Lauren Elise Daniels is an awarded poet, senior editor, bestselling author, mentor, and trainer of professionals, academics, writers and editors. A Queensland Johnno Award nominee [2021, 2022] and Aurealis Award winning co-editor [2021] and Aurealis Award finalist [2022] and Australian Shadows Award finalist [2022], Lauren’s work has also listed on the Preliminary Ballot of the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® and Adaptable program.
Lauren has edited 100+ published titles since 2005 [listed below], coaches writers across private, academic, government settings and has…
…presented for: Queensland Writers Centre, StokerCon, GenreCon, Australian Fairy Tale Society, Necronomicon, Whistler Writers Festival, Rainforest Writers Retreat, Heroine’s Festival, South Coast Writers Centre, Brisbane Writers Group Convention, Brisbane Book Authors, Society of Women Writers Queensland, and Tasmanian Writers Centre.
…taught for: TAFE, The University of Queensland, Stafford Heights Community Ed., Hillbrook’s Year 10 & 11 Aspire English Program, Brisbane State High School, and Corinda State High School.
…delivered custom training for government: Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council, The Department of State Development, The Department of Environment & Science, The Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, The Department of Agriculture & Water Resources, Queensland Health, The Department of Transport & Main Roads, Queensland Nurses Union, and CITEC.
…and for non-profit and private: UnitingCare, Mates4Mates, Able Australia, Anglicare, Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Funeral Celebrants of Australia, SHAPE Australia, Starcom Media, Flight Centre, Humes/Holcim, TOD Consulting Engineers of Noosa, and Global Interaction Queensland.
…served as writing mentor for: Queensland Writers Centre‘s Publishable program and GenreCon prize, the Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize, and for Warwick High School, Rhode Island.
Current Memberships
Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd.) | Freelance Editors’ Network | Blue Card | Australian Fairy Tale Society
Society of Women Writers QLD | Horror Writers Association | Australasian Horror Writers Association
QLD Writing Centre since 2000 | National Writers Union, NY, NY USA since 1992
Qualifications
Certificate IV Workplace Assessment & Training: Axiom College, Milton, QLD: 2003
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing: Emerson College, Boston, MA USA: 1999
Bachelor of Arts, Creative Writing: Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT USA: 1992
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Awards & Nominations
Newport Poetry Award, Junior Division: Newport, Rhode Island: 1987
Singapore’s Half the World Global Literati Award Shortlist: “Serpent’s Wake” manuscript; 4th Place in People’s Choice Award: 2016
Queensland Johnno Award Nominee: Queensland Writers Centre: 2021, 2022
Aurealis Award Winner for Best Anthology: Relics, Wrecks and Ruins, ed. by Aiki Flinthart, co-edited by Geneve Flynn and L. E. Daniels: 2021
Aurealis Award Finalist for Best Anthology: We Are Providence, ed. by Christa Carmen and L. E. Daniels: 2022
Australian Shadows Award Finalist in Poetry: “Night Terrors” published in Of Horror and Hope by the Horror Writers Association: 2022
Upcoming Engagements
Mates4Mates Creative Writing for Military Veterans via Zoom.
Literary Judge: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Prize with Hawkeye Publishing, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Previous Engagements
Patricks Road State School Year 6: Conflict & Short Fiction, February 2023.
GenreCon 2023 moderator for Forbidden Doors with Garth Nix, J.P. Pomare and Amo Jones. Don’t be Scared: Writing Horror Fiction with Geneve Flynn, Zachary Ashford and Josie Montano: February 2023.
Interview, Art & Humanity, November 2022.
Author/Editor Contact with Hillbrook College Aspire Program: Oct-Nov, 2022.
Guest, Between the Covers Podcast, November 2022.
Presenter, Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference, Griffith University: 1-2 October 2022.
Guest Author & Editor, Self-Editing Workshop, Southport Library: 3 September 2022.
Guest Editor & Staff Trainer, Department of Environment and Science, Walkabout Creek: 2 September 2022.
Author & Co-Editor, Otis Library presents Gothic Literature and the Supernatural in New England: 29 August 2022.
Author & Co-Editor, Necronomicon, book launch for We Are Providence, RI Chapter of the Horror Writers Association anthology, Providence, Rhode Island, August 18-21 2022.
Author Visit: Patrick’s Road State School Year 5: Tension & Character Development in Story: July 2022.
Guest Editor + Literary Judge: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development + Publication Award.
Rainforest Writers Retreat, presenting on Short Stories & Magic Realism, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park, QLD: 3-5 June 2022.
Co-Winner, Relics, Wrecks & Ruins, Aiki Flinthart (Ed.), Lauren Elise Daniels & Geneve Flynn (assistant Eds.), CAT Press, Aurealis Awards, Canberra, ACT: 28 May 2022.
StokerCon Panelist for recorded Gothic Fiction dialogue with Wendy Wagner, Sephera Giron Author, Lisa Kroger, and Steve Rasnic Tem, Editing for Writers panel with Lee Murray, Angela Yuriko Smith and Gene Flynn, and Nature of Evil panel with Eugen Bacon, Alan Baxter, Dave Jeffrey and Angel Leigh McCoy 12-15 May 2022 for hybrid event from Denver, CO, USA.
Editorially Savvy with L. E. Daniels + Gene Flynn at the QWC, 12 May 2022.
Patricks Road State School Year 5: The Character Arc, 11 March 2022.
Self-Editing Roundtable with Gene Flynn @ Online with the QWC, 12 March 2022.
Anglicare staff training, February 2022.
Hawkeye Publishing Workshop Session via Zoom: Plot, tension, character and self-editing, 8 January 2022.
Johnno Award Nominee, Queensland Writers Centre, December 2021.
Editor & panelist for Lawrey Goodrick’s Cans for Change book launch, Forest Lake Tavern, QLD, 28 October 2021.
Author Visits + Workshop: Hillbrook Anglican School Aspire Program, Year 10. July, August & October 2021.
Veterinary Wellness Symposium @ Novotel Twin Waters, QLD, 29 October 2021.
Brisbane Writers Convention speaker on character development, Northgate Hall, Northgate QLD, 17 October 2021.
Character Arc Masterclass @ Albany Creek Library, QLD, 16 October 2021.
Publishable Mentor for QWC: August 2021, women’s fiction.
Free Workshops on Character Creation @ Helensvale & Sandgate Libraries with Queensland Writers Centre, 7 & 14 Aug 2021.
Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference: Magic & Music: In Conversation with Juliet Marillier via Zoom, 12 June 2021.
South Coast Writers Centre online Short Story Workshop and Feedback & Critique Series, June 2021.
Creating Character @ The QLD State Library with QWC, 22 May 2021.
Literary Judge & Structural Editor: 2021 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development + Publication Award with Hawkeye Publishing, 2021.
GenreCon 2021: Editorially Savvy with Lauren Elise Daniels & Geneve Flynn, 27 Feb 2021, and mentor for scavenger hunt prize, junior fiction.
Person & Place @ Carindale Library: creative writing workshop with QWC, 7 Mar 2021, 1.30-3pm.
Lake Macquarie Branch of Australian Writers Zoom: Short Story Clinic, 13 Feb 2021.
Say What You Mean & Mean What You Say. Queensland Business Writers Conference: The Emporium Hotel, Southbank, QLD, 28 Oct 2020.
American essayist Michael Cohen’s And Other Essays book launch via Zoom, 2020.
Queensland Writers Centre present’s The Flinthart: Live Stream launch of The Flinthart Writers Residency & online course, How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing 2020.
Magic Realism for Rebels with the Queensland Writers Centre: via Live Stream: 19 Sept 2020.
Literary Judge: 2020 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Prize with Hawkeye Publishing, 2020.
Writing the Short Story with Queensland Writers Centre: via Live Stream: 13 June 2020.
Brisbane Square Library Writers’ Day Camp: Teaching Person & Place Creative Writing to 100 Corinda State High School Students: 50 Year 7 Students; 50 Years 8-9 Students, 17 Feb 2020.
The Hero & Heroine’s Journey @ Brisbane State Library with The Queensland Writers Centre, 25 Jan 2020.
Literary Judge: 2020 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development + Publication Award with Hawkeye Publishing, 2020.
Literary Judge: 2019 Poetry Awards for Queensland Society of Women Writers at Brisbane City Square Library, Announced Dec 2019.
Shaking the Tree: Using Magic Realism to Tell the Truth @ Whistler Writers Festival, The Fairmont Chateau Hotel, Whistler, British Columbia, CANANDA, 11.30am-1pm, Saturday, 19 Oct 2019.
Whistler Writers Festival’s Literary Cabaret, Maury Young Arts Centre, Whistler, British Columbia, CANANDA, 8-10pm, Friday, 18 Oct 2019.
Literary Judge: 2019 Estelle Pinney Short Story Awards for Queensland Society of Women Writers at Brisbane City Square Library, Announced Oct 2019.
Author Talks, Corinda & Mitchelton Libraries, 23 July 2019.
Free Workshop for Teens: Writing the Hero & Heroine’s Journey, Strathpine Library, 1.30-4.30pm, Wednesday, 10 July 2019.
Free Fiction Writing Workshops, Maroochydore, Nambour, Caloundra, Beerwah, Maleny & Coolum Libraries, May & June 2019.
Reading: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at Omega Book Fair, Everton Hills, 16 Mar 2019 & Nundah Book Group, 27 Feb 2019.
Free Science Fiction & Fantasy Workshop for Teens, Arana Hills Library, 18 Jan 2019.
Guest Lecture: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at the Steiner School, 20 Reservoir Road, Glendale, NSW on 28 Nov 2018.
NYC Book Launch: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at The Reading Room, 340 E 23rd Street, Gramercy, New York City, New York, USA, 6pm on 16 Oct 2018.
Rhode Island Book Launch: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at Island Books, Middletown, Rhode Island, USA, 3pm, 13 Oct 2018.
Guest Lecturer: Travel Writing at Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, 11 Oct 2018.
Literary Judge: 2018 Estelle Pinney Short Story Awards at Brisbane City Square Library, 11 Sept 2018.
Reading: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at The Heroine’s Festival with The Neo Perennial Press, Thirroul District Community Centre, Excelsior Hall, 352-358 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul, NSW, 8 Sept 2018.
Reading: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten at National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, Chapel Hill, Brisbane, QLD, 20 Aug 2018.
Book Launches + Readings: Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten, Brown Street Community Centre, Newtown, Sydney NSW, 29 July 2018 | 4MBS Studio, Brisbane QLD, 27 May 2018 | Collected Works Bookshop, Melbourne VIC, 5 May 2018.
Book Launch & Reading: Just Off Message IP’s 20th Anniversary Anthology, “Maternal Lines” personal essay, Nov 2017.
Chair, “Insights of the Outsider”, Veny Armanno & Melissa Lucashenko: Brisbane Square Library, Sandcliffe Writers Festival, 2017.
Panelist, “Write of Passage”, Susan Johnson, Jacqueline Henry & Sheryl Gwyther: Sandcliffe Writers Festival, 2017.
Chair, “Celebrating the Alice Award”, M.K. Hume, Kristina Olsson & Shelley Davidow: Brisbane Lord Mayor Event, Brisbane Square Library, 2016.
Brisbane Writers’ Group Convention Speaker: 2016; 2017; 2018; 2021.
Literary Judge: 2017 Marj Wilke Writing Competition: Society of Women Writers Queensland, 2017.
Literary Judge, IP Picks: 2004-2015.
L. E. Daniels’ Publications
2023
“Silk” New England Gothic short story, Hush, Don’t Wake the Monster, Women in Horror anthology, Twisted Wing, 2 March 2023.
“Tarantella” folk horror poem, Under Her Eye anthology, Black Spot Books, 7 November 2023, USA.
“Unclean Break” domestic horror poem, Dastardly Damsels, Crystal Lake Publishing, Date TBA, USA.
“Weird Witness” true ghost stories of Pompeii, Italy and Jerome, Arizona, 34 Orchard Literary Journal, Date TBA, USA.
2022
“Spooned by the Dead” creative non-fiction/paranormal/humor, Out of Time True Paranormal Encounters, Timber Ghost Press, Utah, USA, October 2022.
We are Providence, co-editor and contributor, for anthology of Rhode Island horror writers, includes “Spectacle Cove” short story, published by Weird House Press on 25 July 2022. Launched at Necronomicon, 20 August 2022, Providence, RI, USA. Listed on preliminary ballot for 2022 Bram Stoker Awards and finalist for 2022 Aurealis Awards.
“Night Terrors” poem, HWA Wellness Committee’s publication, Of Horror and Hope, July 2022. Australasian Shadow Awards Finalist.
“Of Returns” poem for fundraiser anthology, For Ukraine: By Women of the World, ed. Dr. Diann Rogers-Healey, Australian Centre for Leadership for Women, June 2022.
“Ma Bones” creature-feature short story, Midnight Tales, Midnight Magazine, Ohio, USA, May 2022.
“Birnam Wood” New England Gothic short story, Generation-Xed Anthology. Dark Ink, Am Ink Publishing, Western Massachusetts, USA: 26 January 2022.
2021
Queensland Memory Project. Ed. Aimee Cheung, Queensland Writers Centre. [contributing author, State Library of Queensland].
2020
Winning Short Story Competitions: Essential Tools for the Serious Writer. A short story writing guide authored by competition judges, L. E. Daniels & C. Sawyer. Best-seller for two years+.
Outer Space, Inner Minds Anthology. [contributing author; IP].
Stories from the Heart: Penning the Pandemic. [contributing author, Queensland Writers Centre].
Pendemic Anthology. [contributing author, Queensland Women’s Medical Society].
2018
Serpent’s Wake: A Tale for the Bitten [novel, magical realism; IP] for purchase at IP’s Bookshop and Amazon.
2017
Just off Message: A 20th Year Anthology [contributing author; IP].
1987-2017
Essays, articles, travel writing, poetry for periodicals including Antic, The Courier-Mail, Ducts, The Newport Review, The Sakonnet Times, Fat City News, Emerson College and Fairfield University literary publications.
L. E. Daniels as Editor
2022
We Are Providence: Tales of Horror from the Ocean State – co-edited with Christa Carmen [anthology, Weird House Press] listed on Preliminary Ballot of the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® and Aurealis Award Finalist for Best Anthology 2022
4 Pillars – Geoff Smith [personal development; IP]
In Plain Sight – Shaun Austin [veteran’s support, personal development; self pub]
Empathy – Fay Lee [sci fi fiction; Hawkeye]
Yet Another General – Rob McClaren [historical fiction; self pub]
Lenore’s Last Funeral – Josh Donellan [adult fiction; publisher TBA; with Cindy Bullard, US literary agent]
The Ghost Train & The Scarlett Moon – Jack Roney [speculative fiction; Hawkeye]
Niche – Jane Ireland [adult fiction; Shawline]
The Caged Heart – David Speranza [short story collection; self pub]
Messages from the Light – Lorelle Taylor [personal development; self pub]
2021
Relics, Wrecks & Ruins: Futures & Pasts; Fearless & Frightening – Ed. Aiki Flinthart [speculative fiction anthology; CAT Press] [supporting editor] Aurealis Award Winner for Best Anthology 2021
Beyond Borders: Conversations across Borders – Russell M. Darnley OAM [memoir; self pub]
Unplugged: How to Disconnect from Technology and Reconnect with Each Other – Dr Kristen Hobby [pers dev; self pub]
What is Love? – Gail Shine [women’s fiction; IP]
Magnus Nights – Bryn Smith [speculative fiction; Hawkeye]
Cans for Change – Lawrey Goodrick [junior fiction; Hawkeye]
Original Sinner – Sharita Russell [adult fiction; self pub]
Seven by Seven – Kendall Carlsson [speculative fiction; self pub]
Duty on a Lesser Front – Rob McClaren [historical fiction; self pub]
2020
Welcome to Blackwood – Khaiah Thomson [speculative fiction; Hawkeye]
Beyond Borders – Russell Darnley OAM [memoir and fiction; Apple Books]
What Does it Feel Like to be Born: A Memoir of Maternity Activism – Jodie Miller [memoir; social activism; Shawline]
Brothers of the Capucine – Rob McLaren [historical fiction; self-pub]
Content Curator for Online Course: How to Get a Blackbelt in Writing – Aiki Flinthart [QWC]
Emigree – Jane Ireland [adult fiction; Shawline]
We Are One – Lorelle Taylor [memoir; self help; self pub]
Healing Naturally: Anti-Inflammory Program – Andrea Richardson [nonfiction; health; self pub]
2019
Sins of the Son – Christian Baines [adult fiction; self pub]
Shaking Trees Abby Eaton Mystery Book 1 – Vicki Stevens [adult fiction; self pub]
One in Six – John Saunders [memoir; child abuse; self pub]
Getting Used to Weird – Lorelle Taylor [spiritual; self pub]
Coming out of the Dark – Leah Bailey [pers development; self pub]
2018
Brothers & Sisters: Coping with Grief & Loss – Barb Snook [self help; IP]
Hidden Courage: My Life as a Female Australian Soldier – Donna Bourke [memoir; InHouse]
Jimmy Longtail: An Australian Epic – Alex Blair [historical fiction; InHouse]
2017
Desert ANZACS: The Under-Told Story – Neil Dearberg [creative nonfiction; military history; IP]
Mermaids & Monsters – Meg Green [marine life photography; IP]
A Patchwork of Pink – Bev Arnold [memoir; breast cancer; Balboa]
The Hills of Mare Imbrium – Carleton Chinner [sci fi; Amazon]
The Sugar Doctor – Lois Shepheard [creative nonfiction; family history; IP]
Uriel’s Gift – Edward Spellman [memoir; Amazon]
The Frustrated Ambitions of Jack Funnybone – Tony De Ionno [adult fiction; InHouse]
Along My Way – Harold Hunt OAM [memoir; Indigenous; IP]
Thrum – Pete Lans [adult fiction; self pub; 2nd ed. edit]
2016
Seen & Unseen: A Century of Stories from Asia & the Pacific – Russell Darnley OAM [memoir; historical; IP]
Courage: Walking the Path of Grief after the Loss of a Child – Karen Lang [memoir; InHouse]
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary – Warren Young [historical non-fiction; InHouse]
Creatures of Eve (The Eve Continuum) Book I: Emily – Storm JK [YA, adult fiction; self pub]
2015
When the Birds Stop Singing – Margaret Stewart [adult fiction; Amazon]
The Copyart Murders – Geoffrey Gates [adult fiction; IP]
Cassowary Hill – David de Vaux [adult fiction; IP]
2014
A Place to Read – Michael Cohen [essay collection; IP]
Killing Adonis – J.M. Donellan [adult fiction, Pantera]
Kafiristan – Ross Howard [adult fiction; IP]
Enzam & the Just Prince – Erica Bell [historical fiction; novel; Amazon]
Compulsion to Kill: The Surprising Story of Australia’s Earliest Serial Killers – Robert Cox [historical creative nonfiction; IP]
Black Macintosh to Gold – Lois Shepheard [creative nonfiction; migrant/family history; IP]
2013
Art from Adversity: Life with Bipolar – Anne Therese Naylor [memoir; psychology; IP]
The Beast Without – Christian Baines [spec fic novel; IP]
Sawdust – Deborah Kay, Barry Levy [memoir; child abuse; IP]
You Only Want Me for My Mind & Other Bedtime Stories – John Rynn, John Corrigan [memoir; disability; IP]
Ashes to Ashes – John Biggs [adult fiction; IP]
Yellowcake Summer – Guy Salvidge [dystopian fiction; IP]
Shadows in Paradise – Carolann Dowding [memoir; IP]
Sexual Abuse Survivor’s Handbook – John Saunders [nonfiction; child abuse; IP]
2012
It’s a Jungle – Dr Brenda Heyworth [nonfiction; child psych; self pub]
The Rag Boiler’s Daughter – Lois Shepheard [historical creative nonfiction; migrant/family; IP]
Shadow Patterns – Daphne Tuttle [adult fiction; thriller; IP]
The Terrorist – Barry Levy [adult fiction; IP]
Frenchmans Cap: Story of a Mountain – Simon Kleinig [historical creative nonfiction; IP]
Blood – Peter Kay [adult fiction; IP]
The Ruby Bottle – Janet Reid [junior fiction; IP]
Paradise Rediscovered: The Roots of Civilisation, Vol. I and II – Michael Cahill [historical nonfiction; IP]
2011
The Road to Goonong – David Cox [picture book; Allen & Unwin] [as mentor]
Profiling Leadership Discipline – Ian Corner [nonfiction business; IP]
Shades of Exodus – Barry Levy [adult fiction; IP]
Yellowcake Springs – Guy Salvidge [dystopian fiction; IP]
Stop Not Until the Goal is Reached – Greg Bourke [creative nonfiction; biography; city planning; self pub]
A Penny in Time – Anna Bartlett [YA novel; IP]
Big River Little Fish – Belinda Jeffery [adult fiction; UQP]
2010
Enter the Queen – Marquise de Sade [adult fiction; erotica; IP]
Memento Mori – Dr Daniel King [short story collection; IP]
The Importance of Being Cool – Olwyn Conrau [memoir; IP]
Harry Potter Power – Dr JA Sykley [nonfiction; psychology, YA; IP]
The Cane Basket – Lita Russell [novel; self pub]
2009
A Beginner’s Guide to Dying in India – Josh Donellan [adult fiction; IP]
Brown Skin Blue – Belinda Jeffrey [adult fiction; UQP]
Sacrifice – Lisa Saul [fantasy; IP]
Wobbles: An Olympic Story – Nadine Neumann [memoir; Olympics; IP]
Hitching Oz – T & S Sykes [creative nonfiction; travel essay collection; IP]
The Australian Dream and $1 Properties – Peter Huang [nonfiction; IP]
Willow Farrington Bites Back – Rebecca Bloomer [YA novel; IP]
2008
As If! – Barry Levy [YA/adult fiction; youth homelessness; IP]
The Umbilical Word – Darren Groth [adult fiction; IP]
The Voyage of the Schuckenoor – Dr Erica Bell [historical fiction; IP]
Over My Dead Body – Jim Briggenshaw [historical fiction; IP]
Bloodline Alliance – Lisa Saul [fantasy; IP]
Put the Billy On – Ann Jones [historical; memoir; IP]
Blood & Guts – Gloria Burley [memoir; healthcare; IP]
Primary Instinct – David Reiter [adult fiction; IP]
Jason Chen and the Time Banana – Duncan Richardson [junior fiction; IP]
2007
The Buggerum Intrigue – Paul Sterling [adult fiction; IP]
Easter at Tobruk – Michael O’Sullivan [adult fiction; IP]
Backburning – Sylvia Petter [short story collection; IP]
A Few Drops Short of a Pint – Chris Dowding [creative nonfiction; travel memoir; IP]
Ivan: from Adriatic to Pacific – Coral Petkovich [nonfiction; bio; migrant/family; IP]
The Biggest Ever Mining Swindle in the Colonies – John Peach [historical nonfiction; IP]
2006
House of Given – Bill Collopy [adult fiction; IP]
Terania Creek: The Rainforest Wars – Dr Nigel Turvey [creative nonfiction; historical; environmental; IP]
2005
No Middle Name – Tilly Brasch [memoir; mental health; IP]
A Ticket to Perpetual Locomotion – Geoffrey Gates [adult fiction; IP]
Secret Writing – Michael O’Sullivan [adult fiction; IP]
The Dispossessed – Andrew Landsdown [short story collection; IP]