Spring Highlights 2024

 This year has been a busy one full of events and achievements. Here are some higlights. 

Omega Writers Conference

The Biennial Omega Writers Conference was held at Newport, Sydney on 20-22 September with a special worshop with the keynote speaker, Susan May Warren on the Monday 23rd. 

The conference fully booked out the hotel & the program was packed with presentations, workshops and panels. The Key Note speaker, Susan May Warren, prolific author of romantic suspense and other genres, was an electrifying story teller and inspiratonal coach. Her hairraising stories of her adventures in Russia keep us on the edge of our seats.  Other presenttions included writing craft, writer's life, publishing, promotion and marketing. Best of all was reconnecting with other writers and meeting new friends. 

Spec Fic writers at the Omega Writers Conference

On the Saturday night, many of us rose to the challenge of dressing in tune with our genres and after we'd enjoyed a delicious dinner as the highlight of the night, the CALEB awards were presented to their deservining recipients. 

Well done to all the finalists and Congratulations to CALEB WINNERS

Early Reader

Riz Chester – The Counterfeit Bust by R A Stephens

Middle Grade

Xavier in the Meantime by Kate Gordon

Young Adult Fiction

Flying Blind by Rosanne Hawke

Adult Fiction

Heart in the Clouds by Jennifer Mistmorgan

Non-fiction

The Gender Revolution by Patricia Weerakoon; Robert Smith; Kamal Weerakoon

Next year's CALEB awards will be for unpublished manuscripts.

Story of Life 

The contributors to the Story of Life anthology have been announced with many CWD members included in the anthology.

Congratulations all, especially to our CWD members, Amy George, Barbara McKay, Claire Bell, Helen Bishop, Jenny Woolsey, Julia Archer, Julie Willersdorf, Kylie Gardiner, Liisa Grace, Nola Lorraine, R. J. Rodda, Teri Kempe, Valerie Volk 

The full list of contributors:

Amy George The Picture of a Man

Arlene Dodson The Stranger

Barbara McKay The Person in the Patient and Looking Through My Bedroom Window

Caitlin Pywell Beyond Borders: Unchartered Faith

Chantel Birkin The Deepest Scarring Will Heal

Claire Bell Lifeline

Clarisse Lim Yellow

Chris Lee Sovereign Embrace

Diana Davison He Always Listens

Esther Cremona Peak Hour

Grace Yee A Perfect Failure

Helen Bishop The Truth and the Life

Helena Stretton Barzillai – a man for all generations

Jenny Woolsey Almond-shaped Eyes

Joanne Prenzler Smith Lost in Warsaw

Julia Archer The Tractor

Julie Willersdorf Weeds and a Widow

Kerry Osborne Defiant Joy and Just Look at the Trees

Kylie Gardiner Little Dove

Lesley Beth Manuel Blues

Liisa Grace My Earthly Angel

Lynda Wake Coming to my Senses

Lynda Worrell Emus, Dogs and Distractions

Margot Leggett Patting a Calf and Picnic by a Creek

N. K. Hatendi Commemoration of a Martyr

Nola Lorraine Face to Face

Phillipa Selby Uncoupling

R. J. Rodda Then I Saw Her

Rochelle Sharpe Our Dog, Rosie

Ross McIlwraith Chase the Chickens off the Runway

S. L. Wade The White Vase and Daughter

Steph Penny Heaven Scent

Teri Kempe Am I My Brother’s Keeper

Val Russell The Mouse and the Eagle

Valda Schmacker Talking Trees

Valerie Volk Any Sparrow that Falls

Vicki Smith Thank You

This collection of true stories of faith will be launched on Thursday evening, 14 November 2024, at Tabor College, Adelaide. At the launch, prize winners in the Open and Short category will also be announced. The event will be live-streamed on Facebook.

Brisbane Training Day for Writers.

 And a Reminder - the Brisbane Training Day for Writers is fast approaching on Sautrday 12 October.  

                              Here's the info.



 You have heard how 'easy' it is - so - onto the next step - the doing.

                                     Now into the nitty-gritty.

12^th October 

8:30 am to 4:30pm

Coopers Colonial Motel, 1260 Beaudesert Road, Acacia Ridge.

We will host three workshops of 2 hours each.

Workshop 1  Editing Audio Files

presented by our Brilliant Beck Robinson

Making and editing audio files for podcasts, reels or YouTube uploads.

Workshop 2  Draft to Digital

Presented by our amazing Jenny O'Hagan

Learn how to upload your manuscript into an eBook.

Workshop 3 Adding Pizzaz for That Extra Oomph 

Presented by our Awesome Annie Hamilton

Learn how to use CANVA to make pictures for social media and brochures.

Cost is $62. This includes Morning and afternoon teas and lunch.

try booking and detains -  https://www.trybooking.com/CTPQJ

 Cost for the day is $62.

If you'd just like to come for part of the day, let us know). It will be $30 at the door - there's no option to pay this online, but we need numbers - and dietary needs for ordering your lunch and morning teas, so let Judy Rogers at lindwallbears@hotmail.com. 

Remember you'll need your computers and cables. 

You're all welcome - (families too) to join us for dinner at your own expense in the restaurant afterwards.

What events and achievements are you celebrating this Spring?

Omega Writers | There We Were, Together!

 

By Jen Richards

The 2023 Omega Writers online retreat was a fantastic time of togetherness for Australia’s Christian Writers Network.

The 2023 Annual General Meeting…

The retreat started on Friday night with the 2023 Omega Writers AGM, where members gained updates on the business side of the network. President Penny Reeve announced she was stepping down midterm, which was a great loss to the network.

Thankfully, Meredith Resce is willing to step in as interim president, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a passion for supporting Christian writers, while the committee searches for someone to formally fill the position.

Members were treated to a walk-through of the brand new Omega Writers website by Cecily Paterson, who pointed out the exciting new exclusive members content. For those who were keen to kick on after the meeting, committee member Karen Roper ran a fun game of Scattergories.

A day of deep learning

The main part of the retreat began on Saturday morning when around 60 writers from across the country joined together via zoom for learning and encouragement. First up, participants broke into genre groups to get to know each other a little better, before hearing our keynote speaker Rosanna M White. Rosanna spoke on the importance of reading and living with authenticity and self-reflection so that we can inject that into our writing and ultimately write deeply and move readers with truth. Her talk would set the tone for the rest of the day.

In the second session, Meredith Resce and Tamara Wenham spoke on Christian writing in a post-Christian world. They explore the big picture of western culture and the role that a Christian voice has played in that over the last 2000 years.

After lunch, Meredith chaired a session on Hopes, Dreams, Expectations and Disappointments where she invited other writers, editors, and agents to talk about approaching the inevitable ups and downs of the writing life as Christians. The learning part of the day closed with a devotion from Karen Roper and genre groups.

In the evening, Iola Goulton presented the 2023 Caleb Awards. It was thrilling to see so many friends, new and old, learning, connecting and celebrating together across the day.

Thank you to the extraordinary team behind the scenes who made the day run smoothly and especially to Tamara Wenham who balanced calm, professional planning with the excitement of being nominated for the CALEB. Thanks to the work of tireless volunteers, Australia’s Christian Writers Network is going from strength to strength!

Save the date for 2024

A few years ago, the Omega Writers committee made the decision to move from yearly in-person conferences to having an in-person conference in even years, supplemented by an online retreat in odd ones. This approach allows us to hold a highly professional in-person conference but still provides an opportunity for interactive learning for writers at all points of the writing journey.

To that end Carolyn Miller introduced the 2024 Omega Writers conference.
Emerge: Connect, equip, inspire

Dates: Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September, 2024

The Metro Hotel, Newport | Sydney

Keynote speaker: Susan May Warren

Register your expression of interest and get early updates here.