Magabala Books is delighted to increase its support for mid-career creators this year, awarding two Fellowships of $10,000. Congratulations to the 2021 mid-career Fellowship recipients Sue McPherson and Charmaine Papertalk Green.

Launched in 2020, the Magabala mid-career Fellowship is intended to provide valuable time for an established author to work on a current manuscript.

Sue McPherson is a Freescribing Storyteller who lives on the Sunshine Coast.  As a writer Sue enjoys making change, pushing boundaries and challenging her readers and audience.  Currently Sue writes for TV, Film, Scripted Podcasts and for Young Adult fiction. She loves meeting people from all walks of life, they are her inspiration. Sue McPherson has previously published Grace Beside Me (Magabala Books 2012) and Brontide (Magabala Books 2018).

With the support of the Fellowship, Sue will progress her first work of adult fiction, under the working title ‘Caravan’. Of the Fellowship Award she said:

‘We have so many incredible storytellers, I honestly didn’t think Caravan (working title) had a chance. Genuine heartfelt thanks to our Magabala family.  With your support, I can camp across country, yarn with Peg (protagonist) uninterrupted and record her powerful story.  A challenging year, a surreal moment and now a solid plan for the new year. Congratulations also to peer, Charmaine Papertalk Green – Proud of you!’

Charmaine Papertalk Green is from the Wajarri, Badimaya and Southern Yamaji peoples of Mid West Western Australia. She has lived and worked in rural Western Australia (Mid West and Pilbara) most of her life, and within the Aboriginal sector industry as a community agitator, artist/poet, community development practitioner and social sciences researcher. Her poetry has appeared in many anthologies and her publications include Nganajungu Yagu (Cordite 2019) and False Claims of Colonial Thieves, co-authored with John Kinsella (Magabala Books, 2018). She lives in Geraldton, Western Australia.

Charmaine will use the Fellowship to progress two manuscripts currently under development and said of the Fellowship opportunity:

‘I am now very excited about completing both manuscripts. I would like to thank the Magabala Fellowship selection group and Magabala for ongoing support of me as a female Yamaji writer, so very much grateful for the opportunity.’

Congratulations to both Sue and Charmaine! We are so thrilled to be on this creative journey with you and your new works. 

Magabala acknowledges the support of Serp Hills Foundation and Australian Indigenous Coffee in awarding the 2021 Fellowships.