Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Author Bio:
Nicole Walsh (she/her) is a cat enthusiast from the east coast of Australia who loves gardening in long dresses. She writes short and novel-length fantasy, sci-fi and light horror that span from being a little bit dark, a little bit amusing through to a little bit steamy. Her work features in 50+ magazines and anthologies. She is the author of steamy new-adult, princess and court urban fantasy novel Lust and Submission (2022) and darker sci-fi-fantasy mashup The God-Wife Reborn (2024). Visit Nicole at: https://nicolewalshauthor.com/ and www.facebook.com/nicolewalshauthor
I live, work and create on the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, land that has always been a space for sharing, story-telling and community. I live, work and create on stolen lands, that were never ceded. I listen and learn and center First Nations voices in how we as a country need to heal and move forward.
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
My first EVER interview. I try and keep my image and voice out of the social media space, so this was TERRIFYING. A big thank you to MetaStellar Magazine, for all that they do for writers and readers and how kind and professional they are!
Metastellar landing page here: https://www.metastellar.com/nonfiction/on-writing/author-perspectiv
My first EVER interview. I try and keep my image and voice out of the social media space, so this was TERRIFYING. A big thank you to MetaStellar Magazine, for all that they do for writers and readers and how kind and professional they are!
Metastellar landing page here: https://www.metastellar.com/nonfiction/on-writing/author-perspectives-nicole-walsh-on-publishing-privilege-and-gen-ai-in-writing/
OR youtube:
FantaSciiCon Author Article
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
Organisers of the FantaSciiCon event (December 2025) wrote this lovely article about my work.
https://www.fantasciicon.com.au/post/nicole-walsh-spinning-dark-steamy-and-imaginative-tales
Dragon Soul Press (publisher)
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
Dragon Soul Press (publisher)
Dragon Soul Press has been doing blog interviews with contributors - including me!
Check it out here: https://dragonsoulpress.com/2024/12/22/author-interview-with-nicole-walsh/
Non-Binary Review Magazine
MetaStellar Magazine - interview (video)
Dragon Soul Press (publisher)
My first ever written interview :-)
Zoetic Press' Non-Binary Review Magazine #35, Old Friends published my short story Sparkle. They also published these interviews of all their contributors - including me!
Check it out here: https://www.zoeticpress.com/issue-35-old-friends (scroll down, I'm at the end - authors are in alphabetical order!)
Latest News:
October: I am preparing for my biggest challenge ever! Every year I do a writing challenge with friends in November (previously Nanowrimo, now a November Writing Challenge). This year I commit to doing three things: successfully landing two hopelessly blocked/stuck dark fantasy/grimdark novel attempts: BLG, and DTW and writing 5-10 short stories, aiming for these to be grimdark/dark fantasy/horror. 2026 was the year of grimdark/dark fantasy for me (aligning to Genrecon 2027's theme, intending to pitch).
September: After quite a patch of silence I received an acceptance in for a short story September, and WHAT an acceptance. My work is going to appear in an exciting new (to me!) space where the story is not only presented as an audio project but has music written for it. This is a super lucky piece. Last time it was published the story inspired the cover of the magazine. This is its first time out of the gate and it was accepted by what may be the most exciting space yet. Cannot wait to hear this one.
July: I had a goal to attempt to finish two new pieces a year (aiming to diversify what I am slinging at publisher slush piles). I have been wrestling two stubborn stuck pieces, assuming they would be by 2026 word-babies when... the 'dessert piece', the play piece I rewarded myself with a romp in when I did my 'real' work came storming through the ranks. It exploded onto the finishing line, the bulk written in a matter of weeks. I broke a personal record, writing 65k words in ten days (11.5hr writing days, a weekend 'at home' writing retreat included). FINISHED! My first novel for 2026 (GCR) DONE!
June: as June closes, we hit the two year anniversary of my most recently published novel, steamy sci-fi fantasy mashup, The God-Wife Reborn. To celebrate, I created a new banner for my website and FB, now celebrating BOTH books!
June: I had such a blast at Comic-Geddon Toowoomba this month. It is one of the few cons I am able to attend (I cant leave my poor little kitty cat for more than a day). Metastellar Magazine's Best of Year Five is about to hit the shelves and, exciting announcement - I have volunteered to be part of their street team! This is my first ever Street Team opp, so I am nervous, and excited!
May: I met some more amazing indie bookshops in a position to support me in my sad, chaotic fumble to wave my books in front of readers. Lauren from Tell me How it Ends, California Lane at 22 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley, I so appreciate you. I also trekked up to Montville, meeting Cheraya from the Candle and Quill bookstore: 169 Main St, Montville Sunshine Coast. Gosh, what a pretty town. I could barely carry all my books, candles, crystals and witchy stuff back to my car.
What's in the pipeline?
Novels:
FIVE completed novels in the submission (ie publisher slush pile rejection dance) stage. These include:
- (TROCB) First ever attempt at full-length fantasy comedy adventure. A psychopathic professional henchperson leads a mismatched group of villains and ex-minions into the Hell-Colony to set up a new business: a school, in Hell!
- (MOC) Enemies to marriage-of-convenience adventure, featuring a competent 40yo+ protagonist partnering with her enemy and his family, attempting to survive a Hellishly dangerous world.
- (SW) Short, quirky cosy fantasy adventure featuring a 55 year old swamp witch forced out of comfortable retirement, saucepan and chickens in tow, battling Templars and Reavers.
- NEW (UA) Second attempt at humorous/satire adventure fantasy featuring a battered 55yo warrior-type minion attempting to "avoid" the heroes and the "story".
- NEW (BBTS) Sci-fi adventure, alien romance featuring a 30 something year old hacker uncovering dangerous secrets in a universe that is supposed to be without secrets.
I retired/shelved my military/battlefield adventure story led by a mercenary demon (SB) and my fast-paced sassy new adult spin on a chosen one trope featuring a unconventionally attractive demon princess kicking ass with her pregnant side-kick, rescuing beautiful imperiled males (EW).
I wrote half a novel across my week or so break across the holiday/new years season (2025/2026). This skidded off the road into a writer's block/ditch/failed landings but I am hoping it resurrects (BLG). So far, completed this year:
- GCR: a cyber-punk, dystopian sci-fi piece about a 40 something year old political and mercenary prince trying to hold independence from his powerhouse families, surviving as a hacker and indie merc in the violent upheaval of a city at war (my FIRST ever novel-length male POV!). This has an urban fantasy feel, cosy moments and why choose romance. This piece is with beta readers through to Feb 2027 when I hope to pitch it at Genrecon.
- WITHDRAWN! (DTW) a dark fantasy piece surrounding a 'shotgun wedding'/marriage of convenience trope between enemies who are dangerous to one another. I am unhappy with the ending, despite multiple attempts to land this. Can I land it correctly? Stay tuned!
Short stories/Novellas:
- Multiple short stories/novellas chasing publication in webzines, anthologies and magazines. The plan is to have 20-25 pieces (shorts, novels and reprints) chasing opportunities at all times.
- I continue to create new short stories, dabbling outside humour and urban fantasy into lit fic, fantasy, horror, romantasy/smut and fantasy/adventure. I really enjoy exploring characters, genres, worlds and practicing new things.
- I continue to apply for 'cons and book events. I plan to produce several new (home-made lol) promo things a year. More here: https://nicolewalshauthor.com/promo-items
How will 2026 land for me?
Let's find out!
Other places to find me:
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/nicolewalshauthor
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23449871.Nicole_Walsh
- Australian Authors, profile here: https://australianauthors.net.au/author/nicolewalshauthor/
- Medium (archived blogs): https://nicolewalshauthor.medium.com/
- My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nicolewalshauthor4552