Amanda Curtin

Summary

Amanda Curtin is the author of two novels (ELEMENTAL and THE SINKINGS), a collection of short stories (INHERITED), and most recently a work of creative non-fiction (KATHLEEN O’CONNOR OF PARIS). She has also worked in publishing for more than 30 years as a freelance book editor. She occasionally conducts workshops and masterclasses for writers and acts as a mentor.

Biography

Recipient of the Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship (presented 2020), WA Premier’s Book Awards.

Nominated twice for the Alice Award (awarded biennially to an Australian woman who has made a long-term contribution to Australian literature), 2018, 2022.

Shortlisted for the 2014 WA Premier’s Book Awards (Fiction and People’s Choice categories) for Elemental.

Short fiction awards: University of Canberra National Short Story Award (joint winner); Katharine Susannah Prichard Short Fiction Award; Patricia Hackett Prize; Golden Key Award for Excellence in Fiction (Asia-Pacific). Wildcare Tasmania International Nature Writing Prize (runner-up). Other: Lee Steere History Prize.

Residencies/fellowships: Sun Yat-sen University Writers Residency (China); Writers OMI (US); Tyrone Guthrie Centre (Ireland); Hawthornden (Scotland); Tasmanian Writers Centre (Australia); Varuna, The National Writers Centre (Australia).

Short fiction in Griffith Review, Southerly, Island, Indigo, Westerly, Review of Australian Fiction, several anthologies.

Former fiction editor for the literary journal Westerly.

Teaching experience: sessional lecturer in editing, writing, Australian literature (Edith Cowan University); course developer, editing (Edith Cowan University).

Relevant qualifications

PhD (Writing), Edith Cowan University (2006)
BA (Writing), First-class Honours, Edith Cowan University (2003)

Recent experience

Concert narrator, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Art & Music: The Life and Art of Kathleen O’Connor, 2023

Editing masterclass, Centre for Stories, 2021

Mary Durack Memorial Lecture, ‘Irish in Mind and Spirit: Artist Kathleen O’Connor’, Australian–Irish Heritage Association, 2019

Annual General Meeting address, Art Gallery of Western Australia Volunteers, 2019

Lecture for students and academic staff, ‘Different Genres, Common Threads: Time, Place and Belonging’, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou campus, China, 2019