Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Academy alumni Elizabeth speaks to Michelle Hamadache in depth about her written works, and together they share strategies and ways to continue one's own creative writing journey while maintaining a busy career and home life. Michelle talks about how her role as course director of Creative Writing at Macquarie University uniquely situates her within the arts industry, surrounds her with creative writing skills and practice day in and day out, and the fulfilment gained by working with other writers. But how does Michelle maintain focus and energy towards her own creative works? Take a listen to learn more

Michelle Hamadache is Course Director of the undergraduate and Master of Creative Writing programs at Macquarie University. She has worked as editor of Southerly, Australia's longest running journal, and of Mascara Literary Review. She has published short stories, essays and poems in US, UK and Australian journals. She was longlisted for the 2018 Elizabeth Jolley short story prize and the 2021 Overland Sidney Neilma Short Story prize.

Elizabeth Walton is a freelance writer, musician, and photographer. Elizabeth has contributed writing to The Guardian, New York Times, ABC, The London Reader, ArtsHub, OzArts, The Australian, Huffpost, Penguin Books, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Reuters, WIN TV, The Independent, Timber and Steel as well as newspapers and magazines in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Academy alumni Sheryl speaks to Sonam Mahatme about her identity as Queer South Asian person living in Australia, and her experiences navigating family, community and culture. Together they discuss what role a creative practitioner, whether they are a writer, composer or artist, can play in representing marginalised identities in their creative work.

Sonam Mahatme is an organisation development consultant with a broad range of experience. She has served on the Board of the Aurora Group, an LGBTQIA+ community-led funding organisation. Sonam works for a not-for-profit with a focus on improving gender equality issues in workplaces both in Australia and globally. She started her career as a lawyer and has used her experience and expertise to advocate for positive change, to make a difference. She strongly feels that awareness, education, empathy and action are key to changing mindsets.

Sheryl Fernandes Dixit is a marketing professional with a passion and flair for writing. People, animals, absurdity and humour are her forte and she enjoys creating stories from memories and life.

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Academy alumni Zohra speaks to Hayley Scrivenor about Hayley's experience writing her award-winning novel Dirt Town as a part of her creative writing PHD. Together they discuss knowing when your novel is finished, working out your writing routine, and tackling the editing process when you're not a natural plotter.

Hayley Scrivenor is a former Director of Wollongong Writers Festival. Originally from a small country town, Hayley now lives and writes on Dharawal country and has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales. Dirt Town is her first novel. An earlier version of the book was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award.

Zohra Aly writes essays, short fiction and poetry and has been published in various literary journals and anthologies. She has been a guest curator and chair for Boundless and the South Coast Writers Festival and interviewed writers for WestWords.

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Academy alumni Elizabeth speaks to Trish Bolton about the release of her debut novel Whenever You're Ready. Trish details her journey to publication, how to build a CV as an emerging writer, upending ageist stereotypes, and together they discuss the changing attitudes towards grief.

Trish Bolton is a Melbourne writer whose words have appeared in Overland, New Matilda, The Big Issue, The Age, Sunday Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times. Whenever You're Ready is her debut novel.

Elizabeth Walton is a freelance writer, musician, and photographer. Elizabeth has contributed writing to The Guardian, New York Times, ABC, The London Reader, ArtsHub, OzArts, The Australian, Huffpost, Penguin Books, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Reuters, WIN TV, The Independent, Timber and Steel as well as newspapers and magazines in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Paul and Marc speak to musician and songwriter Bryan Estepa about the emotions that inspire them to write, how words, lyrics and music allow us to distort meaning, imposter syndrome, and writing for yourself first.

Bryan Estepa is an Australian singer-songwriter who has been part of the Australian independent music scene for over 20 years and once been labelled one of ‘Sydney’s best kept secrets’. Estepa has released 7 critically acclaimed studio albums (All The Bells And Whistles, Sunday Best, Vessels, Heart Vs Mind, Every Little Thing, Sometimes I Just Don’t Know and Adeline ‘The Early Years’), 2 EP’s (Back To The Middle and Start Again) and undertaken several tours through Australia, Europe, USA, Japan and The Philippines. https://bryanestepa.com/about-bryan/

Paul Traynor is a writer and musician based in western Sydney, a member of the 2022 WestWords Academy and recipient of a 2022 Sydney Review of Books/WestWords Digital Residency, with short stories published in collections through Hawkeye Books, WestWords Living Stories, and ZineWest. Paul is also occasionally known, mainly musically, as klangmoss.

Marc Stanislas, former lead singer of the mighty 'WHYGAO' has made a comeback after 25 years as The Bardsmith. The Bardsmith proposition is simple: Articiulate, resonate! The Bardsmith provides a weekly lyrical song and endeavours to bring back the majesty of album buying experience in this digital world. www.thebardsmith.com

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy members, and Alumni, interview their favourite creatives.

Susan Templeman MP is an Australian politician. She is the member for Macquarie in the Australian House of Representatives and is Australia's Special Envoy for the Arts.

Michael Campbell is the Executive Director of WestWords. With over 35 years of experience Michael has worked as CEO, Artistic Director, an arts consultant and strategist, artistic co-ordinator, producer, events manager, librettist, editor, writer, events manager, director, choreographer and dancer.

Libby Hyett is a WestWords Academian alumni, working on her first novel, Firedance. She's rewritten the manuscript countless times (it's true- she's ran out of fingers) and it's getting rather good. Libby is working towards publication.

She's an emerging picture book author and illustrator with several (again, has run out of fingers) self published titles to her name. Libby is looking forward to working with Dirtlane Press in 2024 to develop and publish her children's book, Bowen's Story.

Libby is a prolific, award winning artist, enjoying painting landscapes and portraits in oils and watercolour [although not all at the same time. As that would be weird]. In 2023, her landscape Sunlight Balances Shadows won Hawkesbury Resident highly commended in the Hawkesbury Art Prize, a major Australian art prize. Libby displays her art at the Ferry Artists Gallery at Wisemans Ferry, NSW. Please link www.ferryartists.org

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy members, and Alumni, interview their favourite creatives.

Maria Tran is a Vietnamese-Australian actor, filmmaker, and martial artist who has won multiple awards for her work in film, TV, stage, and performance. She also specializes in fight action choreography and is the founder of Phoenix Eye Films, a female-led production company based in both Australia and the US. She is a multi-talented Vietnamese-Australian artist who has made a name for herself in various fields such as acting, filmmaking, and martial arts. She has worked in film, TV, stage, and fight action choreography. https://www.mariatran.co/

Academy Member Joanne Macias is a multi-disciplinary writer from Sydney who has had her first publication in the Living Stories Anthology, and upcoming second publication with Illographo Press. Her works explore themes of discovery, identity and internal strength. Although Joanne has only been writing for a short period of time, being creative was nothing new, as she is an avid photographer and line artist. Her art has been recognised and shared by well known musicians and has her first photo being published in an upcoming anthology with Illographo press. Acceptance into the Academy in 2023 pushed me to have more faith in my writing, find out how to become a well rounded author with all the little bits and pieces never normally thought of, and most importantly, become connected with amazing creatives, both emerging and established to inspire and guide for long term success.

Victoria Brookman is an activist, author and academic from the Blue Mountains. In this interview with James Roy she describes how her own perceived inability to push through writer's block, along with a catastrophic natural disaster, led her to write her debut novel, Burnt Out (Harper Collins), a funny and angry look at climate change, activism and political influence.

Note: Opinions and views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of WestWords.