front cover
back cover
Last Thursday I got the exciting news my story ‘Koi’, which won the Inaugural Newcastle Writers’s Festival Microlit Competition has been selected for the Award Winning Australian Writing 2016 anthology!
And to top it off a writer I work closely with, Maree Gallop, had her story accepted, too! It’s the moving story ‘The Scent of Life’ which won the Forest Fellowship of Australian Writers Short Story Competition.
The book is being launched on 31st August during Melbourne Writers’ Festival week!
The skies above Newcastle are full of flying champagne corks!
The Writers' Life 
Great news Karen, well done you, congrats and all that, drinks all round eh…. 🙂
Ha ha, thanks, Michael. Yes, we’ve been celebrating!
This is so well deserved for you Karen. Maree’s story too. I’ve had to duck some of those flying champagne corks and there are more to come. It’s nice to know famous writers.
Thanks, Marg. I hope to share a glass or two with you when we can all get together.
Congratulations, dear friend. Well deserved. Here’s cheers 🙂
Thanks, Anne. I look forward to celebrating at YOUR book launch next month!
Wonderful news! And so very well deserved. They know good writing when they see it!
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Elise.
Congratulations Karen. I’m excited for the book launch and can’t wait to buy the book and read all the wonderful winning stories. Cheers!!
Congratulations to you, Maree! It’s wonderful to share the excitement with you!
Reblogged this on A Writer's Mental Notes and commented:
Since starting writing fiction in 2012 I’ve had some fun and exciting experiences. Awards, wins, writers festivals, hanging out with wonderful writing friends and aspiring to reach new heights in the writing world. I read winning stories all the time and I remember saying to my writing group,”imagine having your story published in Award Winning Australian Stories!” Well goal reached! Here I am. ‘The Scent of Life’ is published. Along with ‘Koi’ by Karen Whitelaw, my mentor and friend. It doesn’t get much better than that!
I hope you enjoy the stories in the book when it becomes available. Happy reading!
Congratulations Karen. That’s a very impressive achievement. You must feel thrilled. No one writes to win awards, but recognition from one’s peers is always appreciated. Besides, I can now boast my creative writing teacher has a story in this year’s Award Winning Australian Writing anthology.
I reckon it’s that French writing sabbatical paying off, either that or the chocolate croissants … oh, yes, the champagne definitely assists with creativity as well. I really enjoyed Koi.
Cheers, Phil
Thanks, Phil. I am over the moon! It’s always nice to have your work acknowledged.That French sabbatical had a huge impact on the way I now approach my writing. I can’t recommend getting away to write without any distractions highly enough.
Congratulations Karen – As I said before, you have worked hard on your craft and now you are reaping its awards. Good Luck for the future.
Thank you, Bobby, for your wonderful support.
Well done Karen! and Maree!
Cheers Don Cohen
On Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 3:05 PM, The Writers Life wrote:
> Karen Whitelaw posted: ” Last Thursday I got the exciting > news my story ‘Koi’, which won the Inaugural Newcastle Writers’s Festival > Microlit Competition has been selected for the Award Winning Australian > Writing ” >
Thanks, Don! I’ll pass your congratulations on to Maree.
Congratulations, Karen, and very well-deserved!
Thank you, Joanna. It is exciting!
Well done Karen! We still haven’t had that catchup. Where is your local coffee shop? I’m free this weekend except for Saturday morning.
Thanks, Debbie. We’ve been trying to meet up for so long but this weekend isn’t possible. I’ll be in touch.
Thanks Karen
Way to go, Karen; congratulations! Your writing is so wonderful, and this is much deserved!
Thanks, Dawn! My story originated from a FF and I expanded and deepened it – doubled the length. It’s amazing how much more you can do with another 100 words.
Bravo! Love that you took a good thing and made it great!
Hi Karen and Maree
Waiting to see some photos I feel inspired to be part of the writing group. See you soon.
Cheers
Dee
Thanks, Dee. Maree and Melbourne Books put photos on Facebook. See you soon. 😀