips for writing in his genre and share his thoughts on the importance of character voice.
Books by Peter Watt
Titles include The Silent Frontier, The Stone Dragon, The Frozen Circle, the Papua trilogy (Papua, Eden and The Pacific) and the unforgettable epic, the Frontier series: Cry of the Curlew, Shadow of the Osprey, Flight of the Eagle, To Chase the Storm, To Touch the Clouds, To Ride the Wind, Beyond the Horizon, War Clouds Gather And Fire Falls and Beneath A Rising Sun.
http://www.peterwatt.com/ |
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Meet our September speaker: Richard John
About Richard
Professor Richard John is the Head of Chemistry and a former Dean (Learning and Teaching) at Griffith University. He is a recognised leader in STEM Education in Australia and his influence and contribution spans all levels of education, from pre-K to university. He is a passionate advocate and successful facilitator of STEM pathways for transforming lives–particularly young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
An award-winning educator, Richard has over 60 research publications in international peer-reviewed journals, and is a named inventor on two patents. He has taught undergraduate chemistry for over 20 years.
Richard will speak about his writing and publishing experiences, including creating resources for Australian education departments.
Books by Richard John
Richard is the author of a foundation year chemistry textbook (The Chemistry Companion) and co-author of two senior-school chemistry textbooks. He is also the creator and author of the Suzie the Scientist Early Reader Series and the Millie the Mathematician Early Reader Series – school-based reading resources linking literacy with the Australian Curriculum in Science and Maths.
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JOIN OUR COMMITTEE
Would you like to support your local writing community? Why not join the GCWA committee and help steer the future of our community-based writing association!
The Gold Coast Writers' Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at our September meeting. Nominations will be taken for all committee roles:
President / Vice President / Treasurer / Secretary / Membership Secretary / Association Editor / Newsletter Editor / Speaker Coordinator / Web Content Manager / Online Media Coordinator / Publicity Coordinator / Providore / General Committee Members
Email gcwa.secretary2022@gmail.com for role descriptions. |
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 | | MEMBER NEWS We love sharing news from our GCWA members to shine the spotlight on new work, awards and publishing wins from local writers. Here's just a taste of the success in and around the Gold Coast writing community in recent weeks.
Our warmest congratulations to author and journalist Megan Norris, whose book Out of the Ashes (Big Sky Publishing), has won Best Nonfiction of 2023 at the Sisters in Crime Australia Davitt Awards. Out of the Ashes follows the remarkable recovery of Australian nurse Therese Fox who was horrifically burned in the 2002 Bali Bombings.
'Life in the Key of Grey', a poem by Jen Swenson was a finalist for the inaugural Bookness Creative Writing Awards. Thanks to the team at Bookness Mudgeeraba for helping support and promote local writers.
One Out and Won Back by Arnold van der Vegt has been accepted by Gold Coast Libraries and is now available to borrow. Arnold says he is ‘stoked’ to know that another audience may gain pleasure from reading his novel.
Cold Against the Glass by Jane O’Connell has also been added to the Gold Coast Libraries catalogue and was recently featured in the Broadbeach library showcase!
If you have exciting GCWA member news to share, please email our Association Editor at gcwa.editor@gmail.com with all the details. |
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| | |  | | We'd love your feedback! If you have some tips and suggestions for the committee, please email Kate on gcwa.president@gmail.com and if you love the GCWA, head over to our Facebook page and give us your 5-star review. |
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 | Writing Friday at Elanora Library
Every Friday 10am – 3pm (except public holidays)
Writing Friday at Helensvale Library
Every Friday 10am – 4pm (except public holidays) Gold Coast Libraries, Queensland Writers Centre and the Gold Coast Writers' Association have teamed up to offer Gold Coast writers a space to cultivate their habit of writing and connect with other writers in the community. Following the Pomodoro Technique, Writing Friday is a free, volunteer-led program for local writers at all levels. Check the GCWA Facebook page for updates. ALL WRITERS WELCOME! |
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 | | Each month the Gold Coast Libraries offer
brilliant workshops and author talks. |
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 | | Meet Australia's devious darling Sally Hepworth at Robina Library Sally Hepworth is back with her latest domestic thriller, Darling Girls. Laced with her trademark blend of quirky humour and a darkly charming tone, Darling Girls is set to be another bestseller, and you can meet Sally at Robina Library as part of her national tour!
Fascinated by human behaviour, Sally’s novels feature similar themes of family relationships and identity, with a bit of mystery on the side.
Darling Girls follows foster sisters Jessica, Norah and Alicia who were rescued from their tragic childhoods and raised on an idyllic farming estate. When a body is found underneath the house they grew up in, they find themselves as key witnesses in the investigation, or are they murder suspects?
Don’t miss your chance to meet an award-winning Australian author and hear about her fascinating writing journey. Sally will appear in conversation with debut author Amy Lovat. |
Venue: Robina Library
Date: Friday 6 October 2023
Time: 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Book Now!
More information on session times and booking at Gold Coast Libraries.
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 | | Judy Nunn at Helensvale Library Black Sheep is a sweeping historical adventure about a prosperous sheep-farming family and the enigmatic young man with a dark past they let into their lives. Orphaned at sixteen, James Wakefield was determined to be a gun shearer like his father. Now he’s killed twice, changed his name, and is on the run from the law. From the Shearing Wars of Queensland, the colonial community of Goulburn, to the trenches of the Western Front, Judy Nunn once again brings Australian history vividly to life. Join Judy as she brings her unique mix of theatricality and humour to another special author event. Secure your seat now! |
Venue: Helensvale Library
Date: Monday 9 October 2023
Time: 11.00am – 12 noon
Book Now!
More information on session times and booking at Gold Coast Libraries.
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 | | Writers’ Block: Elements of Writing with Geneve Flynn
Gold Coast Libraries are celebrating Local Writers Month with a series of Writers' Blocks just for you! Join us every Saturday in November for a fantastic professional workshop that'll add value to your writing process and skills.
What's a story without conflict?
In this workshop, you'll learn more about the critical narrative elements and writing techniques that will hook your readers and keep them turning pages. We'll explore the plot devices and structures that will help you increase the stakes and develop your characters - no matter your genre of choice. Geneve Flynn is an award-winning author, fiction editor and poet and is a recipient of the 2022 Queensland Writers Fellowship. |
Venue: Southport Library
Date: Monday 4 November 2023
Time: 10.00am – 12.15pm
Book Now!
More information on session times and booking at Gold Coast Libraries.
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 | | WRITING SUNDAY AT SOUTHPORT LIBRARY
If you can't make it to Writing Friday at Elanora or Helensvale Library, Writing Sunday might be for you! Writing Sunday is a volunteer led space for writers of all levels to come and work on their own projects. This Queensland Writers Centre initiative is a great chance for busy weekday people to connect with their local writing community and follows the Pomodoro Technique of 25-minute writing blocks with 5-minute breaks.
Writing Sunday is held every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at Southport Library. Book now or drop in on the day. |
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 | | Support your local Independent book store.
GCWA MEMBERS Mention your membership at Big B Books
in Burleigh Heads to receive 10% off books. |
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 | | Angela and David Photography believe every image is its own unique story, a moment in time consisting of both large and small emotions which are shared between all present, employing technical expertise, years of experience, a flexible approach, excellent communication skills and an affordable rate. In January, Angela and David volunteered their time to create author images for 16 lucky GCWA members. Contact Angela and David on on 0487921064 or head to their website to enquire about their packages. |
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 | | Would you like to be a member of the GCWA?
The Gold Coast Writers' Association aims to support and encourage writers of all levels, across all genres. We welcome writers and readers to share their experiences and connect with a wider audience.
Here are some of the benefits of joining the Association: - Gain access to the ‘Members Only’ Facebook page where you can connect with other members and find useful writing resources.
- Promote and sell your books through associated avenues.
- Receive members’ rates at all GCWA special events.
- Network and collaborate with individuals across all levels of writing.
- Benefit from opportunities to meet and socialise with like-minded people in a friendly environment.
| More GCWA membership information here ... |
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 | Come and join us on the GCWA Facebook page and members, be sure to join the
Gold Coast Writers’ Association Members group. |
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| Feedback Welcome!
You may have noticed the changing face of the GCWA's newsletter and website. We would love to know what you think of the changes. |
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