Joan Lane started Mandurah and Coastal Writers in the 1980s. When I joined in 1996, Mary Boyd from Rockingham was in the chair. As she was leaving to take over a restaurant, she needed a successor. I offered to assist the new co-ordinator and soon found out it was me.
Rosie joined us in 2000, and we have worked as a team since then.
Along with shortening our name to Coastal Writers, we have often changed group focus to adapt to the changing needs of our members.
In 2012 we published two children’s picture books: Playtime Animal Rhymes and Funtime Animal Rhymes. These were so well received that in 2016 we released two more: Seatime Animal Rhymes and Flytime Animal Rhymes. A fantastic group effort.
Three members produced their own books in 2017.
2019 saw the 2nd reprint of our books, and the publishing of The Chocolate Elephant written by Rose and myself and beautifully illustrated by Mike who did all the other books.
That year, building on that enthusiasm, we concentrated on encouraging all our writers to become better editors so, when they self-publish, their work sits well in the marketplace beside mainstream publications.
Since then we have been compiling a book of crime stories with the working title Once upon a Crime.
Dave and Rosie Bowen
updated December 2021
