Author Archive: Hazel Edwards
An avid reader (who read under the bedclothes and in the bath), as a young girl, Hazel Edwards wrote her first novel in grade six, a mystery about adventurous children stuck in a mine. This passion for writing and character development continued and after working as a secondary school teacher, at twenty-seven, Hazel published her first novel, ‘General Store’, a book based on life in a rural town.
It is Hazel’s third published work however that is her most well known, the children’s picture book classic,‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake’.
Published titles include ‘f2m:the boy within’, a co-written, young adult novel about gender transition, picture book Stickybeak and the Frequent Flyer Twins series.
Hazel has collaborated with experts in various fields to publish adult non-fiction titles such as such as ‘Difficult Personalities’, ‘Friends’, ‘Committeeitus’ and ‘Simply Events’ and helps people craft interesting stories about their ancestry in her popular workshop based on her book ‘Writing a Non- Boring Family History”.
Hazel Edwards (www.hazeledwards.com) has published 200 books for adults and children, with mainstream and small publishers and now has her own eBookstore on her website. Hazel also runs book-linked workshops on ‘Authorpreneurship’ and ‘Writing a Non-Boring Family History’.
A recipient of the 2009 ASA Medal, Hazel is a 2012 Year of Reading National Ambassador. She is married with two adult children and grandkids for whom she writes a story each birthday. Recently she updated her business card from writer to ‘Authorpreneur’.
‘Authorpreneurship;The Business of Creativity’ published by Keesing Press is her most recent book. E-pub version available from her online bookstore
Follow Australian author Hazel Edwards on Twitter @muirmoir.
Overcoming Pandemic Procrastination: Complete Your Book in a Year
by Hazel Edwards During the Pandemic, people are isolating, without work. But if you are healthy, you can use this surreal opportunity to work on completing your book. Decluttering memorabilia, especially photos and records often uncovers significant experiences which need recording. The Pandemic will end, but writing your book in this period can give a […]
The Book Belongs to the Reader, Not the Writer
When asked about how I feel about ‘my’ book, I explain that a book belongs to the imagination of the reader. Readers relate to the character and sometimes they are unaware of the author or illustrator. I’m ok with that. The author’s job is to craft the concept as well as possible. Then the reader […]
Value of Writing a WIP article Midway in Your Novel Plotting a Mystery: Celebrant Sleuth
Midway through a long novel, when I’m stuck, I write a WIP (work-in-progress) article to add sub-plots, deepen characters and explore even the weirdest ‘What if?’ possibilities. Usually it gets me writing original fiction again. And it’s also a useful reminder for PR interviews after publication when asked ‘What were the challenges of writing this […]
Rueful Crime Writing & Crime-lettes
It’s the motives rather than the gruesome, violent and bloody details which interest me about crime. In fiction, often my narrator’s tone is rueful rather than brutal when things don’t go as planned. Especially if the narrator intends removing a seriously unpleasant character. And maybe is the avenger as well as the sleuth. Getting […]
Taking Risks with Co-Writing Diversity
My two most ‘risky’ cultural projects have been co-writing ‘f2m: the boy within’, the first Young Adult novel about transitioning gender co-written by an ftm, and ‘Hijabi Girl’ a fun, junior chapter book which had 41 rejections from traditional publishers before I self -published. I’m not trans and I’m not Muslim. But I do take […]
The PHD I Didn’t Do and the Digital Apprenticeship I Did
‘Are you going to enrol for a Phd?’ As a longterm author with a varied back list, learning digital skills was a higher priority. ‘No. I’m going to do an e-apprenticeship instead.’ I opted for a digital apprenticeship to revitalize my literary output. Mistake or a significant learning experience? I needed to re-organise my literary […]
Situation Vacant: Writing My Memoir
Business memoirs are read in airports by corporates looking for effective strategies. First-timers also look at the style in which others write. And what to leave out. Family history travelers try to organize their material, without alienating friends and family. Writing a corporate biography requires the same skills as writing a personal memoir, plus a […]
Creative-Hyphenate?
‘What do you do?’ I used to say ‘I’m an author’. Now I’m not sure. The challenge for many free lancers in the creative arts is to describe their occupation. Usually they have several skills in their portfolio for artistic challenge, variety AND in order to pay the bills. Last week, a 4 year old […]
Family Involvement in writing; Reluctant, Conscripted or Volunteered?
‘Is writing, your family trade?’ was a recent question at a literary festival. I hadn’t thought of authorship that way before, the answer probably is ‘yes.’ My family has done the ‘word’ apprenticeship voluntarily, reluctantly or been conscripted. The family of a writer can’t help involvement in books, either reading them, inspiring or being captured […]
Introducing Authorpreneurship
The business of creativity is changing, not just in the formats in which ideas are presented internationally but also how authors perceive themselves. Today, a creator needs to be an ‘authorpreneur’. What is Authorpreneurship? Author = originator Entrepreneur = seller who initiates Apart from crafting words or images for specific audiences, ‘authorpreneurship’ means learning the marketing, publicity, […]
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