Bravewords

A first time mum prepares the perfect birth.

Donné Restom is a singer, writer and storyteller. She is the founder of sell-out storytelling event, Kink in the Tale: Storytelling for Grownups and her debut one woman show, Everyone in my Family is Dead or About to be was nominated for Sydney Fringe 2024’s Best in Theatre Award.

Donné has written and released three albums, and her fourth album, Anatomy of Heart, just released. Now on all streaming platforms.

Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A rough trot with his health sends Peter thinking back through life to find the causes of his ill health.

Co-writer of a film script that received two rounds of funding by the NSW Film & Television Office and was optioned by Fox Studios Australia but which, alas, did not make it to production - but that's show business!

Music courtesy of Sean Peter

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