FEATURE STORY – Meet the mother and son storytellers.

from My Weekly Preview Issue 720. August 25, 2022

FAST FACTS – Interesting and fun facts to keep you entertained.

The art of storytelling

Everyone has a story inside them, but sometimes we need to overcome self-doubt to allow our creativity to fl ow. Meet your inspiration – eightyear-old Coast author Lincoln Rawlins.

Authors Lincoln Rawlins and Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane

IMAGE: LISA PEARL

At two years of age, Lincoln Rawlins had memorised his favourite books and was able to ‘read’ them back to his parents.

At the age of seven, Lincoln was writing song lyrics for the music he composed during his guitar lessons.

And, at eight years of age, Lincoln became one of Australia’s youngest authors when he released Sprout’s Idea, a picture book that captures his values of teamwork, kindness and using positivity to overcome obstacles.

It is safe to say that storytelling runs through his veins and you only have to look to his mother, who is award-winning ghostwriter and nonfiction book writing mentor Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane, to understand why.

Although Lincoln never dreamed of becoming an author, an opportunity to create a story for the Secret Oasis Festival in March this year led to him dreaming up Sprout and Shade Man, the characters who became the protagonist and antagonist in his book.

When sharing his story on stage in front of more than 100 people, the response to his creation proved there was much more in store for his beloved characters.

“We decided to make it into a book and we had to write eight different versions to make it work as a picture book,” Lincoln says. “I also wanted author Andy Griffiths to read my first draft because his Treehouse books are my favourite.”

Luckily Mr Griffiths, who has sold more than 10 million copies of the Treehouse series in Australia alone, read Lincoln’s first draft and has supported his journey with

“When we get out of our own way… and embrace our creativity, our stories can soar and make a difference”

messages exchanged over social media. He also provided an endorsement for the book, writing: “I love a good villain and there is no one as villainous as Shade Man”.

News of Lincoln’s achievement has inspired many to think about the stories they have to share. Despite the removal of the traditional barriers of being published, authorship is a feat that only a small percentage of the country’s population achieve each year and you only have to look at the numbers to understand why.

In 2020, 22,634 new book titles were released in Australia when we had a population of almost 25.4 million. This meant newly published authors made up just 0.089 per cent of Australians.

In August of 2010, Google conducted a search that showed around 130 million books had been published in human history up until that point.

With so many people driven by the desire to write books, why is it that only a small percentage of them experience the joy of holding a copy from their first print run in their hands?

Ms McCarty-O’Kane, who has ghostwritten 18 books over the past five years and recently released her debut book The Mindful Author, says it is often because people set off on their writing journey without laying down the basics first.

“So many start off with a mentality of ‘just write,’ but it is important to have strong foundations to build your storytelling off,” she says.

“Lincoln is an inspiration because he shows what is possible when we overcome the mental barriers that us Mary-Lou Stephens

adults tend to throw up for ourselves. When we get out of our own way, introduce structure and embrace our creativity, our stories can soar and make a real difference out there in the world.”

As a former journalist, Ms McCartyO’Kane has been telling stories since 2007 and since transferring her skills to nonfiction books – a move which saw her named the Sunshine Coast Micro/Small Business Woman of the Year in 2021 – her Ignite & Write workshops have empowered dozens of Coast authors to write their books. “There are so many hurdles that present themselves when you decide to

write a book. It takes time, energy and focus and we don’t often have all three in spades,” she says.

“The key to being among the few who actually publish their books is to have a clear purpose for why you are writing.

“This is the fuel that will keep that spark of creativity burning brightly and power you through to success.”

After a combined book launch on August 18 that saw almost 90 people come together to celebrate the power of stories, the mother and son duo have been called up to feature in the inaugural Sunshine Coast Storytellers’ Festival on August 30 at the Beerwah Heart precinct.

The new event, hosted by Sunshine Coast Libraries, is part of the 2022 Horizon program and provides an insight into the latest from the world of publishing.

Lincoln will be the youngest in a line-up of 25 Coast authors to showcase their books at the region’s largest book launch and Roxanne will host a session on how to maximise your book’s potential in a program that includes eight other industry specialists who will cover all aspects of the writing and publishing journey.

Coast author, journalist and festival MC Mary-Lou Stephens will shine the spotlight on local literary wordsmiths throughout the evening and book lovers can discover new books and networks.

Sunshine Coast Council Community Portfolio Councillor David Law says the Storytellers’ Festival will showcase the region’s wealth of exceptional literary talent.

“This is an event for lovers of the written and spoken word,” Cr Law says.

“If you have ever thought about writing your first book, don’t know how to get it out there, are experiencing writer’s block and seeking inspiration, or just appreciate a good read, now is the time to connect and immerse yourself in our passionate writing community.”

The one day only Storytellers’ Festival includes free and ticketed events.

STORYTELLERS’ FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS

• Indie self-publishing with Alex Fullerton • Traditional publishing and distribution with Kim McCosker • Maximising your book’s potential with Roxanne

McCarty-O’Kane • Writing memoirs with Allison Marlow Paterson • Crime writing essentials with Dr Lea Scott • The writer’s craft with Dr Paul Williams • Career illustration with Heather Gall • Demystifying poetry with Dr Ginna Brock • Writing children’s books with Aleesah Darlison

FAST FACTS

What: Storytellers’ Festival When: Tuesday, August 30 from 1.30pm to 7.30pm Where: Beerwah Heart Precinct: Beerwah Library, Beerwah Meeting Place and Community Hall, 25 Peachester Road, Beerwah

General admission:

Free Workshop tickets: $15 plus booking fee, register at library. sunshinecoast.qld.gov. au/StorytellersFestival

Dr Paul Williams

BOOK WRITING: “IT’S ALL ABOUT ENDURANCE”

University of the Sunshine Coast senior creative writing lecturer and co-founder of the Sunshine Coast Creative Writing Institute Dr Paul Williams is among a selection of industry specialists set to host a workshop at the Storytellers’ Festival.

Dr Williams has more than a dozen book titles across several genres under his belt. He has studied African literature in South Africa, creative writing in Wisconsin, America, and taught at universities in South Africa, the Middle East, the UK and America before settling on the Coast.

“There were so many stories to tell around me, life was such as adventure,” he says.

“A lot of writers stick to one genre, but I like exploring. I just like how the story always takes you where it wants to go and I show in my workshop that it doesn’t matter what genre you are writing, you just have to tell a good story.”

The writer’s craft workshop will highlight to aspiring authors how to shape their stories. “Your main objective is to transport the reader into another world and with basic writing skills, the only other things you need are a good story, good characters and a good plot,” he says.

“It’s the old analogy of riding a bike, you just get on and ride. You will fall a couple of times, but you learn along the way and that’s why a hands-on approach is best for first time writers, just try things and see how they work.”

While writing a book takes a lot of time, energy and dedication, Dr Williams says nothing compares to the feeling of elation you get when you hold that published book in your hands.

“It is all about endurance, almost like long distance running. You have to tether that with the belief that you can do it because so many people give up. I teach people that failure is part of the process, but it’s a question of continuing to work until you get it right,” he says.

“Some people acquire writing skills with ease and others struggle, but like anything you have a process of learning through doing. There is no formula really, just hard work.”