Tag Archives for " Author Academy Bookstore "
About
Joesy Knibbs
Joesy is a short story & poetry author who has come from the inner suburbs of Sydney. As a shy city girl, she met a country boy and moved to the north west country town of Gulgong. It was there she learned to manage a pig farm and observed the differences in people and the similarities in animals of all kinds.
Tragedy struck when her husband had a terrible accident which was the driving force for them to move, they settled into the Hawkesbury where she now lives with her family. When Joesy isn’t taking care of her family, she likes to write amazing children’s stories and poetry regarding women’s issues, and occasionally enjoys supporting her grandsons while watching them play rugby league.
Books by Joesy Knibbs
Gerome the Great!
When it comes to playing Rugby League, Gerome is a great team member. He is tough and ready to tackle. He plays the game showing his sportsmanship and courage. Learning to be fair at all times. It is important for Gerome and his teammates to play the game with fairness while encouraging other teams to do the same.
It is game day! Gerome and his teammates are looking forward to play their game of Rugby league. Gerome’s running, tackling and kicking skills demonstrate how tough he really is. Come and have fun with Gerome and his teammates…………..
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Hope you enjoyed the latest top reads of 2020!
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About
Sonia Young
Sonia Young grew up on a hobby farm at Vineyard in the Hawkesbury Area of NSW. After getting married she moved to a nearby suburb and raised three children. She discovered the gift of poetry at the age of forty four. Embracing this gift she went on to write over 30 poems. Most of which are contained in this book. Being the first book of poems she has written she hopes it will be well received.
Reciting her poem “It’s the first ANZAC day” at the Dawn service in Kurrajong NSW, 2018 to over 1000 people has been one of the highlights of her writing career. It was very touching with many shedding a tear or two. She still lives in the Hawkesbury and attends Hawkesbury Valley Toastmaster meetings where she can practice reciting her poems in front of an audience.
Books by Sonia Young
My Poetic Journey
Be inspired by first time writer Sonia Young as she takes you through her inspirational journey of grief, love and humor.
In the beginning her pain and grief can be felt in the poems “My Son Alistair James Young” and “It’s the first ANZAC day”. Poems written about the loss of her first born baby and her father.
As you continue through the book poems such as “Riptide”, “Shipwreck” and “GOD, Please help me today” emerge. Written from the heart, at her lowest emotional point.
As her mood changes from pain and grief, through acceptance to finally happiness and contentment, it can be felt through the poems such as “Reflections”, “What makes a great Man” and “Four Sheep in a Shed”, which are contained in the sections of Spiritual, Close to my heart and Whimsical.
By the end of the book your spirits will be uplifted and a smile will emerge.
Reading these poems, hopefully you can relate to the poet and be inspired to let your emotions flow as she has done through her writings.
Hidden Treasures
Come on a playful day out as two children go on a hunt to find the hidden treasures that God has placed inside of them. They could be from the heart – love kindness and respect or from the mind – learning how to play cricket or dancing. When they find them, they have fun sharing them with somebody new, helping them to see that they too have hidden treasures in them that they can discover.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about our author of the month!
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For more information, please click here.
About
Millie Jackson
Millie Jackson writes novels and short stories that feature an honest exploration of contemporary issues. Whilst she often uses a humorous approach in her writing, she also delves into the difficult topics of addiction, domestic violence, eating disorders and spirituality.
She is a member of two writers’ groups at the Stanton Library as well as another at the Writers’ Centre in Rozelle. She has two short stories that will be published in an up and coming anthology in Spring 2020, featuring the works of the Stanton groups. The theme is ‘Standing Out or Fitting in.’
Her debut novel, ‘A North Shore Buddhist,’ was launched at the Stanton in December 2019. Since then she has received many positive reviews of her writing and has been asked to do author talks at various locations.
Millie has an active interest in physical and mental health, surrounding herself with like-minded people. She also continues to explore the impact of addiction and lack of connection on the family unit in today’s society.
Books by Millie Jackson
A North Shore Buddhist
Jacquie knows all about challenges. The young country girl living in ‘the red brick house’ in the far west of N.S.W., turns away from the notion that God will fix everything. She then moves on to boys as her next possible fix.
After a devastating loss, as a young adult she moves to Sydney or ‘the big smoke’ as her father calls it. She develops a passion for money and men, whilst a spiritual quest for the meaning of life sits in the back of her mind occasionally making its presence known.
The right guy seems to be an illusion, as she battles through relationships and life altering traumas. Her friends and family together with her irrepressible sense of humour, keep her moving forward, even amongst the darkness threatening to unravel her world.
Walk with Jacquie as she experiences a myriad of emotions, from the joyous heights of happiness to the depths of sadness testing her will to battle on. You will find yourself laughing hysterically one minute and in floods of tears the next, always wondering whether she has the strength to overcome the trials that life keeps handing her.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about our author of the month!
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About
James Dempster
James L Dempster grew up in leafy harbour side Clifton Gardens, a short walk to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, where he spent many happy boyhood hours, as well as exploring the nearby Sydney Harbour National Park bushland and foreshore. He has worked in the cinema and video industries, is a screenwriter and also an artist, having entered the Archibald several times. For the past two decades he has been in various aspects of animal welfare. He lives in semi-rural New South Wales with his rescue animals. Stripes in the Shadows is his first novel and has a new children’s storybook Spitfire the Dragon coming soon.
Books by James Dempster
Stripes in the Shadows
As a young boy Leo Thomas had his photograph taken at the Zoo beside the last Tasmanian tiger in captivity – it dies on his 6th birthday and this tragedy inspires him to become one of Australia’s most renowned naturalists, vowing this appalling fate should never happen to another species. In 2010 he turns 80, is now retired, an active recluse tending his wildlife rescue clinic on the edge of a pristine forest in Tasmania’s south west. His serene corner of the world is threatened when a prominent commercial lumber company sponsors a not-so-independent study to prove this forest should be logged. Leo goes on the offensive being the prominent almost single local voice opposing this project in the small community. At this inconvenient time for Leo, his estranged grandchildren arrive from Sydney for a re-connect visit. They struggle to relate and get to know each other under the same roof and among inhabitants of the town. To help save the forest, Leo commences a surreptitious campaign of sabotage to hinder the timber industry study which quickly delays the corporate titan’s schedule. When he sends in his thugs to deal Leo a lethal blow, events take a very unexpected turn...
‘I was in the moment of the story on every page - a wonderful fictional tale full of wildlife encounters that should have been real history!’
Brad Walker - CEO Global Wildlife Training - www.globalwildlifetraining.com.au
‘This is a very powerful story. Each page had me wanting more. I honestly thought it was a true story. A very well written book…highly recommended’
Sue Kennedy – CEO Sue Kennedy Publishing & Author Academy – www.authoracademy.com.au
Hope you enjoyed learning more about our author of the month!
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Who Is James Dempster?
The story formed in my thoughts and dreams - so I went with it till I knew it had to be fully formed so I could share it with the world.
Many - but I have a particular soft spot for Gerald Durrell who often wove humour and sincere concerns for animals and the planet so effortlessly. Also Spike Milligan - because he is the first author that made me laugh out loud when reading one of his books, and so often thereafter.
I am a vegan. A couple of favourites include, aloo baingan (indian eggplant curry), the wonderful baked beans on toast (simple and incredibly nutritious) and a good old cuppa of hot black tea.
Walk with dogs out somewhere natural, read, watch movies, think about stories.
I didn't really know - vaguely something to do with the movies, which is a form of storytelling. In the end I think writing chose me.
It has to have a good interesting engaging narrative no matter what the genre, have some deeper spiritual meaning that is often not apparent if done correctly, and a good moral lesson or three - all subtly woven together and the story is so good, you don't even notice them .
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned from writing your book?
How long it became from my initial rough calculation on length - being all the 'corners' of the segments of the narrative that filled in during the process, and how the characters became more real inside my mind as they acted out their parts - and when I observed how all the characters were actually different segments of my character/personality given form somehow.
When I was participating in amateur theater - I discovered the power of the text over all other aspects of any possible final production.
Depends on the story - 'Stripes in the Shadows' took about 10 months from first word to last. Sometimes you have to put a story aside for a while then come back to it, so it depends. And in the end all stories (or whatever type of creative works of/or art) are subject to a version of what Paul Valery famously said about poetry 'A poem is never finished, only abandoned.'
That is a hard one as I have many novels, and shorter children's stories all percolating inside me. When it dominates I will do it, and when it is done, then I will be the first to know.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about James Dempster.
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About
Jennifer Navin
I am my own person and to me family is everything.
My dream of doing medicine was not to be realised, when in year twelve I knew I would not get the grades needed to study medicine, so I entered nursing at Royal North Shore Hospital and loved every minute of my time there. After a stint at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne I left for Europe and the ubiquitous bus trip, a right of passage for the young Australian back in the late seventies.
With Danica’s death, I reached crossroads and decisions needed to be made on where my career was to go. I did go to University as a mature aged student and over the years of juggling parenthood, part time work and study I gained a Bachelor of Nursing, Diploma of Gerontology and a Masters in Aged Care Management.
Books by Jennifer Navin
Riding the Rainbow
My story of Danica’s six years of life is based purely on our personal experiences and in no way reflect the experiences of other persons.
In reflection, I hope that this book will help those families of newly diagnosed children who have a disability. Your world will feel as though it has collapsed and will wonder; Why me? Why us? Is it worth it?
Believe me, it is worth it and then some. The journey does take time, love and a lot of patience to make it through each day but with the dawn there is always a new day.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about our author of the month!
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Who Is Millie Jackson?
I felt the need to tell my story and to let others know that out of tragedy, hope is more often than not, just around the corner.
I have many favourite authors. I loved Liane Moriarty’s earlier work. I am inspired by Eckhart Tolle and many of the Buddhist teachings.
My favourite food is seafood especially prawns and crabs
Walking by water, coffee with friends and browsing shops especially bookstores. I love attending book launches and writers’ festivals.
I always wanted to be an actress or a singer. I started writing when I was very young and also wanted to keep doing that.
I enjoy pace, humour and honesty as well as a good plot twist.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned from writing your book?
I learned that it doesn’t just flow every day, that creativity comes in bursts. I also learned that slumps can be hard but can be worked through if you have the right people and tools around you.
From a very young age, but more seriously after attending a writers’ festival in Ubud around four years ago.
To do it properly it can take years. I believe at least one year with all of the multitude of edits etc.
My next book is a murder mystery set on the northern beaches.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about Millie Jackson.
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Who Is Joesy Knibbs?
I have been fascinated with stories ever since I was a child, I would get lost in books and pretend I was the characters and living their stories. The stories inspired my imagination and allowed me to be creative using mine.
This is a hard question to answer as I have had many over the years. I have loved J.R Tolkien, C S Lewis, J K Rowling, May Gibbs, Roald Dahl, and now these days I am not reading as much , but when I do I like Melissa Marr and Stephanie Meyers. I think I like these authors because their stories are outside of the normal life we live today. Anything is possible within the storyline , even things I wouldn’t ever think of, so I am able to step into the characters to feel what they feel and stand in their shoes for awhile.
My favourite food is chocolate or ice cream.
When I am not writing I like to spend time with my family watching my grandsons play football or being creative with my granddaughters.
As a child I wanted to be a Dancer or a singer.
I think what makes a good story is the ability to take the reader to another place and inspire their creativity and imagination even for a little while.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned from writing your book?
The most surprising things for me was to see what my imagination had created and to turn it into reality. It was like I made it come alive.
As a child I think it was just a gift that I had and taken it for granted. It wasn’t until I came to Author Academy that I became aware of my gift. Meeting Sue Kennedy and the other authors gave me the space and feedback to recognise the gift in my stories, and that is what made me realise that I wanted to be a writer.
Once I believe in the idea that my stories are something worth reading it takes about a year.
At the moment I am playing around with ideas and haven’t decided on the subject of my next book yet.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about Joesy Knibbs.
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Who Is Sonia Young?
Grief and wanting to share the story about the loss of my first born baby. Even though I started writing this book years ago. I have not finished it but I have published two other books.
I don't have a favourite author.
I have a sweet tooth so I would have to say chocolate.
When I am not writing I work as a carer, which I really enjoy. I also like to spend time with the family.
Don't remember having my heart set on anything but after doing work experience at the age of 15 at Castle Hill RSL I decided I wanted to become a Chef.
True stories with spiritual overtones.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned from writing your book?
I was surprised with my ability to write poetry.
A few years after my baby died I wanted to write my story but didn't see myself as a writer.
Depends on what I am working on. My Poetic Journey and Hidden Treasures took approximately one year to write. The book I am working on now is going to take a lot longer.
My next book is about my parents. I am writing it with my mother from her perspective. My dad was an incomplete quadriplegic and Mum was his full time carer. They travelled a lot around Australia. First in a Combi with the wheelchair tied to the back, then in a Motorhome. They had some great adventures in between hospital visits and Dad's surgeries.
Hope you enjoyed learning more about Sonia Young.
Would like to be on our list of authors? Become a member today and reap the benefits of being a part of the Author Academy Bookstore!
For more information, please click here.