Want to improve your creative writing and get your stories published?

Want to improve your creative writing and get your stories published?

Karen is a fabulous teacher! Our boy loved every moment of these workshops. He had so much fun and no idea was ever seen as a bad one. His handwriting and writing skills improved tremendously. His imagination and ability to describe and create have developed alongside his confidence. Thank you for a fantastic year!
Lani Jacobs

Holiday Fun in our Maitland Studio and on Zoom

Turbo-charge your creative writing this school holidays with our popular creative writing workshops, Animal Magic, Superhero School and Mad Scientist. Woo hoo! Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting these fantastic 3-hour workshops for kids aged 8-13. Join us from anywhere for a morning of fun and inspiration.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland OR join us on Zoom

WHEN: 16-18 January 2023

TIME: 10am-1pm

School Holiday Info

School Holiday Workshops

19-21 April

Learn More

Join our Talented Kids Program

School Holiday Workshops

Join our director and chief author, Dr Karen Hughes, for creative writing fun.

Become a published author! Submit your work for publication on our website and in our next book.

Find out more

New YA Collection

Congratulations, Keira!

'I'm More Than That' is a powerful collection of short stories about teenagers facing their fears, discovering their strengths and proving themselves.

Keira is a member of our High School Club on Zoom and has inspired us all with her efforts this year. Well done!

Meet our teen authors

Congratulations to all our talented young authors

'Out of this World', our latest anthology of wild and wonderful stories, has been officially launched. Click here for more photos.

Our Talented Kids have put in a huge effort learning their craft, chasing inspiration, drafting and redrafting, and polishing up their stories for you to read.

Get a copy

Superstars!

Congratulations, James, Lillian and Archer!

We have three exciting new books on our bookshelf:

Fantasy School by James Michell

The Aggie and Rose Mysteries by Lillian Forbes

On Edge by Archer Gibbs

Find out more

Inspiration for Schools

We offer an exciting full term program for schools and community groups with at least 10 participants. The program consists of weekly one hour writing sessions with author Karen Hughes at your school, at our studio or on Zoom, and is aimed at sparking creativity and improving writing skills.

At the end of the term, we'll publish a paperback and eBook anthology of student stories.

School Writing Programs

Learn More

High School Club on Zoom

2024 BOOKINGS ARE NOW CLOSED

For kids aged 12-15 who want to take their writing further. A one-hour brainstorming session with author Karen Hughes every Monday during term. Get creative. Explore all kinds of genres and learn new writing techniques. Submit your stories for publication on our website and in our annual anthology.

WHERE: At home on Zoom.

WHEN: Mondays from 5pm-6pm

Holiday Fun in our Maitland studio and on Zoom!

Turbo-charge your creative writing this school holidays with our popular creative writing workshops, Animal Magic, Superhero School and Mad Scientist. Woo hoo! Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting these fantastic 3-hour workshops for kids aged 8-13. Join us for a morning of fun and inspiration.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland or join us on Zoom

WHEN: 16-18 January 2023

TIME: 10am-1pm

Learn More

Join our Talented Kids Program

School Holiday Workshops

Join our director and chief author, Dr Karen Hughes, for creative writing fun.

Become a published author! Submit your work for publication on our website and in our next book.

Learn More

New YA Collection

Congratulations, Keira!

'I'm More Than That' is a powerful collection of short stories about teenagers facing their fears, discovering their strengths and proving themselves.

Keira is a member of our High School Club on Zoom and has inspired us all with her efforts this year. Well done!

Meet our teen authors

Congratulations to our young authors!

'Out of this World', our latest anthology of wild and wonderful stories, has been officially launched. Click here for more photos.

Our Talented Kids have put in a huge effort learning their craft, chasing inspiration, drafting and redrafting, and polishing up their stories for you to read.

Enjoy!

Get a copy

Superstars!

Congratulations, James, Lillian and Archer!

We have three exciting new books on our bookshelf this week:

Fantasy School by James Michell

The Aggie and Rose Mysteries by Lillian Forbes

On Edge by Archer Gibbs

Find out more

Inspiration for Schools

We offer an exciting full term program for schools and community groups with at least 10 participants. The program consists of weekly one hour writing sessions with author Karen Hughes at your school, at our Maitland studio or on Zoom, and is aimed at sparking creativity and improving writing skills.

At the end of the term, we'll publish an anthology of student stories.

Alternatively, talk to us about a half or whole day of creative writing workshops, either live or on Zoom.

School Writing Programs

Young Authors Club

JOIN OUR WAITING LIST

Self-Paced Online Course for kids aged 10+

Introducing Young Authors Club, our exciting online creative writing program. 10 weekly video modules, each with a different story challenge. The modules are available for 12 months. During this time, kids will have the opportunity to meet author Karen Hughes on Zoom and to submit stories for publication.

Try exciting writing challenges, learn new tips and techniques, and have lots of fun exploring all kinds of different worlds.

WHERE: In your own home!

WHEN: Join our waiting list. Young Authors Club is currently full.

High School Club on Zoom

Learn More

2024 BOOKINGS ARE NOW CLOSED

For kids aged 12-15 who have completed the Talented Kids Program or Young Authors Club and want to take their writing even further. A one hour workshop with author Karen Hughes every Monday. Get creative. Explore all kinds of genres and learn new writing techniques. Submit your stories for publication on our website and in our annual anthology.

WHERE: At home on Zoom

WHEN: Mondays from 5pm-6pm

Mali is 13 and he's currently doing the Talented Kids program with Karen Hughes ... He's actually just signed up for the program for the third time. He's loved it so much and got so much out of it. He's absolutely loving writing every single week and seeing his writing develop and improve ...

Jo Wise, Melbourne

I’ve just completed the Hunter Valley Writers Talented Kids program for the second time. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m going to do it again multiple times. I liked the structure of it and that I got to write every week and finish stories. I like the idea that my stories will be published in a book for other people to read.
Mali

Breaking News

Our book display at Harry Hartog Green Hills! Big thanks to Josh, Georgia and all their lovely booksellers ❤️

Visit our bookshop

A soldier burst into the room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to be growing taller. He was the biggest person Jacob had ever seen ...

Four exciting stories featuring everyone’s favourite detectives, Aggie and Rose!

Meet Amanda, Rose, Michael, Jake, Charlie and Elisabeth, six kids who are mysteriously carried off to Fantasy School by a giant eagle.

12 powerful stories about a diverse group of teens who must face their fears and prove themselves.

Congratulations to all our published authors!

Our Talented Kids workshops are always a blast! Thanks for being such an enthusiastic group of young authors. We're so proud of you all! We can't wait to see your stories, poems and scripts in our next anthology.

Our school holiday workshops went off with a bang! Secret Witches School, Superhero School, Step Back in Time, Pirate Adventure, Animal Magic, My Cyborg Friend, Blast Off! and Haunted House were all completely fabulous and we can't wait to try out some new exciting topics next holidays.

Visit our Photo Gallery

SEE MORE PHOTOS

Read Our Stories

Riding Away

by James Michell The sweltering heat enveloped everything, strangling it. Withering trees grew in clumps along the side of the…

Half-Wing Tales: Forbidden Fairies

by Ebony Upward Flow opens her pretty dark blue eyes as she lies on the grass looking at the bright…

Into the Wild

by Lillian Forbes “Give it to me! I want it and I want it now!” “No, Miss,” the seller heaved,…

The Zoomerang

by Elliot Mesina The Zoomerang sputtered white smoke as its engines strained to lift the airship out of the sky.…

The Sacrifice of a Lifetime

by Reenie Rowan As soon as Louisa O’Brian uncovered the co-ordinates of the tree, she headed straight to the Director’s…

The Wolves of Willow Woods

by Mia Carroll The wind whistled as a cool autumn breeze blew through an open window—but not just any window,…

We love Hunter Valley Writers workshops and courses in our family as they are magical experiences for all children. The inspiration, fun and laughter are what school holidays are all about ... becoming published authors is a happy bonus! There is something very special and motivating for children to see their own words in print in a 'real book'! Karen Hughes is a wonderful teacher and great writing mentor!
Claire Michell

Our Writing Studio in Maitland

We acknowledge the Wonnarua people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather in the Hunter Valley, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Hunter Valley today. Anikanya!

: Narnia lamp post

: Pathway into our secret garden

Young Authors Club

Self-Paced Online Course for kids aged 10+

Try exciting writing challenges, learn new tips and techniques, and have lots of fun exploring all kinds of different worlds.

WHERE: In your own home!

WHEN: Join our waiting list. Young Authors Club is currently full.

I’ve just completed the Hunter Valley Writers Talented Kids program for the second time. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m going to do it again multiple times. I liked the structure of it and that I got to write every week and finish stories. I like the idea that my stories will be published in a book for other people to read.
Mali

Mali is 13 and he's currently doing the Talented Kids program with Karen Hughes ... He's actually just signed up for the program for the third time. He's loved it so much and got so much out of it. He's absolutely loving writing every single week and seeing his writing develop and improve ...

Jo Wise, Melbourne

Sharing the magic of words

Dr Karen Hughes is the author of the Kalika Magic series for kids 9+, five books that explore themes of courage, adventure and the power of the imagination. Karen grew up on a cattle station on the Liverpool Plains, where she spent her childhood climbing trees, riding horses, and reading Narnia books. She attended a primary school with only six pupils, before being packed off to boarding school at age 12. Karen was a lawyer in Canberra for almost 10 years, but has now thankfully recovered. She is currently working on a speculative novel for adults.

PhD English/BA(Asian Studies)/Bachelor of Laws/Grad.Dip Legal Practice/Adv.Dip Classical Herbal Medicine/Children's Book Council of Australia/Australian Society of Authors/International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts/Speculative Literature Foundation USA

Karen's KALIKA MAGIC series is on the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge!

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