Panel - Fictional Autobiography - Humanising "the Other" with the deeply personal

Steve MinOn's auto fiction novel "First Name Second Name" is described as original and satirical. It follows four generations of one family through a reckoning with racial, familial and sexual identity. In Vivienne Wynter's soon to be released novel "Sunny", the ‘other’ is someone who experienced child abuse and neglect. Vivienne’s book aims to humanise parents who are abusive/neglectful by giving their side of the story.

Steve MinOn was an internationally awarded advertising copywriter before becoming a writer of fiction and children’s picture books. Born in North Queensland, he now lives in Magandjin/Brisbane. Steve’s debut novel, First Name Second Name (UQP 2025), was shortlisted for the 2026 Miles Franklin Literary Award and the 2026 MUD Literary Award and won the unpublished manuscript award at the 2023 Queensland Literary Awards. It was also nominated for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award. His children’s picture book, Make Them Say Poo (Affirm 2026) was published under his pen name, Stephen and was illustrated by Rudi de Wet. He has written often about outsiders and his family’s mixed-race ancestral history and his articles and stories have been published in SBS Voices and various newspapers, journals and anthologies. 

Vivienne Wynter is a journalist, publisher and creative writer. She read the news for ABC and commercial radio and has published news features in several capital city newspapers. She taught journalism and writing at Queensland universities for 20 years. Vivienne’s creative writing has been published in several anthologies. Her short story, I want Candy, was broadcast on ABC Radio’s Sunday Story. Vivienne publishes The Pineapple, an independent, constructive news and creative writing platform based in Queensland. Hawkeye Publishing will release Vivienne’s autofiction novel, Sunny, about leaving your family and keeping them at the same time, in 2027. Vivienne is also a freelance book editor and has edited several memoirs by Australian authors. Vivienne’s autofiction novel, Sunny, about leaving your family and keeping them at the same time, will be released by Hawkeye Publishing in 2027.

Sheridan Stewart is an author and radio broadcaster known for her insightful, inspiring, and relatable style. Plus, she brings the fun! A popular former FM presenter (Triple M), music journalist, comedy producer and speaker before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 2014, Sheridan can be heard on ABC Radio Queensland (Sunshine Coast) when she’s not swimming or writing! Sheridan’s first non-fiction book, I Am Enough – a 90-Day Challenge to Find Contentment, was released in the UK, AUS/NZ and the US in 2023, and her fiction has been published in the Chicago Quarterly Review. 

Discover more about the Eumundi Writers Festival here: https://eumundiwritersfestival.com.au/