AMRA PAJALIC
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Events

News

2025
The Business of Self-Publishing, Writers Victoria online, Tue 17 June 2025 – 6:30 PM to Tue 1 July 2025 – 8:30 PM

Short Story with Amra Pajalic, Wyndham City Council online, Thu, 22 May 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
 
Brimbank Writers Festival Event, 
Michael Carr-Gregg in conversation with Amra Pajalic, Thu, 20 March 2025
7 pm, Sydenham Neighbourhood House

2024

Judged the year 8 Insight Publishing Creative Writing Competition

Saturday 7 December, 1-2 pm, Write, Publish and realise your creative vision panel, Sunshine Library

Wednesday 3 to Tuesday 9 July, Online: Introduction to Writing from Life course, Writing NSW

Tuesday 7 May, Growing up Muslim in Australia, conversation at Emerald Hill Library

Saturday 23 March 2024, Brimbank Writer's Festival workshop about self publishing, 2-4 pm, Sydenham Neighbourhood House. Free. Book via link.

Sunday 17 March 2024, 
Brimbank Writer's Festival, In conversation with Demet Divaroren, 2-3 pm, St Albans Library. Free. Book via link.

Thursday 15 February, 2024 Appeared at Readings Bookshop to talk about Growing up Muslim in Australia 

2023
December 2023, Delivering professional learning to teachers at Minaret College about writing memoir

Wednesday 20 September to Tuesday 26 September 2023, online Writing NSW Introduction to Writing from Life

Friday 11 August 2023, VATE Ideas Lab: Teaching English in the Middle Years Conference at RACV City, Using Fictional Techniques in writing non-fiction

Did a Instagram live interview with Mirela Cufurovic, 12.07.23

Mon, 22 May 2023, 6pm-8pm, online, Wyndham City Council-Writing Workshop-Writing for Competition.

Feb-4 week memoir writing workshop at Caroline Springs Library that is free to the public. Book one session to book all four. On Wed 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 22 Feb. 

​2022
Nov Memoir Writing Workshop at Geelong Writers through Writers Victoria

Sep Panel during 
 #LabLuminosity by Lab Insight and Strategy

Bookweek School Visit at St Albans Secondary College, August 2022
​
Memoir Writing Workshop at Brimbank Libraries, June 2022
​
21 April In Conversation Event with Paddy O'Reilly at Chestnut Tree


Memoir Writing Workshops for Vision Australia, through Writers Victoria

2021
Grant Writing Workshop at Self Publishing Network Conference, November

Appeared at Heroine's Writers' Festival
​
Things Nobody Knows But Me. Author Talk at Box Hill Library, Wednesday, 12 May 2021 | 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM


​2020

Thursday 23 January, 6 - 7:30pm - All About Memoir
What are the features and expectations of memoir, memoir writing techniques (composites, timeline compression, name changes, dialogue, point of view, tense), Writers Victoria Workshop

Thursday 12 March, 6-7:30pm - Structure
Delve into the structure of chapters, stand-alone pieces and overall narrative arc of a book length-memoir. Writers Victoria Workshop
​
Thursday, 4 June, 6-7:30pm - Writing Process and Publication
Common writing obstacles: researching, protecting yourself and others during the writing process, supports to help you keep writing, finding your brand, networking. Writers Victoria Workshop

Friday 27 March 2020, Brimbank Literary Festival, Stories of Strength and Resilience, Sydenham Library

Sunday 17 May 2020, Bayside Readers & Writers Festival, Weaving Fact with Fiction panel

27 September 2020, Heroine's Festival

2019

Wednesday 20 November 2019, Kingston Arts Centre panel "Journey to Publication, 6.30-8.00 pm

Friday 4 October 2019, Brunswick Bound First Chapters Event, 7.00 pm

Monday 7 May 2019, 6.00-7.30 pm 

How to Write a Successful Funding Application at Writers Victoria

May Things Nobody Knows But Me book launch at Sun Bookshop, Yarraville

2016

Saturday 24 September 2016 - 10:00 to 4:00 PM How to Write a Successful Funding Application at Writers Victoria


Sunday 24 January 2016 - 10:00am to 4:00pm, How to Write a Successful Funding Application at Writers Victoria

2015
Tuesday 25 August, WORKSHOP – IDENTITY: YOURS, MINE, OURS (Immigration Museum), Year 7–10 10am, 12pm, VCE only 2.30pm

Monday 24 August, 10am-11am, GROWING UP MUSLIM panel with Demet Divaroren, Year 7–10

11 June  Short story writing workshop as part of the Brimbank Literary Festival.

2014
27 August 2014 Coming of Age panel at Melbourne Writers' Festival Schools program with Demet Divaroren.

28 August 2014 Identity Workshop at Immigration Museum as part of the Melbourne Writers' Festival Schools program


29 May 2014 Delivered Explorations of Self writing workshops at Immigration Museum. Read about it here.

12 and 19 February 2014 delivered memoir writing workshops to young people through Hume City Council.

Monday 24 February 2014 appeared on panel for Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia launch at the Wheeler Centre. Read about it here.


2013

Ran workshops for young people at: Caroline Springs Library-Mondays on: 19/8, 2/9, 16/9, 7/10, and Melton Library -Tuesdays on: 20/8, 3/9, 17/9, 1/10.

Delivered a workshop through Laneway Learning on 8 July 2013.

Delivered a short story workshop at Deer Park LIbrary on the 19th of June 2013. More info here.
I fantasise about my husband and I living at opposite ends of the house, SBS Voices, 22.02.22
2025
06/04/25 First international conference presentation at Somewhere in Between: Borders and Borderlands" International Conference at Birkbeck, University of London / Online presenting a paper "From Safe Zone to Mass Grave: How Srebrenica’s Borders Were Rewritten."
​
08.03.25 Launched Amra's Authorly Advice-how to guides

07.02.25 Launched Amra's Writing Room, a author vlog

17.01.25 Launched Amra's Armchair Anecdotes Podcast


24.01.25 Featured in article What changes do Australian authors want in the Australian books industry? written by Thuy on and published in Arts Hub
​

2024
Interviewed by Jessica Mudditt on Hembury Books Podcast  Advice on grants for authors plus a how-to on anthologies, 25.11.24 ​

Are we living in the golden age of self published authors?, The Westsider, 01/11/24
​
Teachers are quitting in droves. I’m not one of them. The Age, 29/10/24

Featured by Creative Brimbank for their Studio Artist Profile Video Series, 26/10/24

Now that I’m done with child-rearing, I find babies revolting, The Age, 13/10/24

Young talent bridging cultural divides through art, Westsider, 01.09.24
​

My students taught me the importance of being a firm teacher and managing student behaviour in ABC Education, 31/07/24
​

Featured in article How did winning literary awards affect your life? in ArtHub, 08.07.24

Interviewed by Stella Glorie for her Thirty Books YouTube Channel, 06.07.24

That One Summer anthology published featuring my novella Raf's Tide of Destiny written as Mae Archer. 12.06.24


In an increasingly digital world, it’s more important than ever for students to develop their handwriting skills in ABC Education, 15.05.24

Hollywood Dreams audiobook published by Twin Tales publishing. 13.05.24


​Students at Ivanhoe Grammar have been studying my story St Albans published in Meanjin so I created a page with FAQ, 07.05.24

Want to be a ‘multicultural’ writer in our safe, white scene? There are rules in The Age 05.05.24

Interviewed on SBS Bosnian Radio 30.04.24

Delivered Self Publishing Workshop as part of Brimbank Writers Festival, 23.03.24

Jesse's Triumph audiobook published, 21.03.24

My article Oversharing isn't that path to intimacy. I had to learn the hard way in The Age, 17.03.24
​

Jesse's Triumph launched at 2024 Brimbank Writers Festival with an in conversation with Demet Divaroren. 17.03.24

Your cultural heritage is a strength when writing authentic YA narratives in the Westsider Newspaper, 01.03.24
​

Appeared in the Star Weekly newspaper promoting  my events at the Brimbank Writers Festival. 13.02.24

2023
My article 
being used by VCAA in the new sample exam for VCE Sociology, 13.12.23

On pre-order That One Summer Anthology, romance anthology including the first book in my new romance series, 03.12.23

Published Sassy Saints Box Set 1-3, 01.12.23

Published Complication: Short Stories by Fikret Pajalic, 10.10.23

Published Jesse's Triumph, third book in my Sassy Saints Series, 30.11.23

​
Writing memoir can help young people with their self-expression and self-worth, ABC Education, 31.10.23

Nominated for 2023 We are Brimbank Awards, 27.10.23

I’m a teacher fighting burnout, but my students keep me energised, ABC Education, 19.09.23
​

Radio appearance on Life Matters on ABC Radio National on Monday 18 September at 9-9:25am to talk about using art and narrative therapy to find your story and voice. Listen here.
​
Writer's Workshop where authors Amra Pajalic, Angela Savage, Gabrielle Wang and Tony Wilson discuss the writing process to their novels available on ABC Free view.  There are four episodes in total each one exploring a different aspect of writing such as Theme, Genre, Character Analysis and Writing Process. 

Blog post on Shepards about my favourite own voices YA fiction, 14.08.23

Radio appearance on ABC Evenings with Raf Epstein to promote Teacher, Teacher anthology piece 'Nothing is Unfixable' published by Affirm Press, 02.08.23


My piece 'Nothing is Unfixable' published in Teacher, Teacher anthology: Stories of inspirational educators by Affirm Press. 28.07.2023

Published Alma's Loyalty as an audiobook 23 July 2023

Published in Teacher, Teacher anthology by Affirm Press, 25.07.23

Met my mid-candidature milestone presentation. Read about it here.


Appeared on ABC Radio Sydney Evenings with Indira Naidoo talking friendships based on my SBS Article Can you come back from a friendship fall out.  Listen here. 

Launched my mother daughter bookclub Words We Share.

My daughter things "Daddy loves Mummy more", SBS Voices, 06.06.23

Can you come back from a friendship fall-out?, SBS Voices, 05.06.23
​
When I feel like a fraud, I know it’s a precursor to something big and new, SBS Voices, 31.05.23

​Launched Sassy Saints Merchandise.

Narrated and launched my audiobook Things Nobody Knows But Me. 11.05.23

I live in St Albans and we're not all criminals, The Age 08.05.23

The 10 second rule that made me a better listener, SBS Voices, 03.05.23

My piece about competing in the hardship olympics with my daughter was posted on @SBS_Australia insta and has over 3500 likes. View here.

Featured in Writer's Digest for their IndieLab Author spotlight feature talking about self publishing and establishing my small press, Pishukin Press. Read online here. 02.05.23


Was interviewed by Thuy on for this piece on ArtsHub about being both a teacher and a writer. Read here.

I was told to marry into my own faith. My daughter will get to choose, The Age, 05.04.23
​

Three bestselling Australian authors you may never have heard of, ArtsHub, 03.04.23
​

I learnt not to compete in the ‘hardship Olympics’ with my daughter, SBS Voices, 29.03.23 

St Albans essay in Meanjin, Meanjin, Autumn March 2023
​

Launched an online grant writing course that includes a step by step guide, a successful funding application  and a list of grants in Australia. View here.

Life as a professional podcaster and narrator, ArtsHub 07.03.23
​

To update or not to update, that is the question, ArtsHub 22.02.23

Spotlight Finally Shines on Cypriot-Australian Poet Koraly Dimitriadis extract of ArtsHub Article, National Herald, 13.02.23  

Ethnic female artists are ringing their own bells, ArtsHub, 13.02.23

Artist in Residence at Hunt club community and arts centre, 03.01.23

2022
A teacher's guide to getting over big mistakes, 13.11.22

Publication of romance novel Hollywood Dreams by Pishukin Press

Publication of young adult novel Alma's Loyalty by Pishukin Press

Pishukin Press receives $20K Export Market Development Grant, 28.11.22

​Instead of a Burn Book, my friends and I learnt to show our anger, SBS Voices, 15.08.22

Publication of young adult novella The Climb
​
Pishukin Press Successful in securing a grant from Business Victoria, 28.06.22
​
At 41, I learnt to be an adult in the wild, SBS Voices, 08.06.22

Publication of young adult novel 
Sabiha's Dilemma by Pishukin Press

Publication of dark fiction short story Woman on the Edge by Pishukin Press as A.P. Pajalic​

Delivered Memoir Writing Workshops at Brimbank Libraries, June 2022 funded by successful grant from Creative Brimbank

Publication of romance novel Return to Me as Mae Archer by Pishukin Press, 10.06.22

R
adio interview with 3CR, 03.06.22​

Featured in an Arts Hub article by Thuy On 03.06.22

Featured in Star Weekly newspaper about my books and upcoming workshop. Read here. 26.05.22

For years my best friend was my stand in parent, SBS Voices, 11.05.22
​

Helpless essay, Kalliope Journal, 01.05.22

Featured on this list of 8 Incredible Melbourne-Based Writers To Read On International Women’s Day by Secret Melbourne

​Brimbank City Council Art Spaces Activation Partnership Funding to deliver Memoir Workshop 31.03.22

I fantasise about my husband and I living at opposite ends of the house, SBS Voices, 22.02.22

​Publication of short story collection The Cuckoo's Song by Pishukin Press

2021
Letting go of our fantasies of rich people's houses, SBS Voices, 10.12.21

I was broke as a teen, but my daughter doesn't have to be, SBS Voices, 10.09.21

​Stir of Echoes: Kevin Bacon attempts to unearth dark secrets in working-class Chicago, The Guardian, 20.08.21

Being 'best friends' with your daughter isn't what you'd expect, SBS Voices, 16.08.21

How I came to terms with my type 2 diabetes diagnosis, SBS Voices, 28.06.21

Why I keep a journal for my daughter, SBS Voices, 13.01.21

2020

What no one tells you about living with a partner with PTSD, SBS Voices, 09.12.20

The Perks of Sleeping Separately from my partner, SBS Voices, 02.12.20

Commissioned by Black Inc to write teaching notes for
memoir Muddy People by Sara El Sayed.

Things Nobody Knows But Me shortlisted for the 2020 National Biography Award. 

8372 Flowers for Srebrenica, Overland, 08.07.20

I hated remote teaching during the Covid-19 lockdown. It should never replace the classroom​, The Guardian, 08.06.20

I'm a Teacher and Remote Teaching Makes Me Feel Like a Failure, SBS Voices, 01.05.20

Starting over-finding the true measure of success to avoid burnout, AEU Magazine, 01.04.20

How my mother's Bi Polar disorder affected me, SBS Voices, 13.03.20

Saying Goodbye to My mother After her unexpected death, SBS Voices, 03.02.20
​

2019
Searching for a message from my mother after she died. SBS Voices, 12.12.19

​My high school counsellor transformed my life forever, SBS, 27.11.19

Publication of memoir Things Nobody Knows But Me

Growing up Under the Shadow of my mother's bi polar, SBS Voices, 14.06.19 

Allies in Creative Writing, Southerly, 24.05.19
​
The life-changing impact of seeing yourself in fiction: Representation for Muslims, Bronzeville Bee, 23.05.19​

2018
Commissioned by Freemantle Press to write teaching notes for anthology Meet Me at the Intersection 

Memoir piece published in Meet Me at the Intersection anthology

2016
Memoir piece published in Rebellious Daughters anthology

2015
Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia selected
for the Grattan Institute Summer Reading List for the Prime Minister 2015

Was featured in Brimbank Leader and Brimbank Star Weekly about Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia shortlist. Articles on my media page.

Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia shortlisted for the 2015 Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award for Information Books.

2014

Received a grant from Arts Victoria for the development of my memoir. The incredibly talented Alice Pung has agreed to be my mentor in the development of this project. Read about it here.

May 2014 Judged 2014 My Brother Jack awards for the category Benn's Books Senior Secondary School Short Story Award.

Wrote teaching notes for Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia.


Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia published by Allen and Unwin. 

Amir: Friend on Loan published by Garratt Publishing.

2013
22 November 2013 was MC at the City of Melton Short Story Competition Awards presentation.

Judged the City of Melton young writers category

Reading of my piece Woman on Fire at Etchings launch.

Facilitator of writing group CS Scribes.

Short story shortlisted in 2013 Ada Cambridge Short Story Competition and another accepted in September 2013 Etchings journal. Shortlisted out of 35 out of 700 entries for the Mslexia  March memoir issue. All these stories are extracts of my current work in progress, a family memoir.

2012
Won third prize in the 2012 City of Melton Short Story Competition. Read about it here.

Poem Drill Sergeant was shortlisted in page seventeen competition and published in issue 10.
I fantasise about my husband and I living at opposite ends of the house, SBS Voices, 22.02.22Spotlight Finally Shines on Cypriot-Australian Poet Koraly Dimitriadis extract of ArtsHub Article, National Herald, 13.02.23 To update or not to update, that is the question, ArtsHub 22.02.23I live in St Albans and we're not all criminals, The Age 08.05.23When I feel like a fraud, I know it’s a precursor to something big and new, SBS Voices, 31.05.23
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
    • Pishukin Press
    • Grant Writing Course
  • My Shop