Panel - You are never too old or too young to be an author

Discover why age is merely a number – and never an excuse – as authors ranging in age from 12 to 82 recount the challenges and successes of capturing their stories on the page. This candid conversation will be sure to inspire aspiring authors of all genres no matter what stage of life you are at, and provide real, practical advice from authors who have been there and done that. An inspiring panel compered by Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane of Ignite & Write. Roxanne is an author, ghost writer, editor, tutor and a qualified journalist who has written for a number of newspapers, magazines and e-zines.

Lincoln Rawlins has always had a philosophy of kindness towards himself and towards others. So when this deep-thinking eight-year-old was asked to create a story to present at the 2022 Secret Oasis Festival, it was no surprise that he chose this as his underlying theme. Reading his story out to a crowd of over 100 people was an experience Lincoln will never forget. His story of hope, teamwork, combatting negative with positive and kindness came to life through his main character, Sprout, and the seed for what became his debut book, Sprout’s Idea, began to grow. Now a two-time author at age 11, with the backing of literary greats Andy Griffiths and Jackie French, Lincoln is proof that anyone can harness the power of story to make a difference in the world.

Grace Kwarcianyi was 15 when she published her debut book, Avalon: A Rise of New Heroes. The idea for the book struck Grace during a tutoring session in mid-2023. She spent six months developing the story, which follows Avalon, a girl with shapeshifting animal superpowers, who combats villains in Travel City after her parents go missing. Grace pitched her idea to Sydney’s Ark House Press, which loved the book. If you like superheroes, action and suspense, then this amazing adventure is for you.

Margaret Sinclair is an award-winning entrepreneur, inventor and businesswoman whose career spans nursing, medical innovation, fashion and retail and the author of Talinga: The house my dad built and its role in saving K’gari. After working as a nurse and midwife across Australia, the USA and the UK, she pioneered patient positioning products, earning multiple patents. She later expanded into fashion design, founding Masinali Originals and My Maggies LLC, where she patented and launched her innovative magnetic clothing fasteners. With products sold worldwide and featured on the Home Shopping Network, Margaret’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to creativity and resilience.

Berni Morris is a pharmacist and PhD microbiologist who has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, government and community since 1991, specialising in research, clinical trials, telehealth and education. Her global career spans Europe, the USA and Australia, where she has led start-ups and consulted widely. Passionate about Indigenous health, she supports remote communities and advances healthcare accessibility. The loss of her husband, Tim, deepened her commitment to making a difference. Her memoir, The Griefcase, marks the next step in her lifelong mission to improve lives through medicine and innovation.

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