The Emerging Writers’ Festival work, learn and play largely on the land of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

EWF celebrates the history and creativity of the world’s oldest living culture.

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Alcoves

Finding Your Crew: The Debut Author Experience

So, you’ve written a book. Great! But now what? Dive into the next chapter of your publishing journey with three debut authors from the Debut Crew 2025.

Join Nadia Mahjouri (Half Truth, Penguin Random House), Holly Brunnbauer (What Did I Miss? HarperCollins), and Tanya Scott (Stillwater, Allen and Unwin) as they pull back the veil on the often opaque experience of being traditionally published.

From the highs of seeing your novel in bookstores to the challenges you never expected, they’ll share the truths about agents, editing, marketing, and support. Get the insider knowledge you need to prepare yourself for publishing.

Wednesday 17 September, 5:30PM-6:30PM

Pay-What-You-Wish


narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services, Bagungga (Reading & Events Space, Level 1)
141 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Featuring...

Holly Brunnbauer

Holly Brunnbauer is a multi-award-winning emerging fiction author who writes stories filled with heart, humour and hijinks. Her signature style includes a strong commercial voice, quirky cast and putting the ‘com’ in rom-com. Holly first caught the writing bug via blogging and later transitioned into copywriting. She’s now a sought-after virtual assistant for published and […]

Nadia Mahjouri

NADIA MAHJOURI is the author of Half Truth – her debut novel published by Penguin Random House in Feb 2025, which was inspired by her own experience travelling to Morocco to find her father. She is a counsellor, and group facilitator specialising in maternal mental health. Her professional background is in health policy, governance and […]

Tanya Scott

Tanya Scott is a writer, doctor and medical educator. With years of experience working in mental health care, she has learned more from her patients than from any textbook – not just about physical and mental health, but about humanity, resilience and the absurdity of life. She is based on Wadawurrung Country, on the Victorian […]