Helena Pastor

Helena Pastor

CREATIVE PRACTICE

Literature and Music

ARTIST STATEMENT

Helena Pastor is a regional writer living on Anaiwan Country in Armidale, NSW. Through memoir and fiction, she aims to encourage discussion around topics close to her heart including all stages of motherhood, the aftershocks of war, and growing up in an immigrant family. Her writing has attracted two Australian Society of Authors’ Mentorships, along with residencies at Varuna Writers’ House, Bundanon, Booranga and KSP Writers’ Centres, The Gunyah, and a 2021 Bush Retreat for Eco-Writers (BREW) Residency at Tamborine Mountain. She has also completed two postgraduate degrees on the transformative possibilities of Creative Nonfiction writing. Helena’s first book, Wild Boys: A Parent’s Story of Tough Love (UQP, 2015) is an intimate insight into reconnecting troubled teenagers with their families and communities. She is also a songwriter and lyricist, working in the narrative tradition of songwriting and collaborating with composer Christopher Purcell. They are currently recording their catalogue of songs for an Arts project called ‘Stories in Song’ (funded by Arts North West and Regional Arts NSW).

Listen to Helena Pastor online via Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/pastor_purcell

 

CONTACT

helenapastor2@gmail.com

 



Nicole Alexander

Nicole Alexander

CREATIVE PRACTICE

Nicole is an internationally published author - novels, poetry, travel, creative writing and genealogy articles.


ARTIST STATEMENT

I write primarily historical fiction to better understand the present and the future through the lens of the past. In writing I celebrate the craft of storytelling which has developed from the ancient practice of indigenous rock art, interpretive dance and stories shared around campfires to the written word. Historical fiction has a wonderous time-travel element. It introduces and illuminates a particular period from the past exposing lives and untold stories whether based on real events or highly imagined. It allows the reader to engage with and ponder worlds that we can never fully comprehend. And it is that step back in time, into the unknown that is so enticing.

BIO

Master of Letters in creative writing

Shortlisted - 2011 Australian Book Industry Awards Debut Author - The Bark Cutters

Awarded: The NSW 2012 Barwon Woman of the Year – part of the 2012 NSW Woman of the Year

Awards – recognised for literary talent and promoting Australia’s pastoral history

Chair of Judging - 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize Australasia

Judge - Inaugural 2019 Colleen McCullough Residency Award for historical fiction authors

Past judge - Elyne Mitchell Writing Awards

Nicole’s novels, poetry, travel, creative writing and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America, Singapore, Ukraine, Germany, New Zealand & Canada. She is the author of ten historical fiction novels. Non-fiction works include Divertissements: Love. War. Society (2008). She was a contributor to the National Breast cancer Foundation anthology (2013) Dear Mum & The Great Australian Writers Collection 2013

 

CONTACT

westmurki@bigpond.com