Nick Croydon has more than 25 years’ experience shaping stories from the boardroom, leading international publishing houses and book retail giants across then UK and Australia.
Now the CEO of QBD Books Australia, Nick has shifted from nurturing the literary dreams of others to realising one of his own with his debut novel, The Turing Protocol. Born in Surrey, England, and now living in Brisbane with his Spanish wife, Esther, and their children, Nick brings a rare insider’s perspective to the page: one honed in the engine rooms of the book world, now turned toward storytelling itself.
Connect with Nick Croydon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theturingprotocol/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D#
Dr Lee Kofman is a Russian-born Israeli-Australian author of six books and editor of three anthologies, writing teacher and mentor based in Melbourne.
Her numerous short stories, short creative non-fiction and poetry have been published widely in Australia, Scotland, UK, Israel, USA and Canada in such publications as Best Australian Stories, Malahat Review, Meanjin, Griffith Review and Brand among others.
She is a regular participant in literary festivals, has been a judge or assessor for multiple awards and literary competitions and her work has been shortlisted for accolades such as the Nib Literary Award and the ABIA awards.
Lee’s writing and reading life began in a remote Siberian village where she recited her first poem to an admiring crowd of illiterate babushkas.
Connect with Dr Lee Kofman:
Website: https://leekofman.com.au/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafo_hPY75NaU_dmpq-fcyTa8P9Q2Q8Ot_r6YsZXeh1qlbYZwKQYnI8rEg82oQ_aem_zso_7FUK4-ewG0J-yuFHbQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leekofman?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-kofman-phd-b7482a19?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BOxSwAIeuStynWA3%2Fs2u30Q%3D%3D
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008964011013
Wendy Dale is an author and a seasoned memoir-writing coach challenging conventional advice about writing.
With fifteen years of experience reviewing thousands of manuscripts, Wendy developed the Memoir Engineering System, detailed in her upcoming book of the same name, which was published in January 2025.
She is also creating the world’s first writers reality show based in Peru! Her clients include prominent media organizations such as Entertainment Weekly, The New York Post, and NBC.
Wendy is the author of the memoir Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and resides in Cusco, Peru with her husband and two bunnies.
Connect with Wendy Dale:Website: https://www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writerwendydale?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BJuDaJ7SRTKiJUv5Urj%2BCjw%3D%3DYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@memoirwritingforgeniuses
Edwina Shaw is a Queensland writer and editor of fiction, memoir and screenplays. Her first novel, Thrill Seekers, based on her brother’s battle with schizophrenia, was shortlisted for the 2012 NSW Premier’s Awards.
Since 2002, over forty of her short pieces have been awarded and widely published in Australian and international journals, including Best Australian Stories, Griffith Review, Island, Grieve anthologies and Asia Literary Review.
Edwina has run Relax and Write Retreats, affordable retreats for women and non-binary folk, since 2017, and is passionate about helping people heal through getting their stories onto the page.
She lives on unceded Ugarapul Country (Ipswich), west of Brisbane, in a 160-year-old stone cottage full of secrets. She writes because she can’t stop.
Connect with Edwina Shaw:
Website: https://edwinashaw.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac9JJ-B-5T7wZrte32KHsf99CUlJp5fWB5MX_9CmmWjfJa2sdGm5xJ3hgLykg_aem_vGcUDgxS1QRW2Ct8qimwSQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinashawauthor?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edwina.jean.2025/
Email: edwinashaw@icloud.com
SubStack: Edwina Shaw
Jai Heer is the founder and CEO of AMSPPC. His company helps nonfiction authors run scalable book advertising campaigns that generate readers on autopilot on Amazon using KDP AMS and boost their brand value on Amazon. Jai is a self-published author who brings expertise, patience and a passion for seeing authors succeed. Connect with Jai Heer:
Website: https://amsppc.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jai-singh-profile?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BrpCmPdVXQEuKxKuKWYYBJA%3D%3DEmail: jaipreet.singh83@gmail.c
Jacinta Tynan is a journalist, former news presenter, columnist, author, MC and mother to two teenage boys. Jacinta has published five books, her most recent: The Single Mother’s Social Club - Inspiration and advice on embracing single parenthood (Murdoch Books). She has been a regular columnist with Sunday Life and Body+Soul and contributes to various publications including Stellar.
After leaving her successful career as a national TV news anchor, she founded The Spiritual Book Club sharing inspirational books and author interviews - including the likes of Gabby Bernstein, Deepak Chopra and Rebecca Campbell - with like minded souls.
Passionate about social causes, Jacinta is an Ambassador for The Warrior Woman Foundation and Raise Foundation providing in-school mentoring to high school kids across the country.
For more information, visit: https://jacintatynan.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaci7BBdpF9zKJOFQ0RUi7GR4OaiwI3fZ6CVXW3QA3dxWNEReiZOhs7ghk5kwQ_aem_KVmi8gHgJl66B3hX4d0CRQ
Karen Jacobsen is the president of the Whitsundays Writers Festival and deeply involved in the arts scene.
Driven to follow her dream and born to light up the stage, Karen studied in Brisbane where she began her professional career, and on to piano bars, jazz trios and voice-over work in Sydney before moving to New York City with one suitcase becoming an award-winning Singer and Songwriter.
Being given the role of the GPS girl changed Karen’s life, allowing her to create her empowerment brand The GPS Girl, giving directions for life and business and showing how to navigate change powerfully.
For more information visit:
https://karenjacobsen.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae5LM9ldm_R4dI2Hz5l5oD6Bk-c2YmmIDAvMsBVuf8C8i7-WXxJOWf2URDB9Q_aem_XGZ2ZaZZVf9wNr952NiQhw
https://www.whitsundayswriters.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafoC9D8D8fJvMGFKtvYDjELc_1Zd8ctV1LJ-GVR8bccbfdIrTWU7emU2RxSNg_aem_B71XwcnoE2KGvDF9Bx82qQ
Danielle Colley is a coach, speaker, workshop facilitator and award-winning author of The Chocolate Bar Life, which was published by Hembury Books in July 2024.
For the past five years, Danielle has been helping people who are feeling stuck and dissatisfied with their lives to reach their full potential. As a former journalist working for The Australian Women's Weekly and Sunday Life, and a struggling solo parent of two young children, Danielle understands how hustle and grind impacts our ability to live a rewarding life and has developed techniques to rid ourselves of anxiety, overwhelm and burnout.
Embodying delicious balance, Danielle lives by the sea one hour south of Sydney, with her husband, her two kids, and their goofy dog, Rocky.
For more information, visit: https://daniellecolley.com.au/
Thuy On is the Reviews and Literary Editor at ArtsHub and she has written extensively on Australia’s books and publishing industry.
She is also an arts journalist, critic and editor who has written for The Guardian, Australian Book Review and The Australian. She is a published author of three poetry collections, the second of which, Decadence, was longlisted for the Stella Prize.
Connect with Thuy On:
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thuy_on123/?hl=en
Dr Duncan E Graham is a Sydney writer, senior counsel at the NSW Bar and medical doctor. He co-authored 'Why Patients Sue Doctors'.
For over a decade, Duncan acted almost exclusively in cases involving people suffering from asbestos-related diseases. His knowledge of the history of the asbestos industry, the medical issues concerning asbestos, the role of governments and big business, and the key issues in asbestos litigation is unparalleled.
His practice now focuses on medical negligence and complex medical device class actions. He has represented hundreds of people injured through the negligence of hospitals and doctors and thousands more injured from harmful medical products.
For more information, visit: https://duncangraham.com.au/
Jane is a much loved Author Coach and publishing strategist as well as being a gifted speaker, sought-after business consultant, and ghost writer. She is the author of four books including Mindset for Business:The Art and Science of Sound Decisions, and the best-selling Mindset for Authors: How to overcome procrastination, perfectionism and self-doubt.
Jane designed the Power Writing Program to fast track her clients to published author status, and the Power Publicity Program to show them how to leverage that status to broker free publicity. She also runs the Power Writers Publishing Group and The Book to Business Academy membership program.
Click here for information on Jane Turner's upcoming book launch at GleeBooks
https://gleebooks.com.au/event/real-lives-bold-stories/
Check out Jane's website to find out more:
https://www.writewithjane.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacLRW2DWRjw-DZWvcIbDzvet0qEfOkNihD95k22s1s70otZmDYVkzmvsTr_8A_aem_a0uyRwtT1GPkPpm4V_y6aQ
Alexandra Larach is an experienced event manager with over seven years of creating memorable events for authors and literary communities. Specialising in book launches, author events, and literary festivals, she handles every detail—from speaker coordination to logistics—ensuring authors can focus on what matters most sharing their work.
Alexandra’s passion for storytelling, rekindled during the COVID-19 pandemic, drives her to support fellow writers. At Visionary Events, she’s dedicated to creating impactful experiences that connect authors with their readers and bring their visions to life.
For more information, visit: PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacJ0ntyRTFC0QHcABLXMO6gu6C6ONNJ2a3MEsEgCq1ARXEEHY0Yfv74kstZMg_aem_uRvIE7kGQkSOgzU2rRVKTg
Gabriella Pomare is a partner at Norton Law Group and the author of a new book called The Collaborative Co-Parent. She frequently appears at the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and Family Court of Australia in complex family law disputes.
Gabriella is also experienced in family law matters that cross international jurisdictions. She was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 2018, ‘Rising Star’ Australian Law Awards 2019, Family Law Partner of the Year in 2022, 2023, 2024.
For more information, visit: https://thecollaborativeco-parent.com.au/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadTZ7dNCtZjGz0WUKnMTLSQwLaOLOo1ER5hxZlykcfudAEfq5yb7omQgZVe_w_aem_6P6hK--T9qPYOCcJKVLZpg
Sarah Susak is a full-time working mum and the General Manager of Legal and Corporate Affairs at a leading Australian food company. She is also the author of a new memoir called Youru: Find the Guru within You and the founder of MEDI STEADY GO - a Vedic meditation teaching course.
To say that health challenges have played a mammoth role in the last 8 years of her life is a grand understatement. In 2017, she was diagnosed with a rare and deadly head and neck cancer. At the time, her baby was only 1.5 years old. She is grateful to be here today to tell us how she got through it all.
Visit Sarah’s website to learn more about her journey:
http://www.sarahsusak.com/
Interested in learning Vedic Meditation? Start with the Medi Steady Go program:
https://www.sarahsusak.com/about-medi-steady-go
Purchase the book here: https://www.sarahsusak.com/my-book
Connect with Sarah Susak:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_susak/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572841224452
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-susak-2795b3a5/
Eileen O’Hely is the writer of the best-selling Aisling and Amelia, award-winning children's series Penny the Pencil, PEP Squad and Kitten Kaboodle. O'Hely describes herself as a nerd but is in fact an astrophysicist and science educator! Her latest book is a graphic novel called "50 Ways to Die in Space." For more information, visit: http://eileenohely.com/
Andrew Matthews is the author and illustrator of 8 million books sold in 48 languages across 70 countries. His first book Being Happy was a global bestseller...helped by recognition from the then number one world golfer Nick Faldo who told the international press that BEING HAPPY! had helped him win the British Open.
Andrew's a global speaker having given talks to CocaCola, McDonalds, in prisons..to schools...etc. He's great on camera and all his books are illustrated with his own cartoons.
For more information, visit: https://andrewmatthews.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacQGbtu6TSz_FXWH5XZx8hO17cM1mMKSTlbM5EBlpaNKHJB0HRCyxrUlbYR9g_aem_uE4gENiwTrhJDjY-kdYUhQ
Jacqui Louise Swallow is the author of The Bipolar Runner, which was published by Fairplay Publishing in October. She a dedicated mum and teacher's aide who has lived with bipolar disorder since her teenage years and more recently has also been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
Now in her 40s, she has found running to be the most effective way to manage her symptoms. An enthusiastic park runner, in 2023 she took on the challenge of the Melbourne Marathon, embracing the 6+ hour endurance run at her own pace. Jacqui is an Ambassador for Parkrun, Beyond Blue, Run the Tan and Run for Mental Health.
You can purchase the book here: https://www.fairplaypublishing.com.au/products/the-bipolar-runner
The Palestinian-Canadian UAE-based author, Nour Arab, founder and owner of Nour Publishing, member of Emirates Publishers Association, has broken all records in the children’s literature field by “creating a new methodology in writing children’s stories” Gulf Today newspaper, 2020.
Inspired to see the world through the curious eyes of children, Arab has reflected the beautiful details that take place in every family home in the presence of a child in all her bilingual children’s stories.
For more information, visit: http://www.nourpublishing.com/
DG Rampton is a bestselling author who loves to create feelgood romantic comedy, featuring intelligent heroines, dashing men and sparkling banter.
An engineer by training but a romantic by nature, she left her corporate career to follow the call of her artistic inclinations and write stories that bring joy and laughter into people's lives.
She has a penchant for gastro-dining, French comedy and theoretical physics. When not immersed in the fictional worlds she creates, she has been known to dabble in extreme property makeovers that send her family batty.
For more information, visit: https://dgrampton.com/
Meg Keneally is a bestselling novelist, editor, journalist, writing teacher and book coach.
She is the author of three solo novels - Free, The Wreck and Fled (optioned for film and currently in pre-production). Her screenplay adaptation of Fled has won numerous awards for unproduced screenplays.
With her father Tom Keneally, she’s the author of four books in the Monsarrat series - The Soldier's Curse, The Unmourned, The Power Game and The Ink Stain. The fifth, The Valley of the Swells, is on the way.
She has taught writing masterclasses around Australia, and has worked with fiction and non-fiction authors.
For more information, visit: https://www.megkeneallybooks.com/