The bio of our authors are in alphabetical order by first name x – x with links to their stories. In Part 2 meet: Helen O’Connor, James De Lesantis, Jasmine Gibson, Katelin Farnsworth, Kelsey Gibson-Guerds and Kylie Orr.

More bio’s to come!

Helen O’Connor

Meet Helen O’Connor through her writing.

A Love Story in 3 Word Sentences

James De Lesantis

My name is James De Lesantis. I am a year 11 student at Parade College, and have recently been studying The Pacific War, which occurred in 1941 to 1945. This piece was inspired by my interest in naval warships and vessels of the time period, and the story aims to give an alternative conclusion to the voyages of USS Enterprise cv-6. The USS Enterprise was an incredibly important part of the US Navy’s survival and eventual triumph against the Japanese. This is my first submission to Stories Connecting Us, although I am planning to submit more pieces, particularly game reviews as that is another interest of mine. You can expect reviews of games that are both globally-recognised and uncovered gems. 

Drowning in Peace

Jasmine Gibson

Hi, my name is Jasmine and I am nine years old. I’m in grade 3 and my favourite colour is purple.

I’m busy dancing most of the time when I’m not in school. My favourite dance style is ballet and my favourite teacher is Miss Donna. She is very strict but I have learnt so much from her. I did my RAD ballet exam this year and I hope I got a good mark.

I love music and learnt to play the recorder when I was three. I have moved on to learning the piano and passed my first AMEB exam this year.

My favourite subject at school is reading and I’ve just finished the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge. I started a new series called Wolf Girl by Anh Do and read the first two books. I hope to do some more writing, maybe a graphic novel about a mysterious creature.

Nana and Pa’s Adventure

A Day in the Life of Angel

Katelin Farnsworth

Katelin Farnsworth lives in lutruwita (Tasmania) with her husband. Her writing has appeared in various places (The Saturday Paper, The Age, Overland, The Slow Canoe, Lip Mag, Tincture Journal, The Sydney Morning Herald, WritersBloc, Award Winning Australian Writing, and SBS Voices). Two of her manuscripts have been shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize in recent years and she’s currently working on a novel that she hopes to find a home for before too long. 

You can view more of her work or contact her through her website www.katelinfarnsworth.com

Spoonfuls of Honey

Kelsey Gibson-Geurds

Hi, My name is Kelsey Renee Gibson-Geurds. I am an accomplished Office Manager at Australia and New Zealand for a global monopoly biotech company, where I utilise my extensive background in business, commerce, management, and business administration to ensure seamless operations. With a strong commitment to efficiency and a meticulous attention to detail, I play a crucial role in supporting the employees mission and goals.Outside of my professional life, I share a deep bond with my 10-month-old kitten, Bean, who has become not just a pet, but a best friend and source of comfort. This companionship is especially meaningful as I navigate life with both an autoimmune disorder and a collagen disorder. These health challenges have been a (debilitating yet insightful) journey of learning and self-discovery, teaching the importance of working in harmony with my body, rather than against it. Writing serves as a primary outlet for expressing my emotions and thoughts that are difficult to articulate. This creative pursuit brings a sense of clarity and peace, making it an essential part of my life. In addition to writing, I enjoy practicing yoga, taking walks, exploring new places (when I can) and playing my PlayStation 5 or Switch —activities that provide both physical and mental rejuvenation. A true foodie at heart, I have a passion for diverse cuisines, with a particular love for Japanese and Turkish dishes, reflecting my open-minded and curious nature. Family is central to my life, with two siblings nearby and one in Queensland. This biography is written with special excitement, this is my grandmother’s website —a project I am eager to see blossom and grow.

Tribute to Raymond Stanley Gibson

Kylie Orr

Kylie (she/her) is an author of dark and twisty contemporary fiction. Her debut novel Someone Else’s Child was longlisted in the Richell Prize and published by HarperCollins in 2022. Her second novel The Eleventh Floor hit shelves in February 2024 and was chosen as an Apple Books “Must Read” and “Book of the Week” in The Age and affiliate newspapers nationally. Through her books, Kylie delves into the complex stories of everyday people and their secret lives behind closed doors.

A prolific writer of twenty years, Kylie’s feature articles have appeared in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and News Ltd. Her short stories have been recognised in numerous awards including Apollo Bay Word Fest & Stuart Hadow Short Story Competition. Her Whose? series of children’s books was released with Lake Press in 2017.

She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her four children and just the one husband.

Cracks

Meet our other authors

Meet Our Authors – Part 1

Meet Our Authors – Part 3