Recent Faber Academy student successes!

We’re absolutely thrilled to share some fantastic news of student successes from our Faber Academy writing courses, with two students recently signing deals for books developed during their studies this year – including one with us!

True Stories: Jayne Newling

Very exciting news as next year Allen & Unwin will publish Jayne Newling’s deeply moving memoir. Jayne completed Patti Miller’s True Stories course this year, and in the process completely re-wrote her manuscript. Her Publisher, Elizabeth Weiss, says the manuscript is ‘wonderfully well written’ and a ‘powerful story’. Congratulations Jayne!

Due to be published in June, here’s what to expect:

Christopher was 17 and he had everything to live for. He was smart, charismatic, loving, and deeply loved, and a champion rugby player. Yet behind the veneer of a popular and confident athlete he was struggling. Diagnosed a year earlier with depression and severe anxiety, he hid his fears from family and friends. Finally, Christopher chose to stop fighting, and committed suicide.

This is the story of Christopher’s shocking death and its tragic aftermath for the family. It is also the story of a mother and father’s love, and their determination not to lose another son to the temptation of taking his own life. Honest, raw, and deeply moving, Jayne’s account brings to life the visceral experience of grief and the long, painful journey towards healing.

If you want to follow in Jayne’s footsteps, Patti Miller’s True Stories writing course next runs from February 2014 in Sydney with a $150 earlybird deal if you book before January 10.

Writing for Children: Jill Lever

Another recent success story comes from Jill Lever, one of our Writing for Children students who has recently signed a deal with Penguin.  Jill’s first book The Worm Who Knew Karate will be published in 2015 and illustrated by the wonderful Terry Denton.

Jill did our Writing for Children course in Melbourne this year and says the book was created during the picture book workshop she did with Sally Rippin as part of the course. Congratulations Jill!

Our next Writing for Children course takes place in Melbourne from March 2014, led by Martine Murray, with guests Sally Rippin and Simmone Howell. Find out more about the course schedule, and book before 10 January to save $150.

Writing a Novel Anthology

If you’d like to know more about some of our Faber Academy students, make sure you check out our free Writing a Novel Anthology which is available to download on Kindle.