Cate Kennedy

Author

Cate Kennedy writes across most genres – fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Her short stories and essays regularly appear in magazines and literary journals. She is one of Australia’s most popular teachers of the short story form.

Where were you born?

My father was in the Air Force so I was born during a posting to England before returning to live in many places around Australia.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Having a short story in The New Yorker was definitely a highlight – also having my short stories and novel published in the US and the UK. My work has been shortlisted for the Australian Literary Gold Medal and The World Beneath was recently awarded the People’s Choice prize at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. A constant highlight, though, is just meeting readers and other wonderful writers.

What other jobs have you had?

Like most writers, my career has been been a long and varied. I’ve worked in the Australian Customs Service, as a tutor, waitress, life model, kitchenhand, community arts worker and theatre director, as well as a stint in Mexico working in a microcredit cooperative for peasant farmers.

What are you passionate about?

Creativity and how to nurture it. Meeting young and emerging writers and sharing ideas with them. Trying to illustrate – especially to students and teachers – how writing can foster resilience, thoughtfulness, joy, connectedness and well-being.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

A great deal, but preferably face to face over a kitchen table.

Testimonials