Bumper stack of books this year!

Every year we publish books - our own anthologies, school anthologies and books written by our students. This year, we published eight books - the most ever! The best thing is how much talent, commitment and creativity you'll find between the pages of these publications. Congratulations to all the published authors - you deserve to feel very proud!

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Delightful student anthologies as part of our Schools Program  

Each year we run our Schools Programs at primary and secondary schools, and many finish with a fabulous publication. This year, we visited Serpell Primary School, Tintern Grammar School, and Templestowe College. Let us know if your school might be interested in one of our short story programs.

We are again delighted to work with the talented students of Serpell Primary in our four-week program. This year, the stories were inspired by the glorious Lost Things by Shaun Tan, which led to beautiful stories of whimsy. A legendary apple pie. A secret Bush Man. An ambitious blade of grass. A lily with a calling. A coral who takes a chance. A singing sapling. A branch who dreams of a more meaningful life. A pondering pond. Magical trees. A glimmer of hope in a desolate landscape. An elephant who discovers truth and freedom.
The Lost Tales of Serpell Primary have been found...

Tintern Grammar School was one of the first schools where we ran our eight-week short story program, specifically aimed at inspiring and encouraging strong writers, and 2016 was our fourth year at the school!
The 14 delightful and creative stories you'll find in this volume all have an element of magical realism, taking you from walking mountains and whispering leaves, to ghosts who need to let go and grieving people who need to learn how to live. 
Tintern Stories Volume 3 will captivate you...

In our second year at Templestowe College we worked with the whole of Year 7 - more than 130 young people! They wrote incredible stories on the theme 'change in circumstance'.
These 91 funny, emotional, beautiful, heart-breaking, joyful, honest, thrilling stories are testament to the skills and courage of the students at this school. Dive into this book and read about young people's dreams, fears, passions, hopes and griefs.
Templestowe Stories Volume 3 might just change you a bit.

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Our very own anthologies - Faraway and Writ-Bits

Where is faraway?
     What is faraway?
         Who is faraway?
Young writers aged 7 - 18 around Australia were asked to respond to the theme of 'faraway' with a short story, poem, or illustration. From funny and gross to heartfelt and sensitive, over 100 young creatives explored concepts of time, place, memory, friendship and identity. This anthology contains the winning and highly commended entries from the 2016 Creative Write-it Faraway Competition. Get ready to be taken on a journey...

Writ-Bits 2016 is a succulent selection of delicious, bite-sized pieces from the young authors at Creative Write-it. This year our literary selection is served in six courses: Appetisers, small writ-bits to stimulate your literary appetite; Entrées, light reading with full flavour; Salads, crisp and refreshing writ-bits before the substantial reading; Meat, our heartier fare, in tone and subject matter; Desserts, the short and sweet literary treats; and Digestifs, delectable writ-bits to finish off your meal. You won't go hungry for a good read!

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Books our students have written and published this year!

Madelyn Between Worlds is the debut novel by Amanda Ching. The story is about a young girl discovering the extent of her power.
Madelyn always knew magic existed, but it had never been a part of her comfortable life. After a blazing row with her mother, Madelyn is sent to stay with her strict, aloof aunt, and her life changes forever.
Now she knows about the truths veiled behind her edited history. 
Congratulations, Amanda, on your beautiful debut publication!

Callum Farquhar worked on Magic Hut all year every Saturday afternoon at our Creative Writing Club in Balwyn North. This is his exciting debut  novel... 
After another rejection, fourteen-year-old orphan Stephaan decides to go on a quest to bring his parents back from the dead.
But that doesn’t seem possible...
Facing challenges on the way, what will be required to get his loved ones back?
Congratulations, Callum, on such a thrilling debut publication!

Isabella Woodcock worked on Saturday afternoons at our Creative Writing Club in Balwyn North. She wrote, edited and published this excellent story...
When Rosie and Ollie are transported to the 19th century Tasmania they’re puzzled as to how they got there and more puzzled about how to get back.
Follow the children on a journey full of funny moments, historical facts, big personalities and mozzies. LOADS of mozzies.
Congratulations, Isabella, on your fabulous debut publication!