AMRA PAJALIC
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Writing memoir can help young people with their self-expression and self-worth

31/10/2023

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My latest article on ABC Education about writing memoir helping young people.
https://www.abc.net.au/education/writing-memoir-can-help-young-people-with-their-self-expression-/102821684

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PhD life update

28/10/2023

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Am back in the thick of the PhD. For those of you who don’t know, I’m doing a PhD in Creative Writing at La Trobe. I've finished the creative component and written a novel about a young Bosnian-Muslim girl surviving under the siege of Srebrenica during the Balkan Conflict of 1992-1995, which turned out to be a trilogy and a series I want to continue.
 
Some background: Srebrenica is a city in Eastern Bosnian that the UN declared a safe zone, and yet its citizens were still subjected to starvation, shelling and shooting. The siege of Srebrenica ended on the 11 July 1995 when it was taken by the enemy and 8372 mostly Bosnian-Muslim men and boys were massacred and buried in mass graves.
 
I’m now completing my exegesis and looking at other fiction novels about Srebrenica, thinking about who is writing them, what is the perspective being shared, how does storytelling shift based on the background of the author, whose stories are told and how from the Srebrenica conflict, and what is my story contributing.
 
I’m not rushing with the publication of the novels as I’m leaving some time for them to marinate before going into editing, and also, I want to complete my exegesis before I return back to the editing process. I am also using this time to learn marketing, publicity and book launch so I can use all these lessons for the trilogy.
 
This PhD has been a long time in process, and I’ve had to take breaks due to life and grief, and everything in between. What has made this a wonderful process has been the support of my amazing supervisors, Paddy O’Reilly who was my supervisor during the fiction process, Claire Knowles who has been there since the beginning, and Catherine Padmore who took over after Paddy left and is now supporting me with the exegesis.
 
I also am so lucky to have the Antigones, my fellow PhD buddies, Kimberley Starr and Vicki Petraitis. All three of us are teachers and writers and it has been such a blessing having them to share this journey. We’re now knuckling down to support each other in finishing our exegesis and it feels so much easier having them with me to uplift me during the process.
 
This is a bucket list item and I feel so good when I get back into this headspace and move forward with my goal. This is the kind of homework I love combining all of my passions: reading, thinking, writing and teaching.
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we are brimbank award nominee

27/10/2023

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Last night I had the joy of dressing up in my fanciest dressing and going to a castle for a ball. Well, maybe I'm stretching the truth a bit. I got dressed up and went to Overnewton Castle, a local historical building that is a castle and venue, to attend the 2023 We Are Brimbank Awards where my small press, Pishukin Press, was nominated for the Innovation award. I didn't win, but I was happy to have such a lovely night and get to spend it with fellow nominees Senada Ekic and her daughter Aida. Senada was nominated for her group Kud Dukat Bosnian Folklore and Lucas Kasper, fellow Artist in Residence at the Hunt Club who was there with his partner Kimberley. Such a lovely night. Thank you Brimbank City Council for celebrating the west and our amazing local groups, business and individuals who are helping to make our side of the city such a great place to live. 
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jesse's triumph advance reader copies

26/10/2023

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📚🌟 Looking for Advance Review Readers 🌟📚
​

booksirens.com/book/F18VJ8L

Jesse's Triumph-From award-winning young adult author Amra Pajalic comes a best friends love triangle, zero to hero makeover, found family, coming of age YA novel for fans of Melina Marchetta and John Green. 📖💫
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Jesse's triumph going to publication

25/10/2023

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Had a great day preparing Jesse's Triumph, the third book in my Sassy Saints series for publication.

Today's job:
-editing Jesse's Triumph from proofread
-formatting EBUP and PDF with Atticus
-creating pronunciation guide document and voice memo for narrator
-Sent pronunciation guide and files to narrator to create audiobook
-uploaded final epub to six online platforms that have the book on pre-order for publication on 30 November
-uploaded PDF to Ingram Spark for paperback distribution
-uploaded to BookSirens for ARC so watch this space

I'll be selling Jesse's Triumph from my shop in the next few days, and it will be published and available on all retail platforms from the 30 November. I'll also be offering a discount for the first three ebooks, and offering paperback bundles.

The audiobook of Jesse's Triumph will be available early next year.

I'm also planning some special merchandise and bundles as a special launch event.

Also in March 2024 there will be an in person launch at the Brimbank Writer's Festival where I will be in conversation with the fabulous @demetdivaroren talking place as an inspiration. So exciting.

All purchase links and first chapter: amrapajalic.com/jesses-triumph.html

Buy direct: pishukinpress.com/products/jesses-triumph-ebook

Retail links: books2read.com/jessestriumph
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sassy saints collector cards

20/10/2023

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An exciting day as I receive merchandise for the launch of Jesse's Triumph, the third book in the Sassy Saints Series. I've got a t-shirt and collectable cards and am so rapt. And I designed it all myself!!!!!

https://www.amrapajalic.com/jesses-triumph.html
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the cuckoo's song free for one week on kobo

16/10/2023

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The Cuckoo's Song: Short Stories has been selected by the Kobo team for their Free Page - Diverse Stories promotion from 16-23 October 2023.

Award-winning author Amra Pajalić showcases her gritty, poignant and sometimes bruising voice in this eclectic short story book of previously published and prize-winning stories.

Download your free copy from Kobo using the link below for this week only.
​

kobo.com/au/en/ebook/the-cuckoo-s-song-4
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jesse's triumph coming 30 november

13/10/2023

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Counting down to the publication of the third book in my Sassy Saints Series for publication. I have a blurb and the first chapter up. You can join my ARC team and get free copies to review. Sign up through the link in my bio.

📚🌟 Jesse's Triumph 🌟📚

From award-winning young adult author Amra Pajalic comes a best friends love triangle, zero to hero makeover, found family, coming of age YA novel for fans of Melina Marchetta and John Green. 📖💫

Jesse's childhood took a backseat as he became his ailing mother's primary caregiver, patiently counting down the days until high school finished and his real life began. 🕰️💔 When a new student, Sabiha, arrives at his school he meets his dream girl, but she’s met his best friend first. 😍👫

After Jesse’s debut novel is published while he’s a high school student, he's thrust into the spotlight. 🌟🎤 Can Jesse steer his way through his new-found triumph, be with his dream girl, and ride the high school popularity wave without losing sight of who he truly is? 🌊🚀

Jesse's Triumph is the first in the Sassy Saints Series for fans of fake friendships, love triangles, loners and outcasts who are searching for belonging, and fierce and funny girls. 📚👫🌈
Read the first chapter here: 👇
​

Link 📖🔗 https://www.amrapajalic.com/jesses-triumph.html

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proofreading vintage dreams

7/10/2023

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Had a lovely afternoon proofreading my next romance novel Vintage Dreams, the second book in the Dreams of Destiny, which is up on pre-order and to be published on 15 December 2023. I'm waiting on Jesse's Triumph from my proofreader and will then be uploading that for ARC reviews and passing on Vintage Dreams for proofreading. I'm realising I need to integrate writing, publishing and marketing and juggle between them. Last year was all about learning how to publish and I published six books. This year was all about marketing. From now on it's about juggling.
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Audiobook Bundle - $50 Worth of Audiobooks for ONLY $20

3/10/2023

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🌟 Introducing the Amra Pajalic Audiobook Bundle - $50 Worth of Audiobooks for ONLY $20! 🌟

Are you a fan of captivating young adult own voices fiction and love the tropes of fake friendships, love triangles, loners and outcasts who are searching for belonging, and fierce and funny girls. Do you love personal memoirs that are brutally honest and surprising? Are you drawn to dual point of view heartwarming young adult romance? Dive into the incredible world of audiobooks with our exclusive bundle featuring four mesmerizing tales by the talented author, Amra Pajalic. Get ready for an audio adventure like no other!

1️⃣ "The Climb": From award-winning, young adult author Amra Pajalic comes a friends to lovers, YA stand-alone romance novella, dual narrated by Nina Nikolic and Alec Shea.

2️⃣ 3️⃣"Sabiha's Dilemma" and "Alma's Loyalty": From award-winning young adult author Amra Pajalic comes a #ownvoices, found family, coming of age YA novel for fans of Melina Marchetta and John Green.

4️⃣ "Things Nobody Knows But Me": an extraordinary memoir that delves into the depths of Pajalic's life, offering a raw and unfiltered account of her experiences being parented by a mother who suffers from bipolar. Weaving between her childhood in Australia and living in Bosnia, Pajalic navigates themes of identity, belonging, mental health, and the complexities of family relationships.

🎁 Don't miss out on this incredible offer - $50 worth of audiobooks for just $20! 🎉

Go to the link to listen to samples:

https://www.pishukinpress.com/products/pishukin-audiobook-bundle
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    Author

    Amra Pajalić is an award-winning author, an editor and teacher who draws on her Bosnian cultural heritage to write own voices stories for young people, who like her, are searching to mediate their identity and take pride in their diverse culture. She writes memoir, young adult and romance under the pen name Mae Archer.

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Copyright Amra Pajalic 2025
  • Home
    • Blog
    • About Me
    • Press Kit
    • Za Bosance
    • Resources for Teachers >
      • Remote Learning >
        • Narrative Writing
        • Poetry Writing
        • Fun activities
        • Spelling activities
    • My Newsletter
    • News & Events
    • Book Me >
      • Aspiring writers >
        • Six things writers should do
        • Young Adult Books
        • Writing tips for young people
    • Articles
    • My Books >
      • Young Adult >
        • Cuckoos Song
        • Sassy Saints Series >
          • Sabiha's Dilemma >
            • The Good Daughter
          • Alma's Loyalty
          • Jesse's Triumph
          • Sassy Saints Series Books 1-3
        • The Climb
      • Memoir >
        • Things Nobody Knows But Me
        • Teacher Teacher anthology
        • Growing up Muslim in Australia
        • Meet Me at the Intersection
        • Rebellious Daughters
        • St Albans piece
      • Romance >
        • Dreams of Destiny Romance Series >
          • Hollywood Dreams
          • Vintage Dreams
          • Vengeful Dreams
        • Return to Me
        • Kings of the Bay Romance Series >
          • That One Summer Anthology
      • Dark Fiction Horror >
        • WomanOnTheEdgeShortStory
    • Contact
    • Amra's Writing Room
    • Authorly Advice
    • Podcast >
      • Benefits of a residency
      • Journey to Self Publishing
      • The Art of the pitch
      • Balancing the pen and the paycheck
      • Short stories for publication portfolio
      • Evolution of an author
      • Wounds to Words
      • Own the Stage
      • Business of Author
      • Marketing Magic
      • Fikret Pajalic
    • Pishukin Press
    • Grant Writing Course
  • My Shop