By day, Nicole Kelly works as a primary school teacher, instilling a love of reading and wring in her small charges. The in-between hours are filled with her own stories and writing. Nicole has short stories published in the anthologies, Close to Heaven and Just Alice. She lives in rural Victoria with her husband and two young children. Lament is her debut novel.
Lament shortlisted in the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize 2020.
What inspired you to be a writer?
I have loved writing and books all my life. I have been a voracious reader since I was a child, and experimenting with my own words was the next logical step! I wrote my first full-length manuscript when I was 16, and have tinkered with writing ever since. Falling head-long into wonderful books like the Tomorrow Series and Looking for Alibrandi as a teenager inspired me to create an adventures that people could read as well.
What prompted you to write 'Lament'?
I grew up in Wangaratta and Glenrowan, which is the home of the Kelly story. I was surrounded by tales of the Kelly Gang and I loved the story from the first. Creating a story, where Ned and the boys found a different future for themselves, was something that I dreamed up while pregnant with my first child. I thought writing a novel on maternity leave would be a great idea... though it took significantly longer than that!!
Do you have any more books in the pipeline?
I have been working on my next manuscript, a middle-grade adventure, which captures my interest for engaging children in reading.
What is your professional background?
I have been a teacher for almost 17 years! Teaching children to read and write, to find their own words, is something I love to do. I have also been able to teach Japanese to students, a language and culture which I also have a passion for.
Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
Find your writing people! It can be a lonely activity, writing a book or writing at all! By finding like-minded writers in-person or online, can help you to realise that others are working through the same successes and challenges as you.
Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by life! I love history and learning about people, watching people and gaining inspiration from the rural Victorian countryside. Ballarat is a town of such history and beauty, that it is hard not to be inspired. I also love reading, which always gets creativity flowing.
What are your hobbies, interests and favourite books?
Life is always busy, but in those few spare hours, I love to read, catch up with friends and family for coffee and go for walks near my beautiful home town. There are too many favourite books to list! But some of my current loves are: Still Life, The Light Between Oceans, The Good People and Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
How can readers contact you?
Instagram: @ruralvicwriter
Contact via: Hawkeye Contact Page
Between The Covers Podcast – Listen to this great interview with Hawkeye author Nicole Kelly here.
Nicole Kelly in conversation with Jock Serong at the Port Fairy Literary Weekend. Recorded at Blarney Books & Art in July 2021.
Australian Book Lovers Podcast – Episode 32 hosts Veronica and Darren interview ‘the astronomically amazing Nicole Kelly!’
Podcast: In conversation with Darren from the Australian Book Lovers Podcast 2021
Nicole spoke with Darren from the Australian Book Lovers podcast in 2021, which was released in September. Here are some highlights from the conversation.
“Being able to spend an hour speaking with Darren about Lament and my experience of writing it, was a wonderful experience! What a thrill to be able to be part of a celebration of Australian literature like this.
We discussed ways to move a story forward from first draft to publication, including having an editor for critical feedback right through to entering it in the Hawkeye Manuscript Development prize and receiving a publishing contract.
I also spoke about Editor, Alison Arnold’s, great feedback and advice when I was getting to the end of writing and editing Lament. She encouraged me to do other writing as well, and not just focus on my novel, rather to do some other short pieces, and keep submitting, because, she said, I wouldn’t be so hung up on getting that one big yes.”
Australian Booklovers mission is to bring Australian literature to book lovers around the world.
Interview with Stella Glorie from Thirty Books: Author chat Nicole Kelly her novel reimagines iconic Australian history
