A Taste of Stories : Literary Luncheon

Name: A Taste of Stories : Literary Luncheon
Start: 2026-05-21T12:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-05-21T12:00:00+10:00
Location: Phillip Island Winery

AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN TWO VICTORIAN AUTHORS DISCUSSING THE CREATIVE WRITING PROCESS

LYN YEOWART

Lyn

Lyn grew up near Drouin, and attended Drouin South Primary and Drouin High School.

Lyn holds a Bachelor of Education, a Post-graduate Diploma in Creative Writing, and a Masters in Creative Writing.

In the late 1980s, she began a consultancy business providing writing and editing services to government, corporate and niche organisations in Australia and overseas.

Lyn’s debut novel, The Silent Listener, is set in a fictional town in Gippsland. It was published in 2021 and has won numerous awards including the 2022 Indie Book Award for Best Debut Fiction (awarded by independent bookshops throughout Australia), was a finalist in the UK People’s Book Prize, and was shortlisted for three other national awards in Australia.

Excitingly, screen adaptation rights have been acquired, and a script for a television series of The Silent Listener is currently under development.

Lyn’s second novel, The Hollow Girl, is based on real-life stories of unmarried women and the widespread practice of forced adoptions, inspired by a friend’s story of having to adopt out her baby in 1961. When her friend finally had the courage to tell Lyn what had happened to her more than 30 years ago, she began the conversation with, “I have something to tell you, and after I tell you this something, you probably won’t want to be friends with me anymore.”

As well as working on her third novel, Lyn also mentors and runs writing workshops for emerging writers, and edits work-in-progress novels for established writers. With two young grandchildren, she’s also turning her hand to children’s fiction.

LANA JOHNSON

Archie the Amazing Axolotl

Lana Johnson is a primary school teacher, mum of two young boys, and the creative mind behind Busy Little Bee Books. She creates high-quality educational resources designed to support both learning and emotional well-being in young children.

Lana completed her VCE at Luther College, Croydon, where she studied Advanced Indonesian and English Literature. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Education (Primary) with Honours from La Trobe University. In 2013, she was awarded a scholarship to study Mandarin in China alongside fellow honours students. She also completed a teaching placement at Avatea Primary School in the Cook Islands, where she played a key role in fundraising efforts after the school was damaged by fire.

At the heart of Lana’s work is the belief that every child’s imagination is a superpower waiting to shine. Her debut picture book, Archie the Amazing Axolotl, brings this vision to life through a playful and beautifully illustrated story that celebrates creativity, individuality, and self-acceptance.

Featuring illustrations by Tasmanian illustrator, author, and editor Katherine Richardson, the book gently weaves in themes of neurodivergence, highlighting unique ways of thinking and problem-solving. Set in the whimsical Wigglebottom School of Wonder, Archie’s story encourages children to embrace what makes them different.

Archie the Amazing Axolotl is also featured in the Decodable Readers Australia online library, a platform accessed by over 250,000 students nationwide. The book offers valuable insights for parents, caregivers, grandparents, and educators supporting children who experience and engage with the world in diverse ways.