Highlighting Members Recent Releases

 

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 recent releases of our members from Aug 2025-Feb 2026

Historical Fiction

The Hunter fo Macquarie Collection

The Hunter fo Macquarie Collection - 1795-1822

by Sara Powter

This collection of stories offers insight into life in the colony during the early days of settlement, as seen through the eyes of the governors and trusted convicts. Of the first ten governors, seven were recalled to face inquiries, and all were later exonerated.

Book 1 When Upon Life Billows
Book 2 The Saddler’s Song
Book 3 Tuppence to Pass
Book 4 His Majesty’s Pageboy
Book 5 A Fist Full of Holey Dollars

Sara Powter worked with her mother, Sheila Hunter, to research their family history. Through this, they discovered many wonderful Australian Colonial stories from the four Convicts they found in their tree.

https://www.sarapowter.com.au/ 

Universal buy link to collection:-https://mybook.to/CbMaqV

Romance

A Heart to Treasure

A Heartto Treasure

by A Heart to Treasure by Dienece Darling

The vicar’s son and the draper’s daughter have fought against all odds to be together, yet both are ignoring the cracks in their relationship. And a storm is coming. One that will shatter everything. Can two hearts torn apart by pride find their way back to each other?

Dienece Darling is a former Georgia Belle who calls Melbourne home these days. She writes first person inspirational historical romance, and her first name is a variant spelling of Denise.

Find Dienece on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063748350005

Buy link:
https://books2read.com/ahearttotreasure

Not Running Away

Not Running Away

Melissa Gijsbers

Gemma Duncan isn’t running away — she’s running towards something new. A temporary job in Sapphire Bay was meant to be a quiet escape, but friendship, community, and an unexpected connection with Adam make her question everything. When a permanent opportunity arises, she must choose familiarity… or the life that feels like home.  

Author Bio: Melissa Gijsbers is a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman and Gippsland-based author who can't stick to one thing. She has written picture books, middle grade books, novellas, and more. You can find more about her on melissagijsbers.com or https://www.facebook.com/MelissaGijsbers (feel free to leave out the Facebook link if you only want one link).

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Not-Running-Away-Melissa-Gijsbers-ebook/dp/B0GHJ1JBH6

Holly Hartmann Romances

One Cabin For Christmas: A forced proximity, second chance, fade-to-black, holiday romcom with rescue horses and a gassy beagle (Christmas in Vermont Book 1)

By Holly Hartman

One job. One cabin. One second chance at forever.
☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic
• Forced proximity
• Second chances
• Found family
• Veterinary workplace
• Rescue horses
• Heart and humour
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry and guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/mVJa5r
Or get it free: www.hollyhartmanbooks.com/bonus-Christmas-romance

Running from Christmas: A Grumpy-Sunshine, Snowed-In, Christmas Romance with Heart (and Paws) (Christmas in Vermont Book 2)

By Holly Hartman

She hates Christmas. He lives for it. One rescue dog thinks they're perfect for each other.

☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic
• Reverse grumpy-sunshine
• Aussie veterinarian fish out of water
• Snowstorms with great timing
• A huge rescue dog
• Widower finding love again
• She’s leaving town (ticking clock)
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry
• Guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/boJazp

A Very Merri Christmas: A Second-Chance, Snowed-in, Holiday Romance About Brave Love and Finding Home (Christmas in Vermont Book 3)

By Holly Hartman

She's marrying the safe choice. He's the deputy who never stopped loving her. One blizzard means there's nowhere left to hide.

☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic in snowy Vermont
• He’s always loved her / she’s been playing it safe
• Animal rescue
• Snowed-in survival intimacy
• Poignant and funny
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry & guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/b5LG7k

Bio: Holly Hartman writes contemporary, small-town romance, with warmth, wit and swoony fade-to-black chemistry. Her stories are filled with longing glances, emotional misfires, and love that feels like coming home.

https://www.facebook.com/HollyHartmanBooks/

Contemporary

Spiralling Solo

Spiralling Solo (book 3 of the Spiralling Trilogy)
by Michelle Dennis Evans

Stephanie is determined to stand alone, juggling finances and past trauma while her friendship with Tabbie fractures. Tabbie faces heartbreak in her final school year. The girls drift apart just when they need each other most, both drawn to the newly confident dancer Joey. Navigating loneliness, loss, love, and temptation, they must discover their true selves before their bond breaks.

Podcaster and YA contemporary author exploring life’s challenges, victories and the joy of hope. Michelle Dennis Evans balances her writing by empowering others to live with health, vitality & freedom.

MDE link:https://michelledennisevans.com/

Buy link: https://www.booktopia.com.au/spiralling-solo-michelle-dennis-evans/book/9781923533073.html

Paint the Walls Red

Paint the Walls Red
 by Suzie Peace Pybus

Meg has carried the weight of one devastating choice for forty years. Now as strange events unfold in the hospital where she works, she senses they are tied to her past. With her memory failing, she must race to uncover the truth before she forgets completely.

Suzie lives on a small fruit and vegetable farm in Tasmania. She writes distinctly Australian stories about courageous women facing social challenges, each threaded with mystery.

Suzie's website: https://www.suziepeacepybus.com/

Buylink: https://tinyurl.com/y3u4s9nv

Restoring Hope

Restoring Hope

by Philippa Cleall

After escaping harm, Hope returns to Wombat Valley to rebuild her life. But when a charming, dangerous figure from her past returns, can she stand firm in the new faith and friendships that she’s found? Restoring Hope is a heartfelt story of resilience, rediscovery, and finding a safe place to call home.

Philippa Cleall is a Children’s and Family Counsellor and volunteer Court Chaplain. She has a heart for seeing faith communities become more trauma informed so they can care for those hurting with greater wisdom, compassion, grace, and truth. www.philippacleall.com

Bu link: www.amazon.com.au/Restoring-Hope-Philippa-Cleall-ebook/dp/B0F4H6WWY4/

Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi & Fantasy)

The Wells of Callystra

The Wells of Callystra Book 8 (published 31st October, 2025).
by Elizabeth Klein

A perilous journey to the mountains of Karakor is undertaken by elf prince, Aeron Bregolas. Once there, he manages to unite his elven tribe with the largest dwarf kingdom in Bethloria. But at a terrible cost. To save both himself and his men, he is forced to activate an ancient talisman with devastating consequences to himself.

Elizabeth Klein lives and writes in a caravan and has over 100 published works. She enjoys writing YA fantasy and fairytale retellings.

Website https://www.elizabethkleinauthor.com/

Buy Link: https://www.ama:zon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4

Flare Up

Flare Up: Adventure with Jett Faraday, much loved character from the Blaine Colton trilogy 
by Adele Jones

Eighteen-old, Jett Faraday is pushed to the limit when gym manager, Luca, discovers his interest in a bodybuilding competition and pressures him to take an illicit performance enhancer to accelerate his gains. When Luca makes physical threats, and he grows increasingly erratic. Jett digs deeper, unearthing a high-tech operation formulating ingestible products for engineering mind-manipulable super-humans. When that technology is turned on him, Jett faces a fight for survival that may cost him everything.

Adele Jones writes fringe and near young adult "Science fiction for the real world". Fuelled by her passion for family, faith, music and science, she tackles complex teen issues including self-worth, disability, loss, domestic violence, youth crime and more. To learn more visit: www.adelejonesauthor.com

Buy link:

Rise of the Consortium

Rise of the Consortium

by Jeanette O'Hagan

A young blind woman, an ambitious math genius, a rejected splice clone, a cynical detective, an angry post-doc student, or an agent trying to correct the mistakes of her father?

Nine interwoven stories that stretch from the seat of Nardvan power in Pelinor to the far reaches of the sun-system. Ten different and diverse people forced to face their own demons and overwhelming power, privilege and corruption. A growing band of rebels fighting against the might of Endira Corp.

Will their courage, choices and resolve save Nardva or will they die trying – or worse – be transformed into one of Endira’s mindless cyborg slaves?

Find out in Rise of the Consortium, a thrilling collection of sci-fi short stories by Jeanette O’Hagan, set in the future of the world of Nardva.

Jeanette O’Hagan began spinning tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight or nine. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/47ow8A

Christian Life and Reflection

Stories of Life - Turning Ten 

Turning Ten

Edited by Claire Bell (Editor), Pete Court (Editor), Esther Cremona (Editor)

The Title Story (Jenny Woolsey): Explores a child's ordeal with major surgery, featuring themes of comfort, support from adults, and faith during a challenging time. Turning Ten is, appropriately, the title story of this tenth annual Stories of Life anthology. Once again, ordinary people have sent in wonderfully varied stories of how God met them in everyday situations readers can identify with. Some stories span many years, others a single afternoon. Some are a little sombre, and some are laugh-out-loud funny. Many, like the title story, recall childhood experiences of God’s comfort and provision in difficult times. Other writers drew inspiration from road trips, hospital trips, family life, and walking in nature. But one theme shines through them all. No matter how small or large our need, God always watches over us in love, to guide, protect and equip us.

CWD members include authors Karen John Roper, Jenny Woolsey & Barbara Jean McKay & editors Claire Bell, Peter Court and Esther Cremona.

Alternative:

Buy link: https://storiesoflife.net/product/turning-ten/

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.

Jeanette O'Hagan

Even when we're not looking...

For all of us, 2020 has been a strange year. In my family, not much as changed as I mostly work from home already and chronic illness has us 'social isolating' most of the time anyway. In many ways, 2020 hasn't been any stranger than the last few years.

It's been a few years since my last book was published. Life has been taken up with, well, life. Little did I know how God had been working in my life to make my dreams come true, even when I was just plodding away doing my thing.

Back in 2013, I was asked by my local library to run a group with young writers. This was a face to face workshop once a fortnight and it was the highlight of my week. I come up with a crazy writing prompt as well as give the teens an opportunity to pick my brains about all things writing. With covid hitting earlier this year, the group has moved to a weekly session via Zoom.

Over the last couple of years, I have known that my day job would be ending as my bosses were retiring. I tried many different things, but kept coming back to the business idea of working with young writers, basically expanding what I had been doing with young writers.

A few months ago, an opportunity came up to purchase a business that does exactly what I have been wanting to do. I can already see potential and possible growth with this business, freeing me up to write and publish more books.

This is also clearing the way so I have the headspace to get back to doing what I really love - writing!

In all of this, I can see God's hand at work, even when I wasn't looking or even asking specifically for help. Opportunities come along when we're least expecting it. In the chaos of 2020, it can sometimes be hard to see God at work, but He is there, working away in the background.

A little encouragement in these crazy times. Keep moving and remember, God is working, even if you can't see it at the time. Things will come together at just the right time.

Melissa Gijsbers currently has three middle grade books published and a picture book on the way in 2020. She currently lives in Gippsland, Victoria with her two teenage sons, their pet blue-tongue lizard, and baby budgie. She runs a weekly online writing group for young writers via Zoom.

You can find her at www.melissagijsbers.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

CWD Highlights - April to June 2020

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 April to June 2020

New Releases, Acceptances & Cover Reveals

Lynne Stringer

Lynne Stringer released a new science fiction novel, The Verindon Alliance on 1st May 2020 (Published by Rhiza Edge). 

As Princess Vashta of the Vendel finishes her combat training, she hopes she will lead their forces into battle against her race’s deadly enemy, the Verindal. But when Brandonin, the heir to the Verindal throne, comes to see her father, it’s clear he desires peace, not war.

When a new enemy arises, striking at all who call their planet home, each race blames the other, even though the princess is sure this danger comes from somewhere new. She seeks Brandonin’s help in fighting this menace, but what can they do when both Vendel and Verindal refuse to work together? Can they defeat this deadly threat themselves or will it mean the end of life on Verindon?

The book (a prequel of the Verindon trilogy) is available here

Lynne Stringer is the author of the Verindon series of young adult science fiction romance books and Once Confronted, a contemporary drama.

Melissa Gijsbers

Melissa Gijsbers has released the first 4 ebooks in a series of writing prompts. The series is called LitPrompts.

Each ebook has 10 writing prompts on a different topic, starting with toilet paper!

The first ebook was published on April 23, with the other ebooks going live on Amazon during May.


All the details of the ebooks can be found here -  and more are on their way.

Olwyn Harris 

Reading Stones released the first of a 3-part Homes of Healing series by Olwyn Harris in April. 

The first book, Beachside Cottage is followed up with 2nd part, Petrea Downs, to be released on the 25th June.

These stories following the lives of Eliza-Beth and her sons and how they find healing through their connections to people, places and God.

Beachside Cottage is available here and Petrea Downs here.

Helen Brown

In May Reading Stones also released the 2nd Edition of Helen’s Book, Turning Water into Wine and the Revised Edition of 365 Glasses of Wine.

In Turning Water into Wine, Helen Brown takes 100 ordinary "water" moments and describes how God has used these to teach her valuable lessons about life and His love for her. Available here. 

365 Glasses of Wine from Helen Brown gives a daily "sip" of inspiration and encouragement. Each story is taken from her real-life experiences of walking, with God, through farming, drought, hardship, family life, and depression. Each story is designed to encourage others as they walk with God.  Available here.

June will also see the release of the 2nd editions of More Water into Wine and Conversations with Myself, by Helen Brown, these both being available after the 30th June.

Congratulations to our authors for their exciting new releases, revision and for all who have been working on their stories during the upheavals and challenges of the last few months.

Events & Opportunities

Omega Writers Conference Now 2021

A reminder that the Omega Writers Conference has been postponed to October 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Due to the current Corona crisis, the 2020 Conference committee (Raewyn, Andrea and Narelle) have announced the postponement of the Omega Writers conference from Oct 2020 to Oct 2021 with no loss of funds.

Peppers Kingscliff is now rebooked for 8-10 October 2021.

Everything stays the same. Susie May Warren is happy to reschedule for 8-10 October 2021.

The next highlights post should be at the end of September. 

Writing a variety of books

I currently have three middle grade books published, and am publishing a picture book next year. As well as writing for children, I also have a few novels on the go as well as short stories and other pieces of writing that are for an as yet undetermined age group.

Even with the three books I have published, one is a fantasy and the other two are issues books set in the real world.

In short, I'm not an author who fits neatly in the box as a 'children's author' or 'fantasy author' or whatever.

Listening to podcasts, reading articles, and attending workshops left me feeling a bit flat, almost as if I was doing something wrong in my writing career because I don't fit neatly in a box, and that made branding myself a challenge (according to experts).

I have never been good at sticking with just one thing - I get bored. I do all sorts of different crafts, listen to all sorts of different music, even at work if I'm doing the same thing too often, I need to do something else for a while. I have tried to just focus on writing for children, but there are so many great stories for grown ups in my head - I want to write a romance, a murder mystery, historical novel, non-fiction and so on. I can't just write for children. I don't fit in the box.

Last week, I posted the following on Twitter:

#WritingCommunity How many of you write in more than one genre/age group (eg picture book, MG, novel for grown ups)? If you write in just one, what made you decide on that age group or genre?

 I didn't get as many responses as I was hoping, but one from Jackie French stood out:

I write in most genres. I don't eat just one food, or read just one genre, or love one kind of music, so why restrict my writing?

I must say, Jackie French is one of my writing idols and I love the way she thinks about this. It has helped me feel so much better about the path I'm following and what I'm writing. It's a reminder that I don't have to fit myself into a box to make it easier for others to find me or put me in their own boxes. I can write whatever I want and publish a wide variety of books for different people to enjoy.

I may be at the start of my journey to become a full-time author, and I know I have a huge pile of half finished manuscripts just begging for me to finish them. I am feeling so much better about being a multi-genre author.

The lesson I've learned here is that none of us need to box ourselves into just one genre - unless that is where we really want to be.

Melissa Gijsbers currently has three middle grade books published and a picture book on the way in early 2020. She currently lives in Gippsland, Victoria with her two teenage sons and their pet blue-tongue lizard. She travels to Melbourne every fortnight to run a writer's group for teenagers and writes all sorts of different stories.

You can find her at www.melissagijsbers.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Meet Our Members: Melissa Gijsbers

Each Thursday in 2018 we will be interviewing one of the members of Christian Writers Downunder – to find out a little bit more about them and their writing/editing goals.

Today interview Melissa Gijsbers

Question 1: Tells us three things about who you are and where you come from.

I was born in Melbourne, Australia. My dad was a forester, so we moved around quite a bit when I was a kid, including spending three years in Nepal. My parents would joke that they finally stopped moving so they wouldn't have any other kids! (I'm the oldest of 4 kids, each born in a different place).

My dad is dutch and my mum is Australian. My dad came to Australia when he was 3, and the way my surname is spelled is thanks to the people in immigration!

I am currently a single mum with two teenage boys, both with chronic health conditions. They are a constant source of inspiration for my writing, even if they don't mean to be!

Question 2: Tell us about your writing (or editing/illustrating etc).  What do you write and why?

Writing is something I have always done. I won a couple of awards in high school, including enough money to buy a dictaphone! Most recently, I started writing picture books before discovering chapter books. I've found that I can write chapter books much easier than picture books! I have also been playing around with writing some novels for grown ups.

For the why... it's just something I do. Words and books have always been something I'm interested in and there are times I get quite restless if I can't write.

Question 3: Who has read your work? Who would you like to read it?

So many people have read my books. It amazes me when I see a photo or a review of someone reading one of my books and I didn't know they had even bought a copy!

Most of the people who have read them so far are kids, but there are also a lot of parents, teachers, and others who have read them too.

For the books that I've published, I would love to reach more kids. Especially for my first two books, both 'issues books', to show kids that there are others who deal with the same issues they do. I also want to reach anyone who would like to read a good story.

Question 4: Tell us something about your process. What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

I find that I work best with a deadline, as well as someone working with me, usually an editor. This extra person is someone I'm accountable who will say 'where's that next draft you promised me?'

My biggest challenges is time. With a day job and two kids, writing time is precious. Different things work at different times. It could be working at my favourite cafe, or writing during my lunch break, or any other strange times I can get a few minutes.

Question 5: What is your favourite Writing Craft Book and why?

One of my favourite writing craft books is Writing Hannah: On Writing for Children by Libby Gleeson. In this book, Libby Gleeson (one of my favourite authors when I was a teenager) shares the process of writing one of her books based on her diaries and notes during this time.

I like how it's not giving a formula on how to write that may or may not work for everyone, instead, she shares her process, including the times when she couldn't work out what the next part of the story was and when things needed changing. Her process is something that is closer to my own process in that the whole book isn't planned to every detail, instead she starts with an idea and writes to see where it goes.

Question 6: If you were to give a shout-out to a CWD author, writer, editor or illustrator – who would they be?

Lately, I have really enjoyed the books by Nicki Edwards. They are great books to read and I have them all!

I also have a general shout out to the CWD team. They have been really supportive of me and my writing goals while I've been caring for two sick children.

Question 7: What are your writing goals for 2018? How will you achieve them?

One goal I have is to publish another book this year, although the more realistic one is to get one ready to publish early in 2019! I also want to publish some more 'how to' ebooks for authors with small business tips. I currently have one published, I just need to edit and polish some that I have sitting on my hard drive.

Question 8: How does your faith impact and shape your writing?

This is always a hard question for me to answer. I write stories that are more for the general market, however my faith colours the issues that I write about. Many of my stories are based on my own journey and characters will attend church, mostly because it's just part of what we do! I also write stories and take part in promotions that line up with my values.

Melissa Gijsbers lives in Melbourne with her two teenage sons. During the day she works in the family business and by night she writes stories for kids and adults. She has three middle grade books published.

You can find her at www.melissagijsbers.com and on Facebook or Twitter.

CWD Highlights July-October 2017

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 July-October 2017

Awards

Congratulation the winners and runners up of the CALEB prize

On Saturday night at the Omega Writers Conference, the 2017 CALEB prize was announced.

Overall winners: 

Winner:
Charlie Frank is OK by Cecily Anne Paterson

Runner Up:
Small and Big - Karen Collum illustrated by Ben Wood

Category winners:

2017 CALEB ~ Published Non-Fiction

Winner:
Burn My Letters: Tyranny to Refuge - Ruth Bonetti

Finalists:

Heaven Tempers the Wind - Hazel Barker

Becoming Me - Jo-Anne Berthelsen

Burn My Letters: Tyranny to Refuge - Ruth Bonetti

2017 CALEB ~ Published Fiction

Winner:

Charlie Frank is OK - Cecily Anne Paterson

Finalists:

Daystar: The Days are Numbered - Anne Hamilton

Forgiving Sky - Jenny Glazebrook

Amazing Grace - Elaine Fraser

Charlie Frank is OK - Cecily Anne Paterson

2017 CALEB ~ Children’s Picture Books

Winner:

Small and Big - Karen Collum illustrated by Ben Wood

Finalists:

The Mighty, Mighty King Christmas Book - Penny Morrison illustrated by Lisa Flanagan

Small and Big - Karen Collum illustrated by Ben Wood

My Imagination - written and illustrated by Ellen Wildig

2017 CALEB ~ Unpublished Manuscript

Winner:
Siren’s Fight - Kristen Young

Finalists:

In the Middle of the Whirlwind - Hannah Currie

The Gryphon Key - Elizabeth Klein

Siren’s Fight - Kristen Young

Holy War - Anthony Peterson

Other Awards

In other news - Susan Preston received an a Finalist Award in the IAN Book of the Year Awards for Light of Truth, Book 3 in her Apostle John Series. Book 4 of the same series, Keep the Flame was a finalist in the Christian Historical Fiction section of the 2017 Readers Choice Awards. 

Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Preston/e/B00BDY9BQ6/

New releases

Melissa Gijsbers - Lizzy's Dragon

Melissa released children's book, Lizzy's Dragon in September. The Launch was on September 7 at Reading's Children's Bookshop in Carlton.

When Lizzy finds an odd looking egg in the forest behind her house she decides to hide it in her bedroom in the hope that it will hatch into a lizard. What she gets is ‘Bubbles’, the oddest, fastest growing lizard she has ever seen. It doesn’t take long for her annoying little brother to discover her secret pet. It also doesn’t take long for Bubbles to grow out of her room. Lizzy begins to wonder whether Bubbles is a lizard at all, or something even more amazing. But how will Lizzy keep Bubbles a secret? And what will happen to Bubbles if anyone finds out about him?
Title: Lizzy's Dragon
Publisher: Stone Table Books
Buy link: http://stonetablebooks.com/product/lizzys-dragon/

D J Blackmore - Folly

D J Blackmore released book 2, Folly on October 2 2017

In 1822 the colony bells of Newcastle chime for a wedding but Emma Colchester's cousin is nowhere to be found. The family face their worst fears and fingers of blame are pointed too close to home. Emma's future with Tobias threatens to unravel. The walls of a homestead standing by The Hunter River hold the clue, and Emma risks everything in finding out the truth.

Folly is a sequel of Charter to Redemption. Although not strictly a 'stand alone sequel' it's not necessary to pick up book one to enjoy book two.


Publisher: D. J. Blackmore
Links: djblackmore.com.au
Biography: Often at a dirt track watching my husband race motorcycles, with a laptop in my arms and a head full of ideas.


Deidre is offering a Giveaway: The first reader to send an email to the author via her website will win an author signed copy of Folly.

TP Hogan - Extinct

T P Hogan released Extinct on 7th October. 

Everyone knows Thylacines are extinct. The truth is more complicated. Thylacines are real but the secret that hides their existence has trapped them in a half-life, and only one person can set them free.

Sent to live in Tasmania, Australia, with a father she’s never met, Ginny Martin’s mission is to lay low and get through the school year. That is until she sees that first ghostly creature. Refusing to believe she’s going crazy, Ginny will not stop until she’s unearthed the truth behind the silver apparitions.

Bio: TP Hogan writes speculative fiction. This allows her to escape...and explore hidden worlds, inhabited by the creatures of her imagination, and she invites you to join her in these realms.

Buy Link: Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/2y4lggn

Author: Catriona McKeown - The Boy in the Hoodie

Cate McKeown, Omega 2016 winner, is releasing The Boy in the Hoodie November 1st, 2017

Kathleen Morrow is a Pastor's kid struggling to find her place in the world. To protect a friend she lands herself in detention, where she meets a boy with a serious reputation. As an unlikely friendship develops between the two, Kat realises her own problems are insignificant compared to the ones this boy hides under his grey hoodie. And now he's asking for her help. How far is she prepared to go to help him? Kat must choose between the future she wants and a friendship unlike any she has ever known before.

Catriona McKeown is a teacher in country Queensland, where she lives with her husband and three daughters.

Publisher: Rhiza Press
Purchase link: https://www.koorong.com/search/product/the-boy-in-the-hoodie-catriona-mckeown/9781925563207.jhtml

Jeanette O'Hagan - Akrad's Children

Jeanette O'Hagan released Akrad's Children, the first novel in her Akrad's Legacy series. 

Four young lives, a realm ravaged by war, a haunting legacy

Four young lives are bound together in friendship, love, rivalry and tragedy. A realm ravaged by civil war, a ruler scarred by betrayal, a legacy that haunts them all.

Caught between two cultures, a pawn in a deadly power struggle, Dinnis longs for the day his father will rescue him and his sister from the sorcerer Akrad’s clutches. But things don’t turn out how Dinnis imagines and his father betrays him.

Does Dinnis have a future among the Tamrin? Will he seek revenge for wrongs like his sister or forge a different destiny? 

Publisher: By the Light Books

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Akrads-Children-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B075BK8436/

Other News:

Adam David Collings also released Earth's Remnant the first in his Jewel of the Stars series 

Christine Dillon will release her debut novel Grace in Disguise and released a non-fiction book Stories aren't just for kids: Busting 10 myths about Bible storytelling in October 2017.

CWD members have also had stories and poems accepted in a number of anthologies:

Nola Passmore, Raelene Purtill and Jeanette O'Hagan in Futurevision (1231 Publishing, Sept 2017)

Raelene Purtill, Jeanette O'Hagan and Jenny Woolsey in Redemption (BentBanana Books, Oct 2017)

Jeanette O'Hagan has stories in Tales From the Underground (Inklings Press: Oct 2017) and Quantum Soul (Oct 2017)

Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan had a stall at Oz Comic Con Brisbane in September.

Making Progress...

As I'm writing this post, my 14 year old son is on the floor in front of me working on the exercises set by his physiotherapist. He works hard at these exercises every day as they help strengthen his left leg. Last Easter, he came down with a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in his left leg, and he wasn't able to walk, wear shoes, or even go to school! He has worked really hard and about six weeks ago, left the crutches behind to attend a new school. His hard work has really paid off.

During the time he has been unwell, there has been steady progress in his health, but there have also been setbacks. He didn't let these setbacks stop him. If they had, he wouldn't be walking right now.

While living through his journey, it's easy to get caught up in how hard it is. He was having at least three rehab appointments every week at one stage, along with juggling Distance Education, his brother at school part time, and work! But now, watching him do his exercises, we can reflect on how far he has come, even though there is still a long way to go.

This may not seem like it has much to do with writing, but it does!

Every story we write and publish is a journey, and it can be long and hard, and there are setbacks. These could be in the form of writer's block, rejections from publishers, feelings of doubt, or even simply life knocking us off course. In spite of the setbacks, we work at our writing, editing, publishing, and promotion to get our stories written and out there.

When we're in the middle of the journey, there are times when we can feel like giving up and forgetting about our writing dreams, however, if we keep going, we will get there.

Along the way, it helps to sit back and reflect on how far we've come. It could be looking at the number of manuscripts we've written, submissions made, books published, or anything else that's we've achieved. This doesn't mean the journey is over, it just means we are well on our way.

So, while I'm watching my son do his exercises and reflecting on how far he has come, I can see a box containing copies of books with my name on the cover that reminds me how far I have come in my writing journey. The effort he puts in and the differences in the strength of his legs show how far he has to go, just as the half-finished manuscripts on my computer and drafts floating around the house show me how far I have to go in my writing journey.

Every day, my son amazes me with his progress and I have to keep reminding myself that only a couple of months ago he couldn't walk.

Melissa Gijsbers lives in Melbourne with her two teenage sons and their pet blue tongue lizard. During the day, she works as the business manager of the family business, and at night she writes children's chapter books.

Follow her writing journey at www.melissawrites.com.au and www.melissagijsbsers.com

Showing up

Yesterday, I was at a market with a friend. We were sharing a stand to sell our books. Both of us write and publish middle grade novels, and we've done a few markets in recent months. Some have been fantastic and we've sold a lot of books. Others, like yesterday, we barely sold enough to cover the stand. It can be a bit up and down when it comes to markets.

There are people who tell us that we are crazy for doing markets. We don't make a lot of money for the hours we spent there. I figure that I made more sales by being at the market than if I hadn't been there. It's also a great opportunity for kids to see our books, often they are the ones who pause by our table, browse the books, and get their parents to buy a book or two for them.

At the market yesterday, we had a great discussion when it was quiet about books - writing, publishing, and promotion, and how to be successful in getting our books out there. The conclusion we came to is showing up has a lot to do with success as an author!

My table at yesterday's market

It's the same with any aspect of writing and publishing. Instead of sitting there with words swirling in my I head, I spent time at the computer writing down those words, then I put myself out there by publishing them.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has people saying to them "I've been thinking about writing a book," or "I'll write a book when I have time," or any number of similar comments. I like to point out to those complaining about lack of time that I'm a single parent with two kids with chronic medical conditions, and I have a day job, and I'm still able to write. In essence, I'm showing up.

Showing up is also putting your hand up to do a guest blog post, submit a story to an anthology, agree to speak for a group or run a workshop, attend a conference or workshop,or anything you need to do to work on your craft, get your name out there, and get your writing done.

I know this is something I am constantly working on. There are times when I think I'm kidding myself in my dreams, but I know that if I just put words on the page, if I show up, I will get there.

Melissa Gijsbers lives in Melbourne with her two sons and pet blue tongue lizard. During the day she works as business manager in the family business.

Follow her writing journey at www.melissawrites.com.au and www.melissagijsbers.com