Literary Luncheon Authors
By Jeannie Barker
Guest Speaker – Tony Cavanaugh
Tony Cavanaugh is a writer and producer in film and television. He has over thirty years experience in the industry, in all fields, from the genesis of an idea to production. For over twenty years he has also taught and lectured to students and professionals about the industry and writing for the screen.
Tony’s first novel Promise is being published by Hachette and is due out in March 2012.
Guest Author – Michael Gerard Bauer
Michael Gerard Bauer resigned from his teaching job in 2000 to pursue his dream of being a writer. His first YA novel The Running Man won the 2005 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Older Readers and was short-listed for the NSW, Victorian and South Australian State Premiers’ Literary awards.
In 2007 his second novel, a ‘laugh out loud’ comedy entitled Don’t Call Me Ishmael! was short-listed in the CBCA awards and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and won both the 2007 Children’s Peace Literature Award and the 2008 South Australian Festival Award for Children’s Literature. It was also included in the 2007 White Ravens selection for Outstanding International Books for children and young adults. Its sequel Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs was a 2008 CBCA Notable book. The final book in the series Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel has just been released.
Michael’s other books include, Dinosaur Knights a 2010 CBCA Notable Book described as ‘an original and adrenalin-pumping adventure’ and You Turkeys! an illustrated chapter book, part of the Scholastic Matesseries for early readers. His first novel for younger readers Just a Dog is currently short-listed for the 2011 CBCA awards.
Many of Michael’s books are set as school texts and he is in high demand for talks and workshops at schools and Festivals aroundAustralia. Recently Michael was one of the guest authors at the White Ravens International Children’s and Youth Literature Festival inMunichGermany.
These days Michael is a full time writer and his books are sold in around 20 countries including the USA.
michaelgerardbauer.wordpress.com
Guest Author – Jesse Blackadder
Passionate about words, Jesse studied creative writing at university (along with film and photography) when she completed a BA (Communication) at the University of Technology Sydney.
Jesse has been a freelance writer since 1997. Her first novel was After the Party (Hardie Grant Books 2005) and her second novel is The Raven’s Heart, (HarperCollins 2011) which has just reached the bookshops.
She’s been a writer in residence in Sitka Alaska, in outback Australia, at Byron Bay and at Varuna The Writers’ House in the Blue Mountains.
Jesse has won several writing awards, most recently the prestigious Varuna HarperCollins Manuscript Development Award and the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Short Story Award.
She completed a Master of Applied Science (Social Ecology) and is currently undertaking her Doctor of Creative Arts at the University of Western Sydney, writing a novel about the first woman to see Antarctica.
Guest Author – Kay Danes
Kay Danes is the bestselling author of three highly acclaimed books: Families Behind Bars (2008) and second edition 2011, Standing Ground (2009) and Beneath the Pale Blue Burqa (2010).
Kay writes from the heart. She is funny, articulate and compelling. Her messages of courage, hope and resilience will inspire you!
Kay is a highly sought after inspirational speaker on international humanitarian issues and social justice. She has spoken at literally thousands of high profile corporate events, major charitable fundraisers, seminars and business conferences.
Kay has addressed several U.S. Congressional forums on democracy and normalized trade relations, the US National Press Club on torture and arbitrary detainment, and the Conference on World Affairs (2009) where she spoke on genocide, slavery, human trafficking, trial by media, torture and PTSD, to an audience of 91,000. The event was previously attended by Eleanor Roosevelt and US Vice-President Joe Biden.
Guest Author – Belinda Jeffrey
Belinda Jeffrey’s novels Brown Skin Blue and Big River, Little Fish have earned acclaim for their arresting characters and vivid descriptions of Australian settings. Her latest novel is Ruby Moon.
“I began writing my first novel with a view to penning a short story. 8000 words later I realised it was the novel I had burning in my mind forever. Six years later I have written three complete novels, two partial novels and some short stories. I am still, however, trying to write that first novel to my own satisfaction. I am now re-writing it completely for the third time with a working title of Maquerel.”
Guest Author – Marianne de Pierres
Marianne de Pierres is a multi-award winning author who publishes novels in the science fiction, fantasy, crime and young adult genres. Her stories have been translated into nine languages, adapted into a role playing game and an animation.
Read more about Marianne on her websites:
www.mariannedepierres.com
www.tarasharp.com
www.burnbright.com.au
Guest Author - Anthony Puttee
From an early age, when Ant first learnt to hold a pencil in his hand, from that point on, he has never put it down. During his high school studies he excelled in Art. He went on to study digital art media in tertiary college before moving into traditional animation. In his second year of studying traditional animation he was offered his first job in the entertainment industry working in television.
Since high school Anthony has been collaborating with Kev C Webb in creating Dream Raider- A Johnny Marsh Adventure. His inspiration as an artist has developed from reading books, comics, watching films and creatively working on the development of video games. Ant is well regarded by his friends, peers and family as an enthusiastic, high-spirited person with endless drive and determination.
Anthony’s co-author Kev C Webb will also be attending the GCWA LiteraryLluncheon.
Guest Author – Charmaine Wilson
Charmaine Wislon has written two moving books. Spirit Whispers is a deeply moving and inspiring autobiography. It is the story of a truly gifted woman who discovers her extraordinary abilities the hard way. Along her excruciating journey, she is taught Life’s toughest lessons and eventually its deepest meaning. Charmaine’s story delivers an important message of hope and trust in what lies beyond.
In Spirit Children – Life Goes On, the much anticipated continuation of her first book, Charmaine takes us along her amazing journey up to the present day, including a ‘behind the scenes’ account of popular TV show The One – Search for Australia’s Most Gifted Psychic, in which she was voted #1 by the Australian public.
Bereaved parents will find deep solace and wisdom in Spirit Children – Life Goes On, and anyone interested in gaining knowledge about the spirit world will be inspired by this profound insight into the mind of a truly gifted psychic. Charmaine unapologetically unveils the deep meaning hidden behind Life’s harshest experiences, thus demystifying all the pre-conceived ideas we have about the afterlife.
Charmaine’s achievements have been recognised by The Australian Psychics Association – she was awarded the 2005 Australian Psychic of the year and 2009 Queensland Psychic of the year for her efforts. In 2008 she was the winner of The One, a nationwide search for Australia’s most gifted psychic.
