Writing

Melissa Bruce’s award-winning debut novel, Picnic at Mount Disappointment, may be purchased as a paperback or ebook. Order from bookstores (eg. Gleebooks) or online (eg. Amazon Ginninderra Press).

Melissa has also published short stories, poetry, essays, short stage and radio plays, and educational stage plays (e.g. STC, ATYP,). She was awarded a mentorship with the Australian Society of Authors to complete her first novel which won the Woollahra Digital Literary Award for Fiction 2017 and was highly commended for the NSW Society of Women Writers Fiction Awards 2018. Melissa has taught primary, secondary, tertiary, post-graduate & adult writing (UTS, UNDA, Sydney Uni. – CCE, NSWWC). She offers professional writing & editing services (E.g. Speeches, proposals, presentations, etc.) for a variety of corporate, professional, creative & general clients, through her business, MB Performance Consulting.

Melissa Bruce completed a Bachelor of Education at Victoria College, Rusden in the specialty subjects of Language & Literature, Media & Drama. She completed the Playwright’s Studio as part of a Diploma in Directing (NIDA) and holds a Master of Arts in Writing (UTS) with High Distinctions.

“With freedom, flowers, books and the moon,

who could not be happy?”

Oscar Wilde

MEMBERSHIPS

NSW Writers’ Centre

Australian Society of Authors

Society of Women Writers NSW

Sydney PEN International

PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WORK INCLUDES:

PICNIC AT MOUNT DISAPPOINTMENT

Published by Ginninderra Press 2017 ISBN 978-1-76041-303-3

WINNER – Woollahra Digital Literary Award for Fiction 2017

“A verse novel that charmed in a matter of stanzas. Surprising character development, witty and original observations, honest representation of a prickly teen trying to find her place between worlds. A very enjoyable read.” Judges’ Comments

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Society of Women Writers NSW Fiction Award 2018

“…notable not only for its sure scansion, but also for the way it confronts the difficulties of life while still maintaining hope… It’s particularly noteworthy for the characters…who are distinctly drawn.” Judge’s Comments

“It is rare to find a story that takes us into that liminal territory of adolescence with such force and such heart. Desire, disappointment, betrayal and forgiveness written in libretto, an ode to the tumult of coming of age.” Gabrielle Carey

“Melissa Bruce has created an astonishing poem that sustains its voice from the first lines to the very last. Like her fictional heroine Sybylla Melville, the narrator Lucy is wilful, passionate, intelligent and totally charming.She’s going to compel her readers for years to come.” Debra Adelaide

“A beautiful story, told in a unique voice.” Alex Miller

“The writing was gorgeous: a beautiful, poetic, sad, insightful, sharp and funny novel. Themes of divorce and infidelity, family life, anger, first love, disappointment and growing up – all so strong. I also adored the depiction of rural 70’s-80’s Victoria in its beauty and banality.” Pip Harry

Available as a paperback in bookstores and online sources including:

Gleebooks Amazon Ginninderra Press

DRAMA – STAGE / RADIO includes:

Written/adapted/devised & directed.

Into The Crucible STC Edu Program, Sydney Opera House
Counterpoint Harold Park Hotel
Who’d Be An Auditor? Ernst & Young: Sydney Partners Retreat
The Crossing – ATYP
Comedy Sketches Syndicated Comedy Prod.
Pacing The Cage ‘Short + Sweet’ & 2SER
Reg & Tony ‘Shorts in Winter’ Bondi
I’m Happy You’re Happy ‘Short + Sweet’
What It All Amounts To Is This (Mozart’s Sister) Live reading, ‘Parnassus Den
Radio Plays – with BigHart & Inverell Community: ‘Little Dreams’, ‘Pillow Fights’, ‘Put Up With It’, ‘Paper Tiger’.