CWD Highlights - January-March 2023

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-March 2023

New Releases

The Elizion Shield by Elizabeth Klein

The Elizion Shield (Book 1)

A drought-ravaged planet. Secrets worth dying for. A boy's desperate struggle to survive a destructive alien agenda.

A teenage boy wanders alone through a drought-ravaged wasteland and witnesses a fight between two sky-born. Against all reason, he saves the life of a badly-injured girl who is left for dead.

His own desperate struggle for survival ramps up a notch when he is forcibly taken by her people to one of the great sky cities for questioning over the incident. For all its opulence, the city is not without its own problems when a series of inexplicable earthquakes strike and the outbreak of civil war forces him to flee.

The tale evokes the best and worst in two contrasting races who must work together to solve the terrible secret behind a destructive agenda hastening the world’s doom.

Gripping. Intense. Sometimes dreamlike and deeply moving.

A dystopian science fantasy set in a divided world.

Released on 9th February, 2023 & Self-published paperback on 13th February, 202. You can buy it HERE. 


Elizabeth Klein lives and writes in a caravan and has, to date, over 70 published works.

Reading Stones

Time of Grace: Olwyn Harris

Reading Stones have published the first of 6 Pioneers of Grace books ‘Time of Grace’ by Olwyn Harris, due to be released on March 31, with the remaining books to be released at 1 month intervals. Available now in print and eBook from your favourite online retailer. Keep your eyes open for book 2, Circle of Grace, coming at the end of April.

Abigail is the elegant wife of the most powerful station-owner in the valley. But powerful also means brutish and cruel. To correct her husband’s crimes, Abby is drawn into contact with the disgraced lawyer Ruben Davey, hiding in the hills with a band of displaced bushrangers. Will Abby be able to address these injustices and find a way to navigate towards a safer future in the meantime?

You can get it HERE

The Adventures of Dai and I: Juleeia Sneesby

Reading Stones also launched a children’s book ‘The Adventures of Dai and I’ by Juleeia Sneesby at the Tamworth Book event.

This beautiful book, with illustrations by Juleeia Sneesby, coloured and arranged by Wendy Brown, is based on the life of Juleeia and her brother David - Dai - in the South of Wales. Rain, snow, and shine, come on an adventure with Dai and I.

You can get it HERE

The New Twinkle Twinkle: Steve and Melissa Joseph


Wendy’s other label “Wendiilou Publishing” has a hard cover children’s book ‘The New Twinkle Twinkle’ by Steve and Melissa Joseph, Illustrated by Anna Young.

In a world where knowing who you are is so important, The New Twinkle Twinkle is a picture book for children, bringing to life the truth of their identity as a child of God. This book was created to inspire young children to believe that they are beautifully made by their heavenly Father, and knit together perfectly. Our desire is to see children grow up rooted in the knowledge that they are loved.

'The New Twinkle Twinkle' was originally devised as a song and rap - it is Fun, Endearing, and Sweet, using creative ways to express enduring truth.

Your can get it HERE

Helen Brown and WendyWood run Reading Stones publishing, which celebrated 4 years in the publishing business in March.

CALEB Award

Unpublished Award

CALEB Unpublised Award 2023 is open for entries. Closes 1 May 2023

It's time to enter the CALEB Award for 2023!

Writing contests are one of the best ways to get impartial feedback on your work in progress, and the

CALEB award is designed to help Christian Authors by Lifting up Each other's Books.

The categories for 2023 are:

- Unpublished Adult Fiction

- Unpublished Young Adult Fiction

- Unpublished Adult and Young Adult Nonfiction

The award is open to Christian writers from Australia and New Zealand who have never been published, and entry is open until 1 May 2023 when entries will close. Entrants may submit no more than one entry per category.

If you're a paid-up Omega Writers member hoping to enter the Award, then you would have already received an email with your discount code. (please check your spam folder - or check that you're paid up!)

The rules for the CALEB award are HERE

Barnabus Award

Also, this year marks the Barnabas Awards, our opportunity to encourage writers on their writing journey. The last recipient was the wonderful Eliane Frazer.

There are two streams of the Barnabas Award:Encouragement Awards (up to three awards given biennially)

The Barnabas Award (one biennial recipient)

Encouragement Awards are opportunities to celebrate emerging writers who Omega Members believe are worthy of encouragement and recognition for their commitment, attitude and development of their writing craft.

The Barnabas Award recognises writers who give selflessly to support and encourage other writers in the writing journey. This award celebrates the invaluable impact of such encouragement and acknowledges the often unseen work these writers do to lift others up.

The Barnabas Awards runs in odd years. Announcement of winner will occur at the same time as the CALEB Unpublished Award. Nominations for the 2023 Barnabas Awards (including the Encouragement Awards) will open on 1 June 2023.

If you’re a current paid member of Omega Writers, we would like to invite you to nominate a fellow Christian writer for an Encouragement or Barnabas Award.

Writers eligible for nomination for the Barnabas Awards are:Christian writers currently living in Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific.
Can be published or unpublished writers in any genre.
Do not need to be members of Omega Writers.
Any writer can be nominated, however the CALEB Organising committee and Omega Writers president are excluded from being able to win.

The Barnabas Awards are awarded on the merit of nominations received by the CALEB Committee.

Competitions

Poetica Christi

The 2023 Annual Poetica Christi Poetry Competition is now open.

1st PRIZE $300 2nd prize $100

25 poems will be selected to be included in an anthology to be published by PCP

The theme for this competition will be

JOURNEYS

This topic lends itself to poems about pilgrimage, migration, adventure, making one’s way, progress, odyssey, visitation, being called on a journey, encounters, pathways, perspectives, destiny, life’s journey, travelling, expedition, exploration, sojourning, touring, flight, hiking, voyaging, crossing, passage, wandering, being on a quest, the road less travelled.


The closing date for this competition will be 30th of April, 2023.

For more information and to download the Entry Form look HERE.

The Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition

The deadline for this Short Story Competition is rapidly closing. 

The Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition for 2023 is now open! Rhiza is looking for stories for Diverging Worlds: Short stories in dystopian and steampunk worlds, a collection of short stories in steampunk or dystopian worlds. The anthology will be edited by Lynne Stringer and Emily Larkin

Stories (up to 5000 words) need to be clean and 12+ friendly as we sell these books into schools.

Stories need to be in a Dystopian or a Steampunk world.

Entries can be submitted up to May 2023


Interested? Read more HERE.

Stories of Life

Stories of Life accept submissions for short stories (up to 1500 words) for their next anthology from 1 April to 31 July. 

However, contributors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Feedback Month in June when our editors give feedback on story drafts at no cost to contributors. Your drafts will be returned with time for you to work on suggestions before 31 July.

What Stories of Life want:

Short stories that are interesting, lively, or even quirky. They love tales laced with warmth and humour. The stories can be about any aspect of faith, so lateral thinking is welcomed. They love reading about how our extraordinary God has touched ordinary lives.

For more information look HERE

Events

Gold Coast Supanova with Rendered Realms and N R Eccles-Smith

Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan (or the Rendered Realms team) will be at the Gold Coast Supanova with their science fiction and fantasy stories on 15-16 April 2023 -  the weekend after Easter.  

Lynne Stringer is author of the space opera Verindon series. Adele Jones writes near-science thriller Blaine Colton series. Jeanette O'Hagan set her stories in the world of Nardva.

As will be Naomi Eccles Smith with her Dragon Calling children books and wonderful artwork.

We would love to see you there :) 

Find out about Supanova Gold Coast HERE

Toowoomba Writers Retreat

Toowoomba Chapter of Omega Writers invites you to retreat at the long awaited return of the Chapter-hosted retreat. 

The 2023 venue is the beautiful Camp Somerset, strategically positioned 1.5 hours from Brisbane and Toowoomba, in the hills just a half-hour from Esk, Queensland.

Guest speaker: Best-selling Australian Author, Meredith Resce; http://www.meredithresce.com
Dates: 4pm Friday the 5th to 12pm Sunday the 7th of May, 2023
Location: Camp Somerset, The Lodge
Address: 1180 Stanley Pocket Rd, Crossdale QLD 4312, Australia, Phone: +61 7 5426 0126

Registrations close: Friday 21st April (though early bookings are helpful for event logistics)

Book for a CRITIQUE/MENTORING AND PUBLISHING APPOINTMENTS

Critique and mentoring appointments can be booked with:Meredith Resce (Best-selling Australian Author; http://www.meredithresce.com/)
Nola Passmore (Editor, The Write Flourish; https://www.facebook.com/TheWriteFlourish/)
Jeanette O’Hagan (Young adult fantasy author and editor; http://jeanetteohagan.com/)

Requirements: 4, double-spaced pages of your work plus a one-page synopsis; Preferably submitted ahead of appointment.Note: Appointments for mentoring and/or critique can be booked upon arrival at the retreat, however, it would be helpful to our mentors/editors if bookings can be made ahead of the retreat

Book a PUBLISHING APPOINTMENTS

Rochelle Stephens, Publisher/Commissioning Editor for Wombat Rhiza Books, is offering a discount rate that weekend only for an appraisal/publisher pitch (appraisal is usually $99), providing attendees an opportunity to skip the slush pile. Note: limited spaces available, so get in quick. https://wombatrhiza.com.au/appraisals/


Registrations close: Friday 21st April (though early bookings are helpful for event logistics)
BOOK NOW

Other News

Congratulations to Simon Kennedy (QLD) and Andrew Matthews (WA) for making it into now the ‘top 10 Finalists’ of the 168 Film ‘Write of Passage’ competition in March!

Lystra Rose's book 'The Upwelling' shortlisted for the UTS Glenda Adams' award. She gave a brilliant talk at the Omega Writers conference last year.

 

Jeanette Grant-Thomson's testimony was published on Ruth Embery's new website, 

www.voiceinthedark.org and there is a place to click 'Stories of us'.
Jeanette's testimony has been named Through Emptiness and Darkness to God's Life
and Light.

 

Jeanette Grant-Thomson is a North Brisbane based author who has had writings
published since her early childhood.

Did you have a new release or event or brag point that didn't make it to the Highlights Post? Keep an eye out for the next call for information from members - the next Highlights post will be in beginning of  3 July 2023.

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.

Jeanette O'Hagan

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

CWD Highlights March--May 2018

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.

Anne Hamilton at Omega Writers Book Fair

Today's blog will highlight some of the achievements of our members from March to May 2018

Awards

Congratulations to Simon Kennedy, Phil Enchelmaier and everyone else involved in the making of Safe Harbour for the nomination for a logie award for most outstanding miniseries or telemovie. Safe Harbour is a Four-Part Drama developed from based on an original concept by Simon Kennedy and Phil Enchelmaier and screened on SBS. https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/safe-harbour

Simon shared about the process from concept to final production at the recent Omega Writers May Retreat (Toowoomba). 

Old secrets come to light, relationships are shattered and lives are put in danger. One question hangs over it all – who cut the rope? 

Friends on a sailing holiday discover a struggling fishing boat overloaded with asylum seekers. Deciding to tow the refugees, they wake the next morning and find the fishing boat gone. Who cut the rope between the two boats? 

Did they know it would end with tragic consequences?

Simon Kennedy is an award winning writer who loves discovering stories that will move people's hearts and challenge their minds

New Releases

Charis Joy Jackon's debut novel Rose of Admirias has been published as part of the On the Horizon Book Bundle.  Connor Sassmannshausen's first novel From the Ashes was also included in the Bundle. Find out more here .

Anusha Atukorala launched her non-fictional inspirational book Dancing in the Rain. Find out more here.

Other News

Valerie Volk: has had several poems published in Polestar Writers’ Journal (April, 2018) and The Mozzie (April, 2018) but had the special recent pleasure of having words from three of the poems from her first book, In Due Season, used as the text for a new requiem by composer Rachel Bruerville. This lovely piece of music, which was commissioned by the Adelaide Chamber Singers, was premiered over the weekend of May 5 and 6, first at a concert at the Ukaria Cultural Centre in the Adelaide Hills and next day at a concert in St Peter’s Cathedral, in central Adelaide. 

The book, which since first publication in 2009 has sold over 1800 copies, is available from the order page of Valerie's web site www.valerievolk.com.au It is given often as a condolence book to people who are facing grieving or loss, or just as a gift of love.

Elizabeth Klein has had two short stories accepted into two separate anthologies. 

The Landing was accepted by Storm Cloud Publishing for inclusion in their Short Tales 4 anthology on 13th April. 

The Landing:

When Quill's world is devastated by tree wars followed by alien invasion, the Elders of her planet seek to save a handful of young people by sending them into space. Quill is just one of them who lands on Earth. She is discovered by a missionary and one of the invaders of her planet. Now her very existence depends on how well she can hide in the jungle. 

And The Slaying of the Green-Eyed Monster was accepted into The Australian Pen collection #3, The Evil Inside Us anthology by 1231 Publishing on May 8th.

Slaying of the Green-Eyed Monster:

The woman at the rear of the block of units likes to watch people as they collect their mail and drive past. None of them suspects who she really is. The odd thing is, neither does she until the media screams of the deaths occurring in unsuspecting suburbia.

When Elizabeth Klein isn't writing, she is usually travelling about in her caravan with her husband, Malcolm.

Hazel Barker had the opportunity to talk at the Moreton Bay View Club and at the Writers’ Fair  about her latest book, The Sides of Heaven.  Read more here.

Hazel with Diana, Moreton Bay View Club 

Omega Writers Book Fair on 6 March brought together over 25 authors, editors, publishers with a diverse display of books. Gary Clark gave an inspiring workshop on finding humour. And a number of happy readers went home with their arms full of books.

Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan had a blast at Gold Coast Supernova in April, connected with hundreds of spec fic fans, sold some books and enjoyed the fabulous cosplay.

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.  

Member Interview – Ruth Bonetti

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 we interview Ruth Bonetti

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

1. Growing up on sheep properties outside Hughenden in outback Queensland, I preferred books to horses and Mozart to Slim Dusty. Music became my passport to a wider world. First I endured the raw culture shock of a Brisbane education (Ironside State School, Somerville House high school and University of Queensland):

“    "Seated at my desk I read poetry and play characters with relish. But when I was given a lead part in the school play, I froze. Eagle eyes pierced me! I was relegated to the back of the Greek chorus. In later decades I evolved from that shy ‘bush’ child who hid in the toilet block rather than face fearsome peers. I became an adult who welcomes any platform to reach out with words and music."
    
(Excerpt from Midnight Sun to Southern Cross.) 

2. Since childhood visits to Byron Bay, I was intrigued by strange accented relatives. Grandad emigrated, aged 16, from Finland in 1902 to escape conscription into the Russian army. Destiny led me to live in Sweden, just across the Gulf of Bothnia from the family village. My recent two-book saga weaves true stories about discovering ancestors and how they impacted on my life. Perhaps more inspiring than their heroes journeys is—thank God—my own chrysalis to butterfly transformation.

3. My primary career as a musician and educator led to publications to help people perform their words and music with confidence. I teach—and inevitably write—what I needed to learn as a fledgling musician, teacher and speaker.

Question 2: 
Tell us about your writing. What do you write and why?

I've always loved reading and writing. Perhaps it's too self-revealing, but I hope to encourage others by sharing my own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. In Sounds and Souls: How music teachers change lives I wondered “How would I as an adult teach child Ruth with her sad lack of foundation?” 

Speak Out­—Don’t FreakOut begins with God’s encouragement to an insecure Moses sent off to confront Pharaoh.

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

Thank you to the Goodreads fraternity who posted reviews! I’m grateful to the Omega Writers CALEB panel who encouraged me with the Nonfiction Award for Burn My Letters. I hope my memoirs resonate with:

·       Those who share outback upbringing or emigrant heritage

·       Ancestry.com habitués and those who read and write life stories

·       Those who left political unrest to find safe haven in Australia
And any who present in public with words or music.

Question 4: What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

Writing memoir is a vulnerable process and Midnight Sun took me close to tender bones. Thanks to buddy support and fellow Omega Writers for edits, insights and encouragement. My workshop “Writing Life Stories” shares lessons learned to dodge pitfalls.

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

Carmel Bird’s Dear Writer is gentle and encouraging. And I learn from reading excellent writing.  

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

I was inspired to watch Simon Kennedy’s riveting story Safe Harbour as an SBS mini-series. His talent, hard work and faith reminds us we too, shall reap a harvest if we don’t give up. Anne Hamilton added layers of insights and healing to her editing.

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

As I poured so much into my memoir saga, this year I’m gentle with goals. But I’ve researched Norfolk Island First Fleet convicts and plan several novellas.

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

My earlier general market books are sprinkled with subtle grains of salt, e.g. a line about Christmas carols in Enjoy Playing the Clarinet; a page on prayer and a few verses in Confident Music Performance. In Midnight Sun I wrote how my fundamentalist upbringing developed an allergy to heavy messages. After accepting that I should indie-publish my memoirs I felt free to express and explore faith more than a mainstream house might have culled. When I present or am complimented for reading lessons in church (this frustrated actor gives Moses a subtle stutter) it’s an opportunity to give God glory for my development from chrysalis to butterfly.

Ruth Bonetti has been published by Oxford University Press, Albatross Books and a music publisher. Her imprint, Words and Music, published five books to develop confident presentation for those who perform through words or music. Ruth’s music and speaking career has taken her around Australia, Europe and the USA. She founded Omega Writers in 1992.
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