CWD Highlights - January to March 2021

 

Christian Writers Downunder is a diverse group of writers, editors, bloggers, illustrators. As a group we support each other through our Facebook page and blog.


Today's blog will highlight some of the achievements of our members from January to March 2021

Awards and Recommendations

Elizabeth Klein

Elizabeth Klein's The Gryphon Key won the ‘Recommended Reads’ Award for 2021 from Author Shout on March 1st, 2021.

Kathy Hoopmann

Kathy Hoopmann's All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum (Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2020) tops The Independent list for World Autism Awareness best books to read!

All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum is our best buy; it has a universal appeal, is useful as a social story tool, and is a feel-good read." https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/books/best-books-autism-world-awareness-day-b1817322.html

Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes all the joys and challenges of being on the autism spectrum


Link: https://kathyhoopmann.com/all-cats-are-on-the-autism-spectrum/


Kathy has written over twenty books for children and adults, with translations into nineteen languages and is best known for her photo illustrated books dealing with Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and anxiety.

New Releases and Cover Reveals

Jo-Anne Berthelsen

Jo-Anne Berthelsen launched her latest novel, Down by the Water, via Facebook Live in January. The novel is set in south-east Queensland in the early 1900s and follows Meg Porter’s journey, as she deals with the past and comes to understand God’s love and grace, after a family tragedy cuts short her plans to study art. 

For more information or purchase check out  www.jo-anneberthelsen.com



Jo-Anne Berthelsen is a Sydney-based author of seven novels and two non-fiction books, Soul Friend and Becoming Me, has worked in teaching, editing and church ministry and loves encouraging others through both the written and spoken word.

Elizabeth Klein

Elizabeth Klein has released her last book in the Bethloria series called Oracle of the Dragon Book 7 on 22nd January.

 

Blurb: With insurmountable odds stacked against them, the trio attempt to fulfil ancient prophecies and release Bethloria and Galfane from Morgran’s evil grip. But all hope seems lost when Morgran captures Dougray, and Belle and Robbie are under siege. This powerful, fast-paced fantasy series will leave you aching for more.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4

She has also released the second edition of The Gryphon Key with new cover on 16th February.

Blurb: For the traumatised mind of 17-year-old Cody Prince, Spells Meadow becomes a mystifying, alternate reality with disturbing outcomes after he discovers a mysterious key. If you love Neil Gaiman’s amazing fantasy worlds, you’ll enjoy Spells Meadow, a place with a twisted past and a bizarre future.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4


In 2015, Elizabeth and her husband left Sydney and now travel in a caravan full time. Besides having written many short stories, articles, plays and poems, she’s also authored YA and junior fiction books, as well as educational books.

Other News

Hazel Barker Interview 

In January, local celebrity Michelle Worthington interviewed Hazel Barker on her latest book, Count Your Blessings. Colin's Story (Armour Books). 

Count Your Blessings. Colin's Story is the memoir of a young Aussie battler who struggles to fulfill his dreams. His mother has mood swings, and his school mates bully him. The Depression Years cast a shadow on his future, and his studies are cut short, but his plucky spirit carries him through one crisis after another and the unexpected turns up.

Hazel's two books, Heaven Tempers the Wind. The Story of a War Child & The Sides of Heaven have been Finalists in the CALEB Competitions of 2017 and 2019 respectively, and her short stories have won awards in competitions.

Check http://hazelmbarker.wordpress.com for details. Signed copies of Count Your Blessings: Colin's Story are available from the author for $20. Contact Hazel Barker at: candhbarker@bigpond.com

CALEB Awards 2021 now open

The 2021 CALEB Awards are open for entry in the following categories:

Adult fiction
Adult nonfiction
Young Adult fiction
Children's fiction (early reader and middle grade)
Children's picture books

The contest is open to books by Australian or New Zealand Christian authors, or Christian authors living in Australia or New Zealand. Entries must be written from a Christian world view i.e. they must be consistent with the Omega Writers Statement of Belief and not contain objectionable content (e.g. profanity, sexual situations, or excessive violence.)

The 2021 CALEB Awards are for books published in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (as determined by their copyright date), and which were not entered in the 2019 award (as some 2018 books were eligible to be entered in 2018). Books which have previously been entered in the Unpublished section of the CALEB Awards may be entered.

Entries are open from 15 March (today) to 20 April 2021. Read more here. 

Rendered Realms

Rendered Realms - consisting of Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan will have a table in Artist Alley at the  Supernova, Gold Coat - Saturday to Sunday, 17-18 April 2021. If you love all things fantasy and sci-fi, cosplay and great books & you plan to attend the con- we would love you to drop by, say hello and look at books, including some new releases.  

Omega Writers Book Fair (Brisbane) 2021

Omega Writers Book Fair (Brisbane) will be held on Saturday, 31 July 2021 at Hills Church, Queens Road, Everton Hills.  The Book Fair will have author stalls, workshops, book readings, and prizes. A great opportunity for Christian authors and readers in southeast Queensland to get together and celebrate books and writing. 

Mark you diaries - 31 July 2021


Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements

Omega Wrtiers Book Fair 2020

Just over four weeks away, the Brisbane chapter of Omega Writers will be open the doors to the fourth Annual Omega Writers Book Fair. We are hoping for another day of networking, displaying a wide range of books, connecting with readers and fun.

What happens at the Book Fair?

Each year we've had a different mix of authors with some perennial favourites. There really is something for everyone - from picture books to deep theological tomes. Books for children and teens, books for adults, books that celebrate disability and difference. We have memoirs, biographies, church history, self-help, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and romance.

While the majority of our authors come for South-East Queensland (Brisbane, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast), in previous Book Fairs some have travelled from further north in Queensland, northern New South Wales, even from Sydney or Victoria.

Not only is there an opportunity to get signed books by the author, but also to hear the authors reading excerpts of their works.

It's also a great opportunity to meet up with CWD & Omega Writer members such as Anne Hamilton, David Malcolm Bennett, Kathy Hoopmann, Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones, Nola Passmore, Jenny Woolsey, Judy Rogers, Raelene Purtill, Ruth Bonetti, Jeanette O'Hagan, Naomi Eccles-Smith, Nikki Rogers, Wendy Wood, Sally Eberhardt and many more.

In addition, this year we'll have a Colouring Contest (12 years and under, resident within Australia).

Simon Kennedy (co-creator of mini-series Safe Harbour) will give a workshop on Scriptwriting while a Panel with Kathy Hoopmann, Jenny Woolsey and Adele Jones will tackle Writing Disability and Diversity.

We'd love to see you - whether to browse the books, stock up your to-read pile, listen to book readings, join the scavenger hunt, learn more through the workshop or panel - or even have a display table of your own.

It's free to attend the event and to browse. Workshop & panel are $20 each.

Registrations are still open. Don't miss out.

Where and When?

Event Title: Omega Writers Book Fair 2020

Date & Time: Saturday March 14, 2020. 10am-2.30pm

Location: Hills Church, 79 Queens Road, Everton Hills

Script Writing Workshop with Simon Kennedy (10.30 – 11:15 am)

Movies, television, plays, and other dramatizations are a major channel for storytelling today. Have you ever wondered how writing a script is different from writing a novel or a memoir? Are you interested in finding out the tricks of the trade? Experienced script-writer and co-creator of the award-winning Safe Harbour TV min-series (screened in Australia in 2018) will share his experience and wisdom in his workshop On Screen Writing.

Simon Kennedy

Simon Kennedy is an experienced screenwriter, story consultant and writer for TV and film.

Simon Kennedy was the co-creator of International Emmy winning mini-series Safe Harbour (Australia in 2018 on SBS). He also co-wrote the story and several scripts on the upcoming TV show, Interface, a 10-part action series set in the near future, for Red Empire Productions. Currently, he is working with several Australian production companies to develop TV narrative and factual concepts for both adult and children audiences.

Simon's You-tube channel, Songs with Simon, has over 100 million views. Simon lives in Brisbane with his wife and children.


Find more about Simon https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkennedywriter/

Panel: with Kathy Hoopmann, Jenny Woolsey & Adele Jones (11.30-12:15 pm)

Would you like to see more characters with disabilities included in the books you read? As a writer, would you like to include strong and engaging characters with a disability or who do not fit the norm, but are not sure of the best way forward? What trope and clichés should be avoided, what things should you keep in mind?

Three great writers will answer questions on writing disability and difference drawn from their practice as writers and personal experiences.

Kathy Hoopmann

Kathy Hoopmann is best known for her photo illustrated books dealing with Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and anxiety. The simplicity, charm and insight of these books has made them must-haves for children and adults worldwide.

She has also written over twenty books for children and adults, many of which have young heroes and heroines with ASD. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages and her work sells widely in Australia, the UK, the US and the Middle East.

She has won, and been shortlisted for many literary awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Award and has four times been awarded a silver Nautilus Award (US) which is given to books that make a better world. Discover more at www.kathyhoopmann.com

Jenny Woolsey

Jenny Woolsey is a children’s author and motivational speaker on the theme, Be Weirdly Wonderful! Embrace your difference. She is an educator, blogger and advocate for disability equality, facial differences, Down syndrome and inclusive education. Jenny visits schools and speaks on diversity, facial differences, bullying, mental health and being kind to others. She encourages children to be their true selves. Jenny was born with a rare craniofacial syndrome and is visually impaired, and her children have disabilities. Diversity and difference are her life.

Jenny has written five children’s/YA novels and been included in six anthologies. Her stories have been sold internationally, received honourable mentions and been longlisted in competitions.

For more information visit https://jennywoolsey.com/ or jenny@jennywoolsey.com

Adele Jones

Adele Jones writes young adult and historical novels, poems, inspirational non-fiction and fictional short works, along with juggling family responsibilities and her job as a microbiologist (it’s the little things that count). She’s had a selection of short works and poems published, and in 2013 released YA novel, Integrate. This was the first story in the Blaine Colton trilogy: Integrate, Replicate, Activate, a series about a young man with a disabling genetic disease that permeates his life and challenges his perceptions of self and the world around him.

Adele’s writing explores issues of social justice, humanity, faith, natural beauty and meaning in life’s journey, and as a speaker she seeks to present a practical and encouraging message by drawing on these themes.

For more visit www.adelejonesauthor.com or contact@adelejonesauthor.com



Spaces for both workshop & panel are limited. Book now at https://www.trybooking.com/BHVHW

For more Information:

For details about the Book Fair, Colouring Contest or the Workshop & Panel, Check out https://www.facebook.com/Omega-Writers-Book-Fair-927852450757367/ , or email OmegaWritersBookFair@gmail.com

Organiser: Omega Writers supports and encourages Christian writers in Australia (www.omegawriters.org)


Omega Writers Book Fair Committee

Jeanette O'Hagan
Judy Rogers
Raelene Purtill
Ruth Bonetti