Accomplished Katherine author Toni Tapp Coutts is re-launching a festival for remote NT readers, writers and storytellers.
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Happening in conjunction with the popular Junk Festival, Katherine Writers and Readers Festival will see wordsmiths from the region, who often miss out on opportunities, come together to share their stories and learn from professionals.
Sydney bookseller and editor, Sophie Hamley from Hachete Australia, will be attending the event, happening over the first weekend in June, to provide professional development to 10 writers from Katherine, Tennant Creek and all other remote regional communities in the NT.
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"This is a really unique chance for writers who usually miss out on these fantastic opportunities, due to living remotely, to have their manuscript read by a publisher who is hunting for NT authors," Mrs Tapp Coutts said.
The outback Katherine author, who has now published numerous books, said she wouldn't be where she is today without the honest and encouraging mentorship from Sophie Hamley.
"I sent in pages from my first memoir, A Sunburnt Childhood, to the NT Writers' Festival, run by the Writers' Centre. It was read by Sophie, and the same guidelines applied.
"It was amazing to have my manuscript assessed and from there she became my editor.
"It gave me the opportunity to put out the best book I possibly could," Mrs Tapp Coutts said.
A Sunburnt Childhood, was published in 2016 and quickly became an Australian bestseller.
Aspiring writers are invited to submit 15 pages of their manuscript to be assessed by the publisher. The selected writers will get a one on one 15 minute interview with Sophie Hamley at the Festival.
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"She will give you tips on how to move forward with your writing," Ms Tapp Coutts said.
To have your manuscript assessed by Sydney publisher Sophie Hamley from Hachette Australia, submit the following information to executive@ntwriters.com.au with your name and '10x15x15 Submission' as the subject line.
- Your name and address/email and phone contact
- Book Title
- A paragraph about yourself and the stage of writing you are at/your experience and if you have published before - including local anthologies
- A short synopsis/outline of your story and the genre - ie memoir/fantasy/crime etc
- A sentence of where your manuscript is up to and the word count. You must have a minimum of 10,000 words and proof by way of a simple plot plan that shows you have a plan to finish the novel
- You will be required to send 15 pages from your manuscript - does not have to be the beginning - send your best writing
Deadline for submissions is Friday, March 29, 2019.
For further questions contact executive officer of NT Writers Centre Sally Bothroyd on executive@ntwriters.com.au.
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