Doctor Felicity Castagna

Felicity Castagna has published four novels for adults and young adults including her most recent book, Girls In Boys’ Cars which received The Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards for YA and was adapted to stage by Priscilla Jackman for The National Theatre of Parramatta: It’s now on its way to becoming a film.  Her previous novel, No More Boats was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards and is published internationally by Europa. Her young adult novel The Incredible Here and Now received The Prime Minister’s Award for Young Adult Literature as well as the IBBY Award and was a finalist in several other awards including the CBCA Book of the Year Award. She has worked with artists in many different fields to produce work for The Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Festival, The National Theatre of Parramatta and The Four Winds Festival. She has also edited multiple collections of work including The River, for Powerhouse Museum.  Her creative non-fiction and critical responses to literature and art are published both here and internationally on platforms such as The Sydney Review of Books, Electric Literature, LitHub, The Griffith Review and ABC radio and television. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing with The Writing and Society Research Centre.

Castagna is a highly experienced teacher, speaker, writing mentor and teacher educator who has facilitated workshops everywhere from schools to community arts centres to correctional centres and has helped to establish, promote and run many writing and storytelling programs. She is frequently invited to speak about books and writing at leading cultural institutions and literary festivals. Her contributions to the Arts in Western Sydney have been acknowledged by Australia Day Honours, among other accolades. She has sat on the boards of multiple institutions including Create NSW and has served as the Chair and Judge for multiple literary awards including The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.