About me

Me, myself, and also I

Welcome to my website. I’m an Australian literary agent, editor, freelance writer, and the author of The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement, a memoir. Sydney-born, I currently live in Brooklyn, New York.

I also have a lot of experience in philanthropy and am a graduate of New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising. I’ve worked mostly with arts-related non-profit organizations and helping individuals and groups with grant writing and research. I’m proud to be assisting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation on an ongoing basis.

A lifetime ago I completed a PhD in English Literature at the University of Sydney, but soon realised I did not want to be an academic. Moving into publishing, I worked as the in-house editor of the Picador list (fiction and nonfiction) at Pan Macmillan Australia, one of Australia’s largest trade publishers. Working with authors and learning the publishing business stood me in great stead when I became an independent editor and an author myself. Here’s my LinkedIn profile.

I’m wrestling with my own second book, so I understand the joys and frustrations of the writing process. I also write occasional essays and reviews, some of which you can find on this site. While I’m looking for great manuscripts that I can sell to publishers, I also do one-off editorial consulting to individuals from time to time.

“Virginia’s memoir mentoring was vital to the ultimate publication of my work. Her insights were helpful at every stage of the process – from big-picture thinking on narrative structure and focus, through to line-by-line editorial feedback at final draft. She is an expert editorial ‘curator’ and a godsend for a first-time author.” –Fiona Higgins, author, Love in the Age of Drought (Macmillan 2009)

As part of my lifelong love for books and culture, I have always been passionate about working with arts-related not-for-profit organizations. I grew up helping my father’s fundraising efforts for his local Rotary Club, and I guess that rubbed off on me. I am a Past President of Sydney PEN (International PEN Center) and a former Vice President of the Sydney Improvised Music Association.

My other great passion is jazz music. I loved improvising at the piano when I was a young piano student and was supposed to be practising my scales. There’s something about its playfulness within the constraints of the form that make it the most like writing for me.

If you’ve read this far, thank you! Please leave me a comment as I’d love to hear from you.