Want to practise your creative writing with a real author?

The class has absolutely LOVED having you here. I’ve had so much great feedback from parents about how inspired their children have been. A thousand thank yous.
Jane Robinson, teacher

School Holiday Program

NEW! Due to popular demand, Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting three exciting workshops for kids aged 8-13 over the school holidays. Woo hoo! We'll have apples, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and lashings of ginger beer, and we'll write the best stories ever.

Spaces are limited, so book your spot now.

WHERE: 3/95 High St. East Maitland

WHEN: April 14, 15, 16

TIME: 10am - 1pm

Learn More

School Holidays

NEW! Due to popular demand, Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting a series of exciting 3 hour creative writing workshops for kids aged 8-12 over the school holidays. Woo hoo! We'll have apples, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and lashings of ginger beer, and we'll write the best stories ever.

WHERE: 3/95 High St. East Maitland

WHEN: 10-17 January 2022

TIME: 10am - 1pm

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Talented Kids

Enrolments for Term 1, 2022 are now open.

Weekly one hour sessions for kids aged 9-14. Every Tuesday or Wednesday at our High Street studio with afternoon tea provided. At the end of the year, we will publish a book of stories and every contributor will receive a copy.

WHERE: 3/95 High St. East Maitland

WHEN: Tuesday or Wednesday

TIME: 4pm - 5pm

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Zoom Club

Join our Self-Paced Online Course.

Introducing our new online creative writing program with 10 weekly video/activity modules, each with a different story challenge. The modules are available for 12 months. During this time, kids will have the opportunity to participate in at least 3 live Zoom sessions with author Karen Hughes 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: Self-paced. Join at any time. New lessons available each week.

Learn More

Talented Kids Program

Enrolments for Term 1, 2022 are now open.

Weekly one hour sessions for kids aged 9-14. Every Tuesday or Wednesday at our High Street studio with afternoon tea provided. At the end of the year, we will publish a book of stories and every contributor will receive a copy.

WHERE: 3/95 High St. East Maitland

WHEN: Tuesday or Wednesday

TIME: 4pm - 5pm

Learn More

Zoom Club

Join our Self-Paced Online Course

Introducing our new online creative writing program with 10 weekly video/activity modules, each with a different story challenge. The modules are available for 12 months. During this time, kids will have the opportunity to participate in at least 3 live Zoom sessions with author Karen Hughes 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: Self-paced. Join at any time. New lessons available each week.

Learn More

School Holidays

NEW! Due to popular demand, Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting three exciting workshops for kids aged 8-13 over the school holidays. Woo hoo! We'll have apples, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and lashings of ginger beer, and we'll write the best stories ever.

Spaces are limited, so book your spot now.

WHERE: 3/95 High St. East Maitland

WHEN: January 2022

TIME: 10am - 1pm

Learn More

Breaking News

Talented Kids will be back in the studio next term. Enrolments for 2022 are now open.
All students, past and present, are invited to submit stories for publication in our upcoming paperback anthology.

Check out our online Zoom Club: self-paced, start any time!

Get your copy now

Read Our Stories

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Once there were dragons

By Isla Connolly PAGE 1/3 I hobbled up the hill, scraping my hands as I hoisted myself onwards. I had…

On the Run

By Erika Chhabra Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Goes the ice as me walk across it. Me and other me walk across…

The Sea Ruby

By Keira Gurney PAGE1/16 The ocean thundered in my ears, like a monster growling in agony. Waves crashed into our ship,…

Haiku 俳句 in Lockdown

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Zombie Apocalypse

By Izabella Piefke I was walking down the wide hallway that leads into the two Grade 6 classrooms. When I…

Read Arthur and the Dead, The Time Machine, Flip, and more!

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Sharing the magic of words

Karen Hughes is the author of the popular Kalika Magic series for kids 9+, exploring 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 twelve. Karen has been a lawyer, a herbalist and a web designer, but being a storyteller is her favourite job. She is currently writing her fifth book and completing her PhD in English.