Toowoomba Writers' Updates

11/01/2026

Dear Local Authors

Happy New Year!

The Lighthouse Toowoomba is ready for the doors to fling open at the beginning of Term 1, and with that, and for the year, we will be engaging with collaborators on events, programs, projects, and exhibitions, and you may want to be involved! (For example, we are hosting StoryFest this year, have a ‘Romancing the Stars’ planned, and we are fundraising to get you all engaged with the Sydney Writers Festival Live and Local program again…)

https://thelighthousetoowoomba.supporterhub.net.au/pages/the-lighthouse-toowoomba-author-masterlist-copy

Please fill out the form (via the link above) so we can get this conversation started 😊

With the most sincere regards
Emma

Please pass on the form to any and all authors you know in the Toowoomba region - this is a case of 'the more the merrier'

12/03/2025

Counting down now to International Read to Me Day MARCH 19TH with such excitement as we have two more remarkable posters to help us celebrate 10 years of this gentle campaign. Thank you to our very own local Terese Eglington - Children's Book Author and Artist and our favourite nearly local Matt Ottley Art

Isabel (age 15) is doing work experience with us today at The Lighthouse Toowoomba and said, 'Reading to a child is very important. As a kid, I loved being read to. Sometimes, my mum would spend hours reading to me because the story was just too good to put down. Those late-night sessions were among the many things that inspired me to become a writer.'

Every day we see how important it is to read to our children EVERY DAY. Yes, every day.

What are your plans for March 19? There are so many lovely easy impactful ways to make a difference - volunteering at a school, reading to your own children / grand children, donating books to an organisation who will find them new homes...

21/07/2024

Are you curious at all about what we DO every day at The Lighthouse Toowoomba Here is a little insight care of our favourite story teller David Iliffe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1WyQdIhihc

This is the best way I can show you how our community, the Toowoomba Region works, and as we write the book describing what is the first 'unnecessarily beautiful space for minds on fire' writers centre in regional Australia, this still brings tears to my eyes Garth Hamilton Christina Callaghan Emily MacManus

Thank you https://www.youthwriting.org International Alliance of Youth Writers Centres for the guidance and inspiration!

This is a story about the amazing things that sometimes happen .. when planets align. .. when curiosity meets opportunity. .. when little questions get big ...

29/06/2024

POP... this is such a fabulous art competition that I had to share. Congrats The Field Guide for, well, for everything! https://www.thefieldguidetoowoomba.com/artprize

“TOAST” AN ART PRIZE & EXHIBITION July 19-25 | The Write Gallery ARTIST APPLICATION It is the humblest and yet the most exalted food item in any household and didn’t someone once sing, “all you need is…toast”??An artist friend of ours once asked “what is art anyway?” and considering ...

02/06/2024

~Every week I have many opportunities to talk to aspiring writers, and whilst the questions are always very similar, their journey is incredibly individual!

One standing piece of advice I share often is for authors to immerse themselves in the industry and learn from those who may be a few steps ahead of them. Events like the one hosted by Book Links - The Centre for Children's Literature in Toowoomba this coming Friday is PEFECT for any storyteller, anyone who wants to write a book, any grandparent wanting to share 'that perfect idea' with their grandchildren... 14 authors in one place, for one event, sharing their knowledge.

Go on! Dive in. Do it... get your ticket today.

Romancing the Stars – Toowoomba Date: Friday 7 June 2024 Venue: The Write Gallery at The Lighthouse Toowoomba, 126 Margaret Street Time: 6:00 – 9:15pm C

02/06/2024

This is a wonderful event right here in Toowoomba - it's not often to have such a gaggle of amazing authors in one place. Awesome for teachers, awesome for aspiring writers!

24/01/2024

INVITATION - EXHIBITION OPENING & FILM SCREENING: Thursday 1st Feb, The Strand Cinemas @ Toowoomba and at The Write Gallery (part of The Lighthouse).

I'm so excited to be having the first comprehensive exhibition of works from The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness. I'm also thrilled that the exhibition will open with a screening of the film with a Q&A by the fabulous Megan Daley ... then a very short walk to the gallery for the viewing of the artworks and book signings.

I hope you can join us - the ticketing link is below :)
https://drct-thelighthousetoowoomba.prod.supporterhub.net/events/ottley-screening

24/01/2024

In case you miss this in the chat... I reckon this is a 'must see'!

INVITATION - EXHIBITION OPENING & FILM SCREENING: Thursday 1st Feb, The Strand Cinemas @ Toowoomba and at The Write Gallery (part of The Lighthouse).

I'm so excited to be having the first comprehensive exhibition of works from The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness. I'm also thrilled that the exhibition will open with a screening of the film with a Q&A by the fabulous Megan Daley ... then a very short walk to the gallery for the viewing of the artworks and book signings.

I hope you can join us - the ticketing link is below :)
https://drct-thelighthousetoowoomba.prod.supporterhub.net/events/ottley-screening

22/01/2024

I am still pinching myself... You know how gooey I get about amazing books! This is a multi-modal exhibition by Matt Ottley Art and I think I may be responsible for the lion share of the views of the film trailer as it is exceptionally mesmerisingly beautiful. Here - have a peek: https://www.youtube.com/wsatch?v=odANP6cnfYU

Matt's orchestra music lingers overhead as I type as well... I can completely understand why his incredible body of work over the years has attracted the attention of those in the know, hence he is Australia's Illustrator nominee for the 2024 Hans Christian Anderson Award.

If you are still curious, here is ABC Podcast All in the Mind 30min podcast – “What Psychosis feels like: The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness” https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/allinthemind/psychosis-tree-of-ecstasy-and-unbearable-sadness/102897160

And if you can't bear the idea of missing out and you want to come to the event, please dive in to get your ticket https://drct-thelighthousetoowoomba.prod.supporterhub.net/events/ottley-screening

22/08/2023

Dear Toowoomba writers,

BE PART OF QUEENSLAND’S HISTORY!

John Oxley Library Fellow Mimi Tsai from the State Library of Queensland is running two digital storytelling workshops at Toowoomba City Library on the 6th and 13th of September.

These two workshops provides opportunities for you to share your experiences about the role of gardens/outdoor landscapes during the pandemic.

Your stories will contribute to Queensland’s collective memories as an oral history collection about experiences during the pandemic.

Please feel free to share this information to the community or people who is keen to be part of Queensland's history. Registrations are free and essential for catering purposes.

Click to learn more: https://events.tr.qld.gov.au/events-by-category/class/100069/garden-stories-in-a-time-of-pandemic-digital-storytelling-workshops?fbclid=IwAR2hbHu5px9bAVJwjgZZpzVyDN-x654CYJ1gpDNsJd9RvkCdXvUGS4MLZZY

05/06/2023

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vanished-true-stories-of-australian-missing-persons-book-launch-tickets-637660639137

Book launch, talk and book signing event for VANISHED. Books will be available for sale.

03/06/2023

Hopefully you are too busy at Word Fest Toowoomba to be reading this today, but wanted to pop this under your noses from https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081893770328 as tickets limited:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vanished-true-stories-of-australian-missing-persons-book-launch-tickets-637660639137

Book launch, talk and book signing event for VANISHED. Books will be available for sale.