Bravewords

A young girl, growing up in soviet East Germany, worries about her mum. Andrea Buschner was born and raised in socialist East Germany. She found her way to Australia at the age of 31. Here she found peace, escape and safety in books and writing. She didn't start taking art seriously before arriving in Oz. Once here she studied photography at Tafe at age 33. She's worked as a freelance photographer, recycled textiles into toys and is now a ceramicist. Andrea continues to write. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Should I imagine how other people 'do it'... or shall I tell the world how I 'do it'? A TV writer with a curious mind wonders just how much to share! Debra Oswald is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, creator of the TV series Offspring and two-time winner of the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Debra has published nine children’s books and four adult novels, including The Family Doctor , and most recently One Hundred Years of Betty . Her stageplays include Gary’s House, Dags , and Stories in the Dark . Television credits include Police Rescue and Bananas in Pyjamas. Debra performed her one-woman show, Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at Griffin Theatre and the Ensemble. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

When a teenage girl falls pregnant in the 70's... what to do? Debbie Leidich has lived on the Central Coast for 40 years. She is a retired primary school teacher and now teaches yoga locally. Debbie is married and mother of 5 — 3 living and 2 deceased children. She says, “My adult children have taught me much about life, and love, and the value of laughter.” Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A young doctor faces very high stakes, with loads of moving parts, and the most precious thing in the world is at stake. Linda Atkins is a medical practitioner and writer living in Dharug, NSW. She is a Ten Pound Pom and grew up in Western Sydney.She has been writing for five years and in that time, she has won or been shortlisted in numerous awards such as The Calibre Essay Prize, the Olga Masters Prize, Grieve 2024 and 2025, the AAPT Meniscus Emerging Writers Prize, Not Quite Write Prize, and most recently the Heroine's Women's Writing Prize of 2026. She has been a participant as an invited playwright in the Parramatta Playmates and the Parramatta Play Project, and her debut play The Leftovers was read by professional actors as a part of Parramatta's lit! festival in 2025. She is a co writer of a work 'I can't Believe its not Parramatta,' produced by the Parramatta Play Project, which is seeking development in 2027. Her debut novel, What We Left Behind, is to be published by Summit Books on Dec 1st, and was named by the Age as one of 2026 most anticipated books. What We Left Behind was featured by Books and Publishing at London Book Fair of 2026. She lives with the nicest two of her three kids.

In the 1960's in Terrigal NSW, a little pair of 5 year old eyes was listening, watching, and remembering. These are some of his recollections. Michael Kilp was born and bred on the central coast. He and his wife ran the paddleboat business, Aquafun, on Avoca Beach Lagoon for 26 years, hence his nickname, Paddleboat Mick. Mick never dreamed he could write a great story but he had a lot locked in him. Bravewords writing courses have drawn them out and our community love listening to them through BRAVEWORDS LIVE. Now we’re thrilled to share them around the world. Music Courtesy of Sean Peter

A young girl worries about the "infinity of space, the eternity of hell", and after a time discovers her part in it. Sian works as a mediator, helping families navigate conflict and change across the lifespan. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

Richard wants to talk about his failing body!! Richard Glover is the author of a few best-selling books – in particular “The Land Before Avocado” is a journey into the bizarre Australia of the late 60s and early 70s. Until a year or two ago, he presented the comedy program Thank God It’s Friday on ABC local radio.. And his weekly column has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald for close to four decades….. Here's a link to his books! https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B001K8BOSS Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A weary young backpacker sits on a train a long way from home and ruminates on all that got her there. Cas Castellano is a writer of poetry and creative non-fiction from Philadelphia living in Australia. Her work has been featured for the first time in two indie publications this year [Sprig Magazine, Brisbane and Friends in Soft Focus, New York]. She delights in all that is absurd, profound, useless, and morally-ambiguous. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A family gets the train to Sydney to collect their new son. CAROLINE ANNE BUTT was born in North Sydney. She grew up on Sydney's Lower North Shore, in a non-affluent, stable and loving home. She was a highly religious, innocent and nerdy girl. She's been a Share Clerk, school teacher, tutor, painter, researcher and writer. Her published works have been an eclectic mix: writing for children, magazine articles, multimedia CDs, Life Writing, short stories. Her first memoir, Pumpkin , was published in 2019 by Ginninderra Press and her second memoir, The Steering Wheel , was published early in 2025. She experienced power and powerlessness in family, religious and patriarchal settings and continues to question their foundations and life in general. While she's found her own true north, she knows that, even then, tides always turn.

When Toby needed to become the primary carer of his first born child, he needed help. Toby’s childhood memoir ‘Two Mums & a Dad’ was published in 2021. The promotional rounds for that book included interviews on TV and radio, coverage in newspapers, and talks at writers festivals and libraries. A number of Toby’s short stories have been published in magazines, converted into podcasts and broadcast on radio. As part of his day job, Toby has written boring articles for legal journals, industry papers, and broadsheets. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Susan's 96 year old mum met Stan. This is their story. Susan Hampton is a writer and a poet. She’s taught writing at manyAustralian universities. She Co-edited The Penguin Book of AustralianWomen Poets . Surly Girls , performance pieces and short stories, won the Steele Rudd Award in 1990. The Kindly Ones , a long narrative poem, won the 2006 Judith Wright Award. Last year, her memoir Anything Can Happen won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award forNon-Fiction. Susan grew up in Inverell and Newcastle and now she lives on the Central Coast. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A recently separated man 'enjoys' his new found freedom at a friend's wedding in Koh Samui, Thailand. DARREN GILSHENAN. After graduating from NIDA in 1988, Darren began his career in musical theatre before spending 10 years with The Bell Shakespeare Company. He followed this up with three years on the sketch comedy Full Frontal , and along with starring in high-profile roles on Australian television. Darren’s television credits include: Sunny Nights (Stan, Jungle Entertainment), Ten Pound Poms S2 (BBC, Stan), Bay of Fires S2 (Fremantle), Thou Shalt Not Steal (Stan), Colin from Accounts S1-2 (Easy Tiger Productions), Population 11 (Stan), Nautilus (Disney+), Upright S2 (Lingo Pictures), Darby and Joan (Acorn), Joe vs. Carole (NBC, Matchbox Pictures), Troppo (Playmaker, EQ Media, Beyond), The Science of Harrow S1-2 (Hoodlum Productions), Harrow S1-3 (Hoodlum Productions), Stateless (ABC, Matchbox Pictures), How To Stay Married S1-3 (Princess Productions, Network Ten), Get Krack!n S2 (ABC), No Activity S1 (US Version) (Jungle Entertainment), True Story with Hamish and Andy (Nine Network), Here Come the Habibs! S1-2 (Jungle Entertainment), No Activity S1-2 (Jungle Entertainment), Maximum Choppage (Matchbox Pictures), The Killing Field (Seven Network), Devils Playground (Matchbox Pictures), The Moodys (Jungle Entertainment), Rake S3 (ABC), The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting (Jungle Entertainment), Janet King (ABC), Top of the Lake (See-Saw Films), A Moody Christmas (Jungle Entertainment) and Chandon Pictures S1-2 (Movie Extra). Darren’s film credits include Audrey, Take My Hand, A Savage Christmas, The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, Carnifex, Never Too Late, June Again, Dying for a Laugh, A Few Less Men, Women He’s Undressed directed by Gillian Armstrong , Save Your Legs and Dark City. He also starred in the web series Plausible Deniability produced by Random Pictures. For his work he won Best Actor at IndieX Film Festival. The web series also won the Outstanding Achievement: Best Web Series / TV Pilot at IndieX Film Festival. Select theatre credits include The Caretaker (Ensemble Theatre), The Hypochondriac (Darlinghurst Theatre Co.), Who’s Afraid of Viginia Woolf? (Ensemble Theatre) for which he received a Best Actor nomination at the Sydney Theatre Awards, Tartuffe (Black Swan State Theatre Co.), Machu Picchu, Fool’s Island, Loot and Our Town (Sydney Theatre Company), Elling, Don Parties On (Melbourne Theatre Company), Mother and Son (national tour) and Strictly Ballroom: The Musical directed by Baz Luhrmann. Darren won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Series for Stateless . He won the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play for The Servant of Two Masters. The Moodys and A Moody Christmas both won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy at the 5th and 3rd Annual Equity Ensemble Awards respectively. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

To Be Or Not to Be, will he love me? Anna Downes is invited to an acting school reunion. Anna Downes is the internationally bestselling author of The Safe Place, The Shadow House, and Red River Road ( shortlisted for the 2025 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year), as well as the Penguin Voices audio exclusive Break Me Down. Born and raised in Sheffield, UK, she studied Drama at the University of Manchester and acting at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before working professionally until 2011, when she moved to Australia and turned her hand to writing. She now lives on the NSW Central Coast with her husband and two children. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Lesley remembers a time when, with 3 kids under three, life got tough. Some notes from Lesley: Being the end of mental health month, I thought my story would be relevant. After a long admission to a mental health unit and a lot of work on myself. I became a volunteer then was employed by Gosford Mental health Centre, at the time it was Mandala, I worked for seventeen years at both Gosford and Wyong Mental health units as an advocate. My role was to help people through the system and put forward the needs of these people. I had the trust of both patients and staff, as I felt that we all needed to work together to get the best outcomes for patients. At the time patients didn’t have a voice. I wanted to give them a voice and make a difference in their lives. I started to read at the age of fourteen and was sent out to work that same year. Through Adrienne’s program I have gained more confidence in reading and writing my story. She has helped so many people put pen to paper. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

One hand, one jar, one job! Brenton Johnson is a local to the central coast. This is his first time writing, and reading a story. Brenton discovered Bravewords through an introductory course with Adrienne that his wife recommended. He's now hoping to one day complete a memoir. We think he should! Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A young actor and their side hustle - playing fairies at parties isn't always magic! Nadia Townsend is a director, writer, and dramaturg with over 20 years experience across film and theatre. She began her career as an actor, training through a run of independent theatre productions before moving into screen work, where she became part of the main cast of Head Start , City Homicide , and Fireflies , as well as the feature film Knowing . She is a sought-after screen dramaturg, with credits including Mad Max: Fury Road , Boy Swallows Universe , Black Snow , My Brilliant Career , and Mortal Kombat II . Her latest short film, The Great Divide , which she wrote and directed, recently won Best Film at the Berlin Indie Film Festival. Her upcoming short documentary, The Christmas House , is set for release. She is currently co-writing the new play Better Half with Luke Carman, supported by The Art House Wyong. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Luke's great mate helps him with a break up... Luke Carman’s debut work of fiction, An Elegant Young Man , won the 2014 NSW Premier’s New Writing Award and was shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal, the Steele Rudd Short Story Prize and the Readings New Writing Award. His essay collection, Intimate Antipathies , was published in June 2019. His collection of stories, An Ordinary Ecstasy , was published in July 2022. Luke is the 2025 Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellow at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre .

Sometimes straight A students have to skip school. Stephanie was brought up in Penrith – when it was still a semi-rural town, rather than an outer suburb of Sydney. Stephanie left school at 15, doing a variety of jobs while trying to complete my education: cleaning, nursing aide, process worker. Most of Steph's working life was spent in Sydney courts andtribunals, as a transcription typist, then training court typists and recording monitors. Steph moved to Wyong 15 years ago. It reminds her of the Penrith she grew up in. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

What happens when a 17 year old policeman is given guns... lots of guns. Ross Markey is a Central Coast write. His work has been published in Island Magazine. Ross was in the youngest squad of the last intake of 16 year olds into the Victoria Police Force. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A young girl and her new family travel to a magical India! Kate Ayrton is a transmedia producer, screenwriter and travel writer. She has had stories published in the US and Australia, and is currently working on her first novel. Born in Australia but schooled abroad, she now lives on the Central Coast. Music courtesy of Sean Peter