Category Archives: Posts about Prana Writers

……Meet Our Gold Coast Anthology Authors………Rebecca Fraser

Posted on by
Horror aficionado and speculative author Rebecca Fraser

Horror aficionado and speculative author Rebecca Fraser

Rebecca Fraser: Coralesque

What are you reading at the moment?
Like most readers and writers, I’ve got a number of books on the go. Current reads are ‘Swallow the Air’ by Tara June Winch, ‘The Gate Theory’ by Kaaron Warren, and Tim Winton’s ‘The Turning’.

What’s your favourite place on the Gold Coast, and why?
That’s a difficult question – so many to choose from. Probably Burleigh Headland. The walk from North Burleigh along the Esplanade, round the Headland / National Park, down to Echo Beach and back again was one of my favourite things to do when I lived on the Gold Coast.

What’s your connection with the Gold Coast?
I moved to the Gold Coast in 1981 and left two years ago to live on the Mornington Peninsula. I will always have a special fondness for the Gold Coast. It was the backdrop of my formative years and, in some ways, I feel like we grew up together. It is a city of great beauty, diversity and contrasts, stuffed with fabulous characters and stories.

What does your story convey about the Gold Coast?
Hopefully a sense of nostalgia. I think for most people of my vintage, the 90’s was a defining decade. Coralesque is set in 1991, and I have incorporated a few landmarks and iconic pop culture references to underpin the sense of setting and place. The Gold Coast has always played happy host to a range of cultures and sub cultures. Surfing, for some, is akin to a religion.

What attracted you to the photo you selected?
I have always had an affinity with the ocean, so I was drawn to it immediately.

Tell us about your story in one sentence.
I think the cover blurb nailed it: A surfer becomes horrifyingly one with the sea.

What else have you published?
I started taking my writing seriously in 2007. Since then my short stories and poems have appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines. If you’re interested, my published works are listed here: http://rebeccafraser.wordpress.com/published-work/

What’s your main genre?
I’ve been drawn to speculative fiction since childhood. I have a bent for the dark, quirky and unsettling. I adore horror, although don’t like to pigeon hole myself purely as a horror writer as I enjoy exploring and experimenting with other genres.

What are you working on now?
I’m studying towards a Masters of Creative Writing, so that takes up a fair bit of time. There are a couple of Australian spec fic anthologies I’m working on submissions for, and a couple of longer works in progress. At the moment they are making more noise in my head than the rattling of fingertips on keyboard!

Anything else you’d like to add?
It’s a pleasure to share the table of contents with a talented group of writers and be part of an anthology that celebrates the city that I love.

Happy writing, happy reading and, of course, happy days.

…….Meet Our Gold Coast Anthology Authors…………Kay Gibb

Posted on by
War Bride author Kay Gibb

War Bride author Kay Gibb

Kay Gibb War Bride

What are you reading at the moment?
The signature of all things – Elizabeth Gilbert
What’s your favourite place on the Gold Coast, and why?
I live and work in Varsity Lakes. I love the little university village. The atmosphere is great, there are so many hidden gems in the forms of restaurants and coffee shops. My kids and I love to gate-crash the student trivia evenings at one of the local restaurants – it’s just such a great culture.
What’s your connection with the Gold Coast?
I moved here in 2008 from South Africa. We weren’t sure where we would settle, but the minute I drove down The Esplanade at Burleigh I felt immediately at home. We’ve lived here ever since.
What does your story convey about the Gold Coast?
I’m intrigued and excited about the role the Gold Coast played for injured American and Australian troops during WWII. I think it’s a history that’s been somewhat forgotten – certainly the Gold Coasters I’ve discussed it with have been largely unaware. I hope my story inspires an interest in this piece of history for others.
What attracted you to the photo you selected?
The innocence of the girl in the picture. I always feel that war steals the innocence of everyone who lives through it.
Tell us about your story in one sentence.
Romeo and Juliet meets a Gold Coast couple during WWII.
What else have you published?
Regretfully I have a large body of published work, but all in the academic field. I’ve had a portion of fiction published in The Coral Sea Monster – another Prana project. I would love to have more time to devote to my fiction writing.
What’s your main genre?
I love to write about love, death, history, murder – so if you can fit that into a genre please let me know!
What are you working on now?
On paper, a memoir surrounding my move to Australia. In my head, a trilogy set on the Gold Coast – and yes – with one large chunk during WWII!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I find myself constantly torn between my love of reading, and my love of writing. How do other authors find time in the day for both?

……Meet Our Gold Coast Anthology Authors………..David Stringer

Posted on by

Prana Writer David Stringer brings to life a mysterious couple. Wedding portrait of unidentified couple at their Mudgeeraba bush wedding, Queensland, 1924 [picture] / Photographer unknown. Asset name LS-LSP-CD136-IMG0015

Prana Writer David Stringer brings to life a mysterious couple.
Wedding portrait of unidentified couple at their Mudgeeraba bush wedding, Queensland, 1924 [picture] / Photographer unknown.
Asset name LS-LSP-CD136-IMG0015


David Stringer Three Wishes

What are you reading at the moment?
Currently reading New Scientist’s “The Big Questions”, and Ayya Khema’s “Being Nobody, Going Nowhere”.
What’s your favourite place on the Gold Coast, and why?
Fav place in GC is the Surfer’s Paradise Esplanade on the foreshore, because of its wonderful fusion of the city with nature.
What’s your connection with the Gold Coast?
I came to the GC because my son and daughter came here to live.
What does your story convey about the Gold Coast?
I thought it interesting how many people from other parts of Australia retire to the GC.
What attracted you to the photo you selected?
Can’t really answer this, as Janis chose it for me. But I do love the way the man seems to tower over the woman so protectively.
Tell us about your story in one sentence.
A whimsical look at what we wish for and the meaning of a life now over.
What else have you published?
My novel: “Islands of the Heart”. The web page may be accessed through
www.publicious-authors.com then David Stringer.
What’s your main genre?
Serious adult fiction.
What are you working on now?
I always try to have an entry in the Short Story, Poetry and Essay competitions run
by the Australian Book Review, (ABR). An essay I did in 2011 made the top 20 out
of 200 in that competition, the Calibre Competition.

Coral Sea Monster National Winner 2011 WABIAD

Posted on by

Coral Sea MonsterBack in 2011, a Prana Writers team won the National Open Section for Write-a-Book-in-a-Day (WABIAD).  The book has been available for sale on Smashwords since.  All process of sales go to the Royal Qld Children’s Hospital, so we thought we would give both WABIAD and our little volume a push, while we are spreading the word about the anthology.

Here is the link to purchase a copy of the Coral Sea Monster for $2.99.  The brilliant cover work and illustrations were done by Angela Sunde.  The story is suitable for 9-14 year old audience, and is set on the Gold Coast.  Here is the back cover blurb:

Thirteen year old sheep-shearer Jack’s dream of going to the Ekka seems doomed when a truck overturns on the highway, blocking traffic in both directions. Just as he resigns himself to a boring day waiting for the tow-trucks, his brother’s car is rammed from behind, and so begins an adventure like no other to rescue The Coral Sea Monster. An Aussie adventure for nine to fourteen year olds.

Write a Book in a Day  (https://www.writeabookinaday.com/index.html) is a fabulous annual event.

The ultimate writing challenge

Write, edit, illustrate and bind a children’s book in 12 hours in a team of 5-10, and make a difference by raising funds to help sick children in your State’s children’s hospital.

For Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, and Open Teams
April 1 2014 to August 31 2014
At school, home, book club, writing centre or office.

Teams of writers come together to write a book in 12 hours.  At 8am the team is emailed a location, main characters and words to include in a story.  Books must be written, illustrated and bound within the 12 hour time limit.  Teams can be school students or adults (in the open section). For the open section the book must be at least 8,000 words.  I think Prana Writers produced 16,000 words in the end.  Each chapter was written by a different writer, so we were really amazed that  it sounded like it was the one voice.

The physical books produced are given to the Children’s hospital of the team’s choice.  Part of the deal with entering is the team must also fund raise for their chosen hospital.  It really is a win-win for the children’s hospitals.

Hats off to Chris and the volunteers at Write Book in a Day and their efforts to keep this running over the years.