Aspiring local writers have the opportunity to learn from two of the best in the business at a full-day workshop this Saturday, February 18.

Best-selling author and new owner of Orange’s very own Collins Booksellers, Kelly Rimmer, will be joined by fellow author and writers’ mentor Lisa Ireland to present a full-day workshop covering all the ins and outs of the art of writing and the publication process.

Participants will learn about the entire publication journey from goal setting and structuring your story, to preparing and submitting your manuscript to a publisher.

Both women are successful contemporary fiction writers with a score of published works between them. Kelly is the author of well-known books such as The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and The Secret Daughter. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and more than 2,000,000 copies have been sold worldwide.

Lisa Ireland is a former primary school teacher turned full-time author, who has just published her seventh novel, The One and Only Dolly Jamieson.

Lisa said their workshop, From First Draft to First Contract Bootcamp, will give aspiring fiction writers the tools they need to get writing and get noticed by a publisher.

“I come from a teaching background, and I have a business mentoring aspiring authors, so between the two of us I believe we offer a really solid program, because we have both publishing experience and teaching experience,” Lisa explained.

The workshop will be held in three parts: the first part will cover getting started, organising your time, and setting goals; the second part will cover how to write a good story and structure; and the last will focus on how to pitch your manuscript and how to get published in Australia.

“We start right from the beginning with helping people find the time, organising themselves. If they’re working or a mum with little kids or caring for others, how do you actually find the time to write? And both Kelly and I have been through that,” Lisa said.

From First Draft to First Contract Bootcamp will be held at  Mortimers Wines this Saturday, February 18 from 10am to 4:30pm. Tickets cost $160 per person, or $140 for student and concession card holders, which includes lunch and afternoon tea. Bookings can be made online via Eventbrite, or at Collins Booksellers Orange in Summer Street.