Our Authors

Shel Calopa is our first author from Australia. Whilst set squarely within the Science-Fantasy genre, her stories only use science as a colourful backdrop against which her characters struggle with the contemporary issues of class, gender, discrimination and power.

My family often laugh about the MGM style dreams I would retell every morning upon waking. My friends like to remind me of all the times I forced them to read obscure scifi novels or discuss possible re-writes to classic movies. Apparently I had been a story teller all my life without realising it.

But it took a lightbulb moment in a business writing course to give me the courage to tackle a novel. The course facilitator said, ‘It sometimes takes a lifetime of experience to really have something to say.’ As a forty-ish working mum with decades of adversity behind me, I had a lot to say. In that moment knew I had to give it a shot. I’m very excited to be launching my debut novel with Inspired Quill.

Living and working in Melbourne, the UNESCO City of Literature, Shel is surrounded by writing inspiration. She is a big fan of festivals. If you see her at The Emerging Writers Festival or Speculate please say hello or connect with her at Australian Speculative Fiction group where she is a regular contributor.

Shel has completed a number of short courses and workshops with The Writer’s Studio, Masterclass, Inspired Quill and the Melbourne Writer’s Festival.

When not working at her day job as a philanthropy marketer or writing Sci-Fi, Shel is busy being pulled along local streets by her husky dog, or racing her daughter on Mario Superkart.

Shel Calopa is our first author from Australia. Whilst set squarely within the Sci-Fantasy genre, her stories only use science as a colourful backdrop against which her characters struggle with the contemporary issues of class, gender, discrimination and power.

My family often laugh about the MGM style dreams I would retell every morning upon waking. My friends like to remind me of all the times I forced them to read obscure scifi novels or discuss possible re-writes to classic movies. Apparently I had been a story teller all my life without realising it.

But it took a lightbulb moment in a business writing course to give me the courage to tackle a novel. The course facilitator said, ‘It sometimes takes a lifetime of experience to really have something to say.’ As a forty-ish working mum with decades of adversity behind me, I had a lot to say. In that moment knew I had to give it a shot. I'm very excited to be launching my debut novel with Inspired Quill.

Living and working in Melbourne, the UNESCO City of Literature, Shel is surrounded by writing inspiration. She is a big fan of festivals. If you see her at The Emerging Writers Festival or Speculate please say hello or connect with her at Australian Speculative Fiction group where she is a regular contributor.

Shel has completed a number of short courses and workshops with The Writer’s Studio, Masterclass, Inspired Quill and the Melbourne Writer’s Festival.

When not working at her day job as a philanthropy marketer or writing Sci-Fi, Shel is busy being pulled along local streets by her husky dog, or racing her daughter on Mario Superkart.