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Karen Cunningham

@karenmcunningham_author

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Graphic designer by day, closet writer at all other times. ‘Missing Sarah Harris’ and ‘Happy Jack’, for YA readers, out now.

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Footy Colours Day. Did I do it right?

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I'm happy to announce that the second YA novel by Karen M. Cunningham, Happy Jack, is now available from Dunsborough Books. And look, I'm mentioned in the acknowledgements! Thank you back at you, Karen! 😘🙏🏽

Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Parker has always been good at keeping secrets, especially from herself. At sixteen, she’s determined to finally be happy – starting with getting Dan Patterson to notice her. When she’s put in charge of the school dance, it feels like the perfect opportunity to shine.

But Stacey Saunders, her former best friend, is back. And Stacey knows the one thing Jack has spent years trying to forget.

How can Jack move forward when the past won’t let her go?

Happy Jack is a raw portrayal of teenage friendships, the power of facing our fears, and the unexpected paths to healing and happiness.

Get it from the mobile bookshop or my online shop: dunsboroughbooks.com.au

#dunsboroughbooks #mobilebookshop #happyjack #karemcunningham #yanovel

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Isn’t it simply delicious to make creative friends and then be able to support them 🌷 Happy Jack is a newly released YA written by @karenmcunningham_author and I can already tell her words are going to be a comfort and inspiration to many. I’m so excited to read, but I wish young Anna could have read this too 🥹

#YA #authorsofPerth #selfpublished #HappyJack

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So lovely to be able to be at the launch of Happy Jack by @karenmcunningham_author .
Nice to see so many people at the event, and after hearing the first chapter, I’m sure it will be a great success. Congratulations @karenmcunningham_author

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Massive congratulations to @alisondaviswriter whose DAZZLING collection, Freckles of Light was superbly launched in North Freo last night by the incomparable @barrydivola Freckles of Light features 70 tiny flash and short stories. Mesmerising, moving and hilarious. It’s brilliant. Highly recommend. And how utterly beautiful is the cover! So artfully designed by @karenmcunningham_author

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Met up with two of my lovely @cbca_wa Peppermint Grove Retreaters @louise_burlinson and @rebeccanewmanbooks at a wonderful evening chatting with @sashawasley_author about her newest book, The Society of Literary Marauders. Thanks to @spiers3470 for hosting us all and @shannon_meyerkort for the cute photo.

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Today’s poem (day 3 of 31) was a special request from @karenmcunningham_author that I write a poem about her gorgeous dog, Bonnie. I had the pleasure of meeting Bonnie when she visited Roderick House during our Peppermint Grove retreat 💕🐾

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Peppermint Grove Writers Retreat Afternoon Tea

Our retreat presentation was exciting (read: nerve wracking) at first, for a panel discussion about what each writer achieved, any challenges we faced and any surprising things about being on a retreat. We presented a reading of our works in progress, including a play. It was lovely to chat with Retreat alumni, other authors and CBCA WA members who are just so supportive. The afternoon tea was delicious thank you to @cbca_wa and Gail Spiers @spiers3470 for a lovely afternoon.

If you are thinking of applying for the next intake, please DO. It’s a wonderful opportunity for your creative selves to flourish.

@biancabreen @karenmcunningham_author @louise_burlinson @rebeccagrantauthor @rebeccanewmanbooks

#CBCAWA #WritersRetreat #YAwriting #YAwriters #childrensWriting #Childrenswriters#ChildrensPoetry #AustralianWriters

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Peppermint Grove Writers Retreat. A writing residency! When I was in year 6, I attended a writers' camp. Decades later, I felt the same excitement and trepidation if Im honest. I'm off to writers camp again! It was such a brilliant week. One that saw me write thousands of words on a middle grade adventure fantasy novel, edit even more and draft new poetry and short stories. I've also forged new friendships, visited bookstores and played more Bananagrams than ever before! I am indebted to the incomparable Gail Spiers @spiers3470 for her wonderful hosting and @cbca_wa for making this retreat possible. To my housemates of week 1 @karenmcunningham_author and @rebeccagrantauthor and Retreaters week 2 @biancabreen and @rebeccanewmanbooks thank you for your humour, generosity in feedback and clubroom chats. I look forward to seeing the works you've started on this retreat become publications. I am back in the real world now, with interruptions and laundry and kids' scheduling, but I still have the secret glow of a writer who has been given the best gift - time and space to write. Forever grateful. 🥰

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Lovely to meet these super talented Authors for afternoon tea & bubbles, book signings and chats to complete the Peppermint Grove Writers’ Retreat at Roderick House 💛

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WA authors, Karen Cunningham, Louise Burlinson and Rebecca Grant have settled comfortably into Roderick House for the Peppermint Grove Retreat.

Today they took a break from writing for a few hours and went on a book shop crawl. Rebecca had appointments to sign copies of her picture book, How to Hide a Hippo. Karen had one copy of her newly published YA novel, Happy Jack to show as supplies have been delayed. She designed the fabulous cover herself.

Bananagrams has become a feature of the retreats and this terrible trio couldn’t resist taking a photo when they found supplies at Dymocks Subiaco.

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I LOVE the cover of my book so much!! Hope you like it too. And yes, the legendary @gillianoshaughnessy has provided beautiful words of endorsement. Thank you to @karenmcunningham_author for her amazing design work. Highly recommend Karen for anyone wanting a book cover designed. She’s brilliant. So exciting!!

#frecklesoflight #shortstories #flashfiction

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