Catherine Gillard is a writer based in Fremantle, Western Australia.
She has a Master’s in Creative Writing (UWA) for which she wrote a novel exploring the unintended consequences of anonymous sperm donation. She is close to completing her PhD (Creative Writing) which produced a science fiction detective novel with a ‘grey cyborg’ character. Her accompanying exegesis explores representations of ageing and how storytellers can promote new and positive ways of thinking about elderhood. She has tutored in creative writing and TV drama at the University of Western Australia. Her short stories have appeared in Westerly, SWAMP and in the “uncanny” anthology of Verge. She was shortlisted for an unpublished historical fiction novel for the TAG Hungerford Award (2016) with Fremantle Press.
Her self-published historical fiction trilogy, inspired by Australia’s first policewoman, Lillian Armfield, (An Arresting Woman) was longlisted for the AWG Primetime Pathways competition in 2016. The concept was later optioned for a TV series. Catherine has completed filmmaking and screenwriting short courses.
In an earlier life Catherine completed an MBA and has worked in numerous roles involving training, communications, and collaboration. Whilst her passion is to write original stories in different formats, Catherine is keen gain the practical skills of supporting writers’ rooms, develop her understanding of the screen industry, and build connections.
