UC grad's story among Australia's best

Amanda Powell

19 January 2012: University of Canberra graduate Penny O’Hara has had her work published in The Best Australian Stories 2011.

The Best Australian Stories 2011 is a collection of the most outstanding short fiction of the past year and is edited by Cate Kennedy, who is also a University of Canberra alumna.

Ms O’Hara studied a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing (Editing) and graduated in 2010.

“Each year the publisher, Black Inc. makes an open call for submissions via their website, so I submitted a piece I wrote for the Writing Short Narratives unit called Strawberry Jam,” Ms O’Hara said.

“I was so excited when I found out that my story had been accepted,” she said.

“It is the first time I have had my work published alongside pieces by established writers such as Marion Halligan and Debra Adelaide. I am also a great admirer of Cate Kennedy’s work, especially her masterful short stories, so it was thrilling to find out that she had selected my story for inclusion.”

Penny O'Hara's work has been published in The Best Australian Stories 2011. Photo: Michelle McAulay

Ms O’Hara has also had her work published in FIRST, the University of Canberra’s anthology of student writing and in the online journal Islet. She is currently working as a freelance editor and writing whenever she has the chance.

Ms O’Hara said studying at the University of Canberra had ‘reignited her passion’ for creative writing.

“The inspiring teachers and the looming assessment deadlines got me writing again, which is something I haven’t done for many years,” she added.

Teaching fellow and Writing Short Narratives tutor Sarah St Vincent Welch said she was proud of Ms O’Hara’s achievement.

“It is great Ms O’Hara’s writing has been recognised in this hard business and it is well deserved. Her work is so, so good,” she said.

Ms St Vincent Welch said she was pleased to see University of Canberra graduates sending their writing out for publication.

“It shows the calibre of students our writing program attracts, and also what we offer,” she said.

The Best Australian Stories 2011 is available through Black Inc Publishing: http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/best-australian-stories-2011