About
Vanessa is a former news and arts journalist turned author who has published four contemporary fiction novels with HarperCollins Australia. Her fifth, The Last Illusion of Paige White, is having its US debut with Crown Publishing in June 2025.
She writes literary mystery/book club fiction addressing contemporary issues with a strong sense of place.
Her third book, The Beautiful Words, was shortlisted for the 2022 Davitt Crime Awards. It was also included in the 2022 HSC English exam.
She studied English and Australian Literature at Sydney University and graduated with honours in Theatre and Performance Studies.
She worked as a cadet and then a news, medical and arts journalist for The Daily Telegraph and she has been published in numerous other publications over a twenty-year career.
Vanessa lives in Sydney with her husband and daughter.
More of Vanessa’s writing
Vanessa’s newsletter >
Substack
Vanessa writes on Autumns of change >
Sydney Morning Herald
Vanessa writes on the nostalgia of summer holidays >
The Daily Telegraph
Vanessa writes on the importance of journaling >
The Australian Writers' Centre