Family Ties

Nova Weetman is a widely published writer of fiction, non-fiction and screenplays. She has published seventeen novels for children about friendship, class, identity and belonging, and her books have been shortlisted for many awards and published internationally. Her recent essays on aspects of grief and loss have been published in The Guardian and The Age, leading to her appearing on Radio National’s Conversations. Nova has also published short fiction in Island, Mslexia, Kill Your Darlings and Overland, and worked as a screenwriter for television and film.

Kerstin Pilz holds a PhD in Italian literature and taught European languages and Intercultural Communication in Australia, Italy, The Maldives and on a floating university campus aboard a cruiseship. Her first book, Mapping Complexity, explored Italo Calvino’s work. Her travel features have appeared widely, including in The New York Times. A TEDx speaker and qualified yoga teacher, she now leads creative writing retreats in Bali, Vietnam, and Italy. Loving My Lying, Dying, Cheating Husband is her first memoir. 

Lamisse (she/her) is a writer, poet, youth worker and workshop facilitator. Her first book, The Shape of Dust (Pantera Press, 2023) was co-authored with her father, Hazem Hamouda. Lamisse credits much of her learning and thinking to reading, listening, and collaborations with community, family and friends. For more details on Lamisse's work and writing, visit her website: lamissehamouda.com.au.

Edwina Shaw is a QLD writer and editor of fiction, memoir and screenplays. She is the author of A Guide Through Grief, Thrill Seekers, In the Dark of Night and over 40 short pieces that have appeared in literary journals and anthologies including Best Australian Stories. She is the contributing editor of Bjelke Blues, co-editor of Our Inside Voices, and ghostwriter/editor of Hard As. She teaches creative writing at UQ and also runs Relax and Write Retreats.