Sean Williams/CV/6
Sean Williams
I am a full-time author with forty-six novels, six collections and over one hundred short stories published or contracted for publication.
My work is for adults, young adults and children and has been translated into numerous different languages and published in many different territories, resulting in appearances on the New York Times, Dymocks, Locus, and other bestseller lists. It has been optioned for film and television: one movie and one series are currently in development, while the short film “Retrospect” based on one of my novellas screened in 2014. This, plus a growing list of awards, positive reviews, and other commendations, prompted Aurealis magazine to describe me as "without doubt the premier Australian speculative fiction writer of the age."
Like many writers, I taught myself while working a variety of part-time jobs, including buying for a specialty music store, sound engineering, and delivering pizzas. As an established author, I returned to tertiary study in order to attain the qualifications needed to teach creative writing at that level, and now have a PhD from the University of Adelaide.
A strong belief in giving back the community led to my involvement in the Australian Society of Authors, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the Big Book Club, assessment roles for bodies like Arts SA or the Writers of the Future Contest, and taking the occasional instructional or mentoring position for organisations like Clarion and various state Writers' Centres.
I remain firmly committed to the promotion of narrative storytelling and the positive function it performs across all levels of society.
Literary Boards & Committees
2013-present Visiting Research Fellow (University of Adelaide)
2013-present Affiliate, J. M. Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice (University of Adelaide)
2010-present Adelaide Writers’ Week Advisory Committee
2010-2013 SFWA (Overseas Regional Director)
2003-2013 The Big Book Club Inc. (Assistant Treasurer: 2007-2010)
2012 National Year of Reading South Australian Ambassador
2009-2011 TAFESA Professional Writing Industry Assessment Group
2009-2010 Board member, SA Writers' Centre
2009-2010 Board of Management Executive, Australian Society of Authors
2008-2009 Deputy Chair, SA Writers' Centre
2006-2008 Chair, SA Writers' Centre
2006 Adelaide Fringe WORD Festival Advisory Committee
2001-2003 Chair, SA Writers' Centre
2000 Deputy Chair, SA Writers' Centre
1999 Treasurer, SA Writers' Centre
Literary Judging and Arts Assessment
2005-present Writers of the Future Contest
2009-2011 Carclew Youth Arts Project & Development Grant Advisory Committee
2011 Writing Australia “It’s Never Too Late To Learn To Read” Short Story Competition
2007-2010 Somerset National Novella Writing Competition
2010 Aurealis Awards (Science Fiction)
2006-2009 Arts SA Literature Assessment Board (Chair: 2008)
2006 Aurealis Award (Horror)
2006 Adelaide Festival Awards for Fiction
2006 Adelaide Fringe WORD anthology
2005 Salisbury Three-Day Novel Race
2004 Aurealis Award (Young Adult)
2001 Australia Council Literature Board Peer Assessor
1999 Aurealis Award (Young Adult)
1999 Driftwood Manuscript Assessments
1995 Aurealis Award (Fantasy)
Literary Awards
2016 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Twinmaker: Fall
2016 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story: “All the Wrong Places”
2015 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Novella: “The Legend Trap”
2015 Nomination Scribe Award for Young Adult Novel: Spirit Animals: Blood Ties
2011 Nomination Scribe Award for Best Speculative Original Novel: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
2009 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Grand Conjunction
2009 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best YA Novel: The Scarecrow
2008 Winner Peter McNamara Award
2008 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: Earth Ascendant
2008 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Collection: Magic Dirt: the Best of Sean Williams
2008 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Earth Ascendant
2008 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best YA Novel: The Changeling
2008 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Children's Novel: The Changeling
2008 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Children's Novel: The Dust Devils
2007 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Fiction Novel: Saturn Returns
2007 Nomination Philip K Dick Award: Saturn Returns
2007 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novella/Novelette: Cenotaxis
2007 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Saturn Returns
2006 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story: "The Seventh Letter."
2006 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Geodesica: Descent
2005 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Geodesica: Ascent
2004 Nomination Ditmar Award for Professional Achievement
2004 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Crooked Letter
2004 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel: The Crooked Letter
2004 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Heirs of Earth
2003 Nomination Peter McNamara Award
2003 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: Orphans of Earth
2003 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Orphans of Earth
2002 Winner Sydney Writers' Festival Haiku Competition
2002 Nomination Peter McNamara Award
2002 Nomination Seiun (Japan) for Best Translated Short Story: "A Map of the Mines of Barnath"
2002 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Novel: Echoes of Earth
2002 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Sky Warden & the Sun
2002 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Storm Weaver & the Sand
2002 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel: The Storm Weaver & the Sand
2002 Notable Mention Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel: The Sky Warden & the Sun
2002 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Echoes of Earth
2001 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Dying Light
2001 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel: The Stone Mage & the Sea
2001 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Dark Imbalance
2000 Winner "SA Great" Literature Award
2000 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Collected Work: New Adventures in Sci-Fi
2000 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Dying Light
2000 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story: "The Land Itself"
1999 Nomination "SA Great" Literature Award
1999 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Horror Short Story: "Atrax"
1998 Winner Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Resurrected Man
1998 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Resurrected Man)
1997 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: Metal Fatigue
1997 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Horror Short Story: "The Freezing of Sarah"
1996 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Novel: The Unknown Soldier
1996 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Short Story: "The Perfect Gun"
1996 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Short Story: "A Map of the Mines of Barnath"
1996 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Metal Fatigue
1996 Winner Aurealis Award for Best Horror Short Story: "Passing the Bone"
1995 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Unknown Soldier
1995 Nomination Aurealis Award for Best Science Short Story: "A Map of the Mines of Barnath"
1994 Nomination Ditmar Award for Best Short Story: "Ghosts of the Fall"
1992 Prize Winner Writers of the Future Contest: "Ghosts of the Fall"
1991 Finalist Writers of the Future Contest: "The Stuff of Dreams (& Far Stranger Things)"
Grants Received
2015 Australia Council (Project Grant), $30,000
2006 Arts SA (Professional Development), $2,500
2006 Arts SA (New Work), $8,000
2003 Arts SA (New Work), $10,000
1999-2001 Australia Council (New Work), $50,000
Academic Qualifications
2013 PhD (Creative Writing), University of Adelaide
2005 MA (Creative Writing), University of Adelaide
Teaching
2015 Guest Lecturer, English, Flinders University, Adelaide
2015 Guest Lecturer, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Adelaide
2015 Young Writers’ Bootcamp (week), Queensland Writers’ Centre
2013 Guest Lecturer, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
2013 Guest Lecturer, NHTV University of Applied Sciences, Breda, Holland
2013 Workshop, Salisbury Writers' Festival
2011 Plotting the Novel Master Class (day), University of Adelaide
2011 Workshop, Auckland Readers & Writers Festival
2011 Master Class (week), Come Out Festival
2010 Mentor (one year), Kim Mann, ArtSA-funded project
2010 Guest Lecturer, University of Queensland
2009 Supervisor, Negotiated Project, TAFE Professional Writing
2009 Tutor (weeks one and two), Clarion South Writers Workshop, Brisbane
2008 Tutor (week), Writers on the Edge Retreat, Queensland
2008 Weekend Writing Workshop, Victorian Writers' Centre
2007 Workshop, Salisbury Writers' Festival
2007 Workshop, Adelaide Fringe WORD Festival
2007 Tutor (week), Writers on the Edge Retreat, Queensland
2006 Guest Lecturer, Creative Writing, Adelaide University
2006 Guest Lecturer, English, Flinders University
2006 Grants Symposium, SA Writers' Centre
2006 Professionalism Workshop, SA Writers' Centre
2005 Tutor (week one), Clarion South Writers Workshop, Brisbane
2005 Tutor (week), Writers on the Edge Retreat, Queensland
2005 Novel Writing Workshop, SA Writers' Centre
2004 Guest Lecturer, English, Sydney University
2004 Masterclass, Queensland Writers' Centre
2004 "The Writer's Career Path" Envision, Brisbane
2004 Professional Writers' Muster, SA Writers' Centre
2004 "Out of the Pod" New Writers' Workshops, SA Writers' Centre
2004 Guest Teacher, Pulteney Grammar School
2003 Mentor, Express Media, Melbourne
2003 Guest Teacher, Pulteney Grammar School
2001 Mentor, Voiceworks, Melbourne
2001 Mentor, SA Writers' Centre
2000 "Write Into Print" Workshop, SA Writers' Centre
1999 Guest Lecturer, Flinders University
1999 Writing/Marketing Science Fiction Workshop, SA Writers' Centre
1998 Thriller Writing Seminar, SA Writers' Centre
1997 "Ideas" Workshop, SA Writers' Centre
Guest Appearances (not including school visits, launches and signings)
2016 Invited Guest, Bendigo Writers' Festival
2016 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2016 Guest Appearance and Chair, Adelaide Writers’ Week
2015 Panellist, Childrens’ and YA Creators Festival, Adelaide
2015 Invited Guest, Voices on the Coast Festival
2015 Invited Guest, Reading Matters
2015 Invited Guest, Bendigo Writers' Festival
2015 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2015 Guest Speaker, NSW State Library
2015 Guest Speaker, Kernewek Lowender, South Australia
2015 Panellist, SA Writers’ Centre Industry Forum
2015 Invited Guest, Perth Writers' Festival
2014 Invited Guest, Brisbane Writers' Festival
2014 Guest Speaker, International Reading Association Conference, New Orleans
2014 Co-host, Aurealis Awards, Canberra
2014 Invited Guest, Brisbane Writers' Festival
2014 Invited Guest, Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival
2014 Panellist, Salisbury Writers' Festival
2014 Panellist, SA Writers’ Centre Industry Forum
2013 Guest Speaker, Fiction Bootcamp for Adults, SA Writers’ Centre
2013 Panellist, YALLfest, Charleston
2013 Panellist, Festival of Ideas, Adelaide
2013 Panellist, Festival of Unpopular Culture, Adelaide
2013 Invited Guest, Brisbane Writers' Festival
2013 Panellist, Salisbury Writers' Festival
2013 Guest Signing, Book Expo America, New York
2013 Chair and Panellist, Adelaide Writers’ Week
2013 Panellist, Splendid Chaps, Adelaide Fringe
2013 Panellist, SA Writers’ Centre
2012 Invited Guest, Supanova Adelaide
2012 Panellist, World Fantasy Convention, Toronto
2012 Guest Speaker, Texas Book Festival, Austin
2012 Guest Speaker and Host, Read it Write it Draw it Unley Libraries Festival
2012 Panellist, Children’s Book Council of Australia Conference, Adelaide
2012 Presenter, Aurealis Awards
2012 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2012 Chair, Adelaide Writers’ Week
2011 Panellist, World Fantasy Convention, San Diego
2011 Guest Speaker, West End Festival, Glasgow
2011 Guest Speaker, Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye
2011 Invited Guest, Auckland Writers & Readers Festival
2011 Invited Guest, Sydney Writers' Festival
2011 Guest Speaker, LA Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles
2011 Australian Guest of Honour, Swancon, Perth
2010 Guest of Honour, Au Contraire, Wellington
2009 Panellist, World Fantasy Convention, San Jose
2009 Panel Chair and Panellist, SA Writers' Festival
2009 Guest Speaker, National Science Fiction Convention, Adelaide
2008 Selection, The Big Book Club (The Force Unleashed)
2008 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards
2008 Presenter and Chair, Uni. of Adelaide English & Creative Writing Postgraduate Conference
2008 Guest Speaker, Meet the Writers, Adelaide
2008 Invited Guest, Port Augusta Writers' Festival
2008 Invited Guest, GenCon Oz, Brisbane
2008 Invited Guest, Terra Nova, Adelaide
2008 Guest Speaker, Meet the Writers, Adelaide
2008 Guest Speaker, AATE/ALEA National Conference Breakfast, Adelaide
2008 Guest Speaker, SA Fan Force Open Day
2008 Co-presenter, Aurealis Awards Ceremony, Brisbane
2007 Guest Speaker, Day of the Imprisoned Writer, Adelaide
2007 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2007 Invited Guest, SA Writers' Festival
2007 Invited Guest, Sydney Writers' Festival
2007 Invited Guest, Adelaide Fringe WORD Festival
2006 Panellist, World Science Fiction Convention, Los Angeles
2006 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, San Diego
2006 Guest of Honour, National Science Fiction Convention, Brisbane
2006 Keynote Address, Salisbury Writers' Festival
2006 Panellist, Conflux Science Fiction Convention, Canberra
2006 Guest Speaker, Meet the Writers, Adelaide
2005 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Seattle
2005 Address, Graduation Ceremony, Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Adelaide
2005 Invited Guest, SA Writers' Festival
2005 Guest, Continuum Science Fiction Convention, Melbourne
2005 Guest Speaker, AllWrite, Adelaide
2004 Invited Guest, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2004 Invited Guest, Brisbane Writers' Festival
2004 Panellist, Conflux Science Fiction Convention, Canberra
2004 Keynote Address, SA Romance Writers AGM
2004 Guest Speaker, Friends of the Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide
2004 Keynote Address, SA Libraries Association
2004 Guest Speaker, Meet the Writers, Adelaide
2003 Panellist, World Fantasy Convention, Washington
2003 Guest Presenter, Writers of the Future Awards, Los Angeles
2003 Invited Guest, Perth Writers' Week
2003 Keynote Address, Young Authors' Night
2003 Invited Guest, SA Writers' Festival
2003 Guest, Swancon Science Fiction Convention, Perth
2003 Invited Guest, Tasmanian Readers' & Writers' Festival, Hobart
2003 Guest Speaker, Come Out, Adelaide
2003 Guest Speaker, Meet the Writers, Adelaide
2003 Selection, The Big Book Club (The Stone Mage & the Sea)
2002 Guest of Honour, National Science Fiction Convention, Melbourne
2002 Invited Guest, Sydney Writers' Festival
2002 Invited Guest, Melbourne Writers' Week
2002 Invited Guest, Adelaide Writers' Week
2002 Guest Speaker, Cornerstone College
2001 Invited Guest, National Young Writers' Festival, Newcastle
2001 Invited Guest, Word of Mouth Festival, Fremantle
2001 Guest Presenter, High Beam Awards, Adelaide
2001 Guest, Swancon Science Fiction Convention, Perth
2000 Invited Guest, Melbourne Writers' Week
2000 Panellist, Helpmann Academy, Adelaide