About

I’m an experienced journo, an award-winning novelist, a comms specialist and a conversation starter.

I write. I teach. I tell your stories.

I’m a writer and journalist with a background in the arts and education. I’ll edit your magazine, write you a feature article or three, host your event, run your training session, compose your website copy, produce your video or oversee your social media campaigns.

As the Arts Editor for THE WEEKLY REVIEW (now DOMAIN REVIEW) I wrote on politics, movies, pop culture, horse racing and rock music. My work has been published in THE AGE, DUMBO FEATHER, TIME OUT, SCREEN EDUCATION, OVERLAND, TRIPLE J MAGAZINE, METRO, CREAM MAGAZINE and THE BIG ISSUE. (And some other titles that won’t fit into that very long sentence.)

As a member of The School of Life faculty I’ve developed content and curriculum, hosted large-scale public events and led training sessions for corporate clients and members of the public. I have also worked as their media spokesperson, regularly interviewed in print media and national radio.

My young adult novel FIRE IN THE SEA won the Text Prize in 2011. I’m currently working on a middle-grade novel.

Since 2018 I’ve been working in communications for the Australian Education Union, deploying my journalistic skills across a range of content types, telling powerful, engaging and informative stories through our quarterly magazine, news website, social platforms and numerous print publications.

I believe writing should always be a pleasure to read and pride myself on the creativity to find a hook to keep a reader interested in the driest of topics.

My training as an editor means I have a keen eye for detail and an unhealthy obsession with spelling and grammar – and means that I am very comfortable taking direction from other editors, as I know the importance of writers being able to fulfil a brief.

Where you can find me

My literary agent is Barry Goldblatt of BG Literary

My speaker’s agent is Booked Out

I can be contacted via email at mykebartlett [@] gmail dot com

Past glories

The Weekly Review
(2010 – 2018)
The site is gone, but examples of my work are available at mykebartlett.tumblr.com

I filed and edited weekly print, web and video stories including news, features, advertorial, reviews and trend pieces with a local pop culture focus.

The School of Life
(2014–?)
As a faculty member of The School of Life Australia, I developed and taught adult evening classes, corporate workshops and conversational events. I helped shape our programming and curriculum and was particularly proud of the series of conversation events I wrote and hosted under the umbrella title of A Night of Better Conversation.

AEU News magazine
(2018-2021)
I filed and edited articles on everything from pop music videos to economic policy, all from a public education perspective.

Fire in the Sea
(2012)
My first novel won the Text Prize for Young Adult fiction in 2011. According to my publicist, it’s a fast-paced thrilling adventure with a feisty heroine who is not afraid to fight for what she knows is right.

Festivals and workshops
(2010–?)
I’ve appeared at too many writers festivals to count, both as a panelist and host. I’ve interviewed literary greats and one hit wonders and led student workshops in journalism, storytelling and creativity. I have a particular interest in boys literacy and dismantling gender stereotypes. I was a member of the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program Advisory Committee between 2013 and 2018.

Podcasts
(2005–?)
Back in the days before everyone had a podcast, I wrote and performed podcasted fiction. My SALMON & DUSK podcasts frequently broke into the Top 10 US iTunes Podcast Charts.