"I don't want it to seem like it's all about me..." If you've ever found yourself thinking those words, you're not alone. As an author like you, I hear this concern all the time – including from my own internal voice. We authors often feel uncomfortable posting about our book on socials, and even sometimes hesitate to approach the media or speak at community events. We worry that promoting our work will make us appear arrogant, self-centred or overly sales-focused. So, we stay quiet but...

Hosted by The People Culture Link – Dianne Newell 'Learning from the Past to Empower the Future' 14 August 2026, Pullman International Cairns Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the Cairns Women's Leadership Forum, an incredible event usually hosted in Townsville but finding its way to Cairns for the first time. I look forward to attending many more in the future. Special thanks to Di Newell for organising the event. I didn’t take notes during everyone’s speeches – not because they...

It has never been easier to compare yourself to other authors. One scroll through social media and you'll find bestseller announcements, glowing five-star reviews, book signing photos, award winners, media interviews and impressive sales figures. It can feel as though everyone else's writing career is moving faster than your own. But comparison is one of the quickest ways to lose sight of why you started writing in the first place. It reminds me of one of my favourite quotes: "Comparison is...