Zena Shapter

Zena Shapter is the Ditmar Award-winning author of ‘When Dark Roots Hunt’, ‘When Dark Waters Burn’, ‘Towards White’ and co-author of ‘Into Tordon’. A writing mentor and editor, she believes stories are our best invention. She loves frogs, chocolate, potatoes and movies – though not at the same time! Find her online via @ZenaShapter and zenashapter.com

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How to ride The Great Silence that every #authorlife endures! From inspiration to analysis, true paths to hedgehogs!

The Great Silence of #AuthorLife!

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Staycation Tips! #AuthorLife

It can be difficult to take time off when you work for yourself. As an author, editor and writing mentor who works from home, the computer is always there, along with all the words and stories yet to be written. So I do sometimes struggle to down tools and disconnect when it’s time to relax. However, this long weekend, I did smash out a staycation, and I thought you might like to know how.…

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Insightful Author Accurately Compares Bushwalking to Storytelling!

In Australia, bushwalking can often resemble storytelling, so much so I recently made a short video about it, which has gone viral! Only kidding, it’s merely been well-received enough across all my social media platforms that I thought I’d share it with you here! You see, as I say in the video, we authors are very much like bushwalkers in that we have to draw our readers along the exciting…

Insightful Author Accurately Compares Bushwalking to Storytelling!

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Interview Insights Into Creativity

Over dinner last Saturday night, I was talking with a friend about the creative life. Although we’ve known each other for fifteen years, she hasn’t been particularly interested in the topic until now, given she works in government and her husband’s an engineer – they just don’t walk in those circles. And it can be hard to appreciate, or even envisage, a lifestyle that’s so very different from…

Interview Insights Into Creativity

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A blog about writing reading notes, and the insight it gives me as an author.

Book Club & Teachers’ Notes for Novels!

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My Weekend at #Conflux19 #WritingConvention!

How lucky am I? Last weekend, my wonderful hubbie drove the four hours from Sydney to Canberra to take me to a writing convention! It’s been years since I’ve been able to get down to Conflux, the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild’s annual writing convention of literary greatness, what with the kids taking their HSC and life in general getting in the way. So it was well and truly time to join in…

My Weekend at #Conflux19 #WritingConvention!

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My 10 Years as a Writing Judge #MYAL @MosmanLibrary

For the past ten years, I’ve not only judged the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature, but I’ve written a judge’s report to advise emerging writers how they can improve their writing for next time. I’ve then published that advice on my blog each year (apart from the first year): Character Domination! MYAL 2017Tips for Young Writers for Literary Awards @mosmanlibrary #MYAL 20185 Tips for Young…

My 10 Years as a Writing Judge #MYAL @MosmanLibrary

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Memories prompted by old school reports, and what they say about reading...

It Doesn’t Matter How Or What You Read

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A blog about hot chocolate, making it the right way, and my year-long taste-testing adventure!

Every Day is a Hot Chocolate Kind of Day!

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How a person speaks not only reflects their mindset and personality, but also their individual background and upbringing...

How Our Voices Reflect Us

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Launched! When Dark Waters Burn is officially out in the wild for those with an adventurous spirit and a warm heart. Just watch out for the water-ants, snap snap!

http://zenashapter.com/blog/launched-when-dark-waters-burn-is-out/

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Thoughts for the Day!

A reflection on how we change over time, as evidenced by our reactions to place: http://zenashapter.com/blog/time-changes-our-interpretation-of-place/

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A Romantic 2025 Manly Writers’ Festival! #ManlyWF2025

This weekend I was at the 2025 Manly Writers’ Festival, talking on a panel, presenting a workshop, enjoying book signings, literary trivia, mingling with readers, and more! It was so much fun! I also learnt a little about myself as a writer. While on the panel, I had the pleasure of talking about romance in speculative fiction, along with the talented Amy Hutton (who has a paranormal romance…

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How history and a recent trip to Italy inspired some recent edits for my upcoming release, 'When Dark Waters Burn'!

The Past is Everywhere!

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The Literary History of My Hometown, Bournemouth UK

The fascinating literary history of my childhood home of Bournemouth – Tolkien, Shelley, Stevenson, Tolstoy, and more!

One of the things I miss most about living in the UK is its visual history. Growing up there was a time-travelling adventure – never far from a castle, stately home, strange mound in the ground or stone circle. Here in Australia, I recently bushwalked all around Sydney’s southern Middle Harbour, enjoying its leafy foreshore tracks, mangroves, sandbanks and creeks, all the way from Spit Bridge…

The Literary History of My Hometown, Bournemouth UK

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Start Your Own Book Club / Writing Group!

Everyone should write. There, I’ve said it. Writing is so liberating and cathartic. It allows you to explore your thoughts and feelings, as well as those of others. With it you can imagine the future, and delve into the trenches of the past. Writing can be an escape, it allows you to create insightful or expressive art, and it can incite connection with others, if you choose to share your…

Start Your Own Book Club / Writing Group!

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I'm a local hero! Thank you, @TheTawnyFrogmouth

Wow, thank you to The Tawny Frogmouth magazine for such a breathtaking interview in this month’s issue, ‘Local writing hero is an inspiration for living a better life’. I feel seen! I have always felt great empathy for those around me, whether it’s my community, writing tribe, friends or family. So if I notice that something needs changing, and no one else is taking action to make change, I try…

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