‘We read to know we are not alone’: Meet Angie!

It’s wonderful to have such a talented, capable and passionate person in the wings!

With a PhD in English, Angie writes fiction, non-fiction and creative non-fiction. Her writing has won a range of awards and scholarships. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education and has worked as an English teacher and tutor, a writing coach and mentor, an editor, an academic researcher, a peer reviewer and a writer-in-residence.

Angie was keen to get involved with Story Island as another way to use her teaching, literacy and storytelling skills to enhance people’s lives.

‘I love empowering young people by nurturing their imaginations, creativity and confidence,’ she says.

‘It’s wonderful to see those “lightbulb moments”, when students make connections and realise they can write well.

‘I also love working with a team of likeminded people, who know the importance of stories and the arts for our wellbeing.’

Reading and writing play a central part in Angie’s life, both professionally and personally.

‘One of my favourite quotes about reading stories is by the British writer C.S. Lewis: ‘’We read to know we are not alone.’’ So true!’

But writing isn’t Angie’s only creative pursuit.

‘I dabble in all things arty,’ she says.

‘At the moment I’m enjoying pastel painting, mostly portraits and landscapes, in a little studio at home.’

Angie first joined Story Island as a relief Story Leader in Term 4 last year, filling in at some of our Little Mysteries of Me autobiographical writing workshops at Bayview Secondary College. She immediately saw how sharing strategies she uses in her own writing is a great way to boost the skills and confidence of our students:

One student expressed frustration that her story idea wasn’t interesting enough. After showing her how to inject a few obstacles into the story, and raise the stakes, she realised it was actually a great concept. I saw a new self-assurance in her writing and general demeanour.