Katherine Owens is a Brisbane-based aspiring author with a passion for reconnecting young people to the power of story. A proud mum of two boys, Katherine first felt the spark to write while helping her sons learn to read, an experience that filled her with immense pride and a deep appreciation for the worlds books can open. Determined to nurture their love of reading as they grew older, she went searching for compelling narrative non-fiction for tweens and teens, only to discover a gap in the market. So she wrote the book she wished she’d found: one that is engaging, thought-provoking, and rich with the kinds of life lessons that truly matter.
With a professional background in marketing and current studies in child and adolescent mental health, Katherine brings both insight and heart to her writing. She is particularly passionate about exploring themes of gratitude, empathy, kindness, tolerance, and understanding the lives of others beyond our own experience. Her stories are crafted not only to captivate young readers, but to gently challenge and inspire them.
When she’s not writing, she can be found enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines at her sons’ sporting events, continually inspired by the determination and spirit of young people.
Through her work, Katherine hopes to help young readers recognise that the people around them, no matter how ordinary or unremarkable they may seem, carry wisdom, guidance, and support. She wants every child to feel less alone in whatever they are facing, and to understand that everyone has a story worthy of being told. Including them.
WHAT CYA CONFERENCE DID FOR ME
For years, I had an idea sitting quietly in the background of my life, a book for young people that shared real stories of resilience, courage and humanity in a way that was engaging and age-appropriate.
But having an idea and becoming a published author are two very different things.
The turning point for me was attending the CYA Conference.
I arrived with a concept and a partially completed manuscript. What I left with was clarity, direction, industry insight, and ultimately, a publishing pathway.
The Power of the Speakers
One of the most impactful aspects of CYA was the calibre and generosity of the speakers. These were authors, publishers, agents and industry professionals who didn’t just speak in vague inspiration, they gave practical, actionable advice.
They demystified submissions.
They explained what publishers are actually looking for.
They spoke about market positioning, audience clarity and professionalism.
For the first time, the publishing world felt accessible rather than mysterious.
I began to understand that writing a good book is only one part of the equation. Understanding the industry is just as important, and CYA pulls back the curtain in a way that few events do.
The Assessments: Professional, Honest and Game-Changing
The 2025 assessment process was where everything shifted.
I booked three separate assessments, deliberately choosing a mix of perspectives. The feedback was not identical, and that turned out to be a gift.
One assessor loved the concept but suggested a structural change that would have required a complete rewrite. I left that session deflated, questioning whether I had misunderstood my own book.
But instead of reacting emotionally, I followed the advice I was given at the conference, gather all the feedback before making decisions.
The second assessor was incredibly encouraging. He told me he loved the idea and couldn’t believe no one had done it already. That validation reminded me that the concept itself was strong, it just needed refinement.
And then I met Fiona Smith.
Meeting Fiona Smith
During my assessment session, Fiona, then connected with Beyond Words Literary Agency, responded positively to my sample and the overall concept. She was honest about market realities but encouraging about the potential.
Before the session ended, I asked her directly, “What do I do next?”
That question changed everything.
Fiona offered to edit the manuscript. It wasn’t a grand promise of representation or publication, it was something far more valuable, professional investment.
The Editing Process
Working with Fiona was transformative.
She is not only an experienced publishing professional but also a high school teacher and parent of young adults. She instinctively understood the exact audience I was trying to reach.
Her edits were thoughtful, strategic and always in service of the reader. She strengthened clarity, sharpened structure, and helped ensure the tone balanced honesty with age-appropriateness, which was central to my vision.
Most importantly, she treated the manuscript seriously. That gave me confidence to treat myself seriously as an author.
When the edits were complete, she sent the manuscript back with a list of publishers and encouraged me to submit widely. Armed with the knowledge I had gained from CYA’s speakers and sessions, I approached submissions professionally, tracking dates, guidelines and response timelines.
Without the education I received at CYA, I would not have known how to navigate this stage with confidence.
Coming Full Circle
As opportunities began to arise through conversations and connections sparked by the book, I found myself needing guidance again. I reached back out to Fiona.
That phone call became the full-circle moment.
She told me the traction and distribution conversations I was developing were exactly what publishers look for. Then she shared something I hadn’t known during our original assessment session, she had founded her own publishing house, Contempo Publishing.
And then she said the words every aspiring author hopes to hear:
“I would love to publish your book.”
The woman I met through a CYA assessment session, the one who offered editorial guidance when I simply asked what to do next, became my publisher.
Why CYA Matters
None of this would have happened without CYA.
Not just because I met Fiona there, but because the conference:
Provided direct access to industry professionals.
Offered honest, constructive assessments.
Delivered practical publishing education.
Encouraged professionalism and resilience.
Created an environment where asking “What do I do next?” felt possible.
CYA didn’t just inspire me.
It equipped me.
It connected me.
It positioned me.
Extraordinary Stories exists in the world today because I walked into that conference willing to learn, and because CYA creates real pathways between emerging writers and the publishing industry.
For anyone wondering whether conferences truly make a difference, I am living proof that they do.
