Pippa Kay's Website
About Pippa Kay
The Author
Pippa Kay is the author of two books:
Doubt & Conviction: The Kalajzich Inquiry
Megan Kalajzich was shot as she slept beside her husband, Andrew, on the Australia Day weekend in 1986. Andrew Kalajzich is currently serving a 28 year sentence for conspiracy to murder his wife. He maintains his innocence.
Bill Vandenberg confessed to being "the triggerman" and subsequently committed suicide in prison. In his confession, Vandenberg claimed he fired two bullets into Megan's head and then two bullets into Andrew's pillow a few centimetres from his head. He deliberately missed, he said, so that it would seem Andrew was also the target.
Was Andrew the target? Has an innocent man been convicted of this murder? Pippa Kay has researched this controversial case and finds many unanswered questions. In Doubt & Conviction, she presents the evidence to the reader using the 1994 Inquiry into the Conviction of Andrew Kalajzich as the setting in which the story of Megan's murder and the subsequent investigations are examined.
Back Stories.
A collection of Pippa's prize winning short stories plus some that have been anthologised elsewhere.
Pippa focuses on her characters' back stories (that is, the story that happens before the current story) when she develops her characters. She skillfully weaves the past and present into her stories. Many of her characters are victims - victims of love or victims of crime.
Back Stories was awarded a Highly Commended in the Society of Women Writers Biennial Book Awards, 2005.
Other Books
Pippa has had short stories published in many anthologies including:
- No Thanks or Regrets edited by Jacqueline Kent and published by State Library of NSW. This anthology was produced following a competition run by the Society of Women Writers which she won with her autobiographical story "The Replay".
- On Murder 2 edited by Kerry Greenwood and published by Black Inc. Pippa's story "The Triggerman" is a non-fiction story inspired by the puzzle of Bill Vandenberg, a most unlikely hitman, who confessed to the murder of Megan Kalajzich and later committed suicide in prison. Pippa has selected some of the text of his suicide note to tell his story.
Pippa has had other pieces published in many books. These include Unspeakable Crimes (ed. Avalon, Galley Press, 1996); Lies, Longings and Lilly-Pillys (ed. Patricia Gaut, Ibis Books, 1999); Windows to the Light (ed. Patricia Gaut, Ibis Books, 2001); Elixir (Eastern Writers Group, 1999); and The Common Thread Anthology 2004-2010.
She has had articles published in magazines including Orange County Magazine (US) July 1996, as a result of the Deadly Poets Society Competition. To read this piece go to Putrid Prose. Her first published piece that received payment appeared in Ita in November 1990 and was called "Use as Instructed". "The Hazards of Becoming an Ex-smoker" was published in Prevention in March 1993.
Memberships
Pippa is active in many Writing Organisations including The Fellowship of Australian Writers, The NSW Writer's Centre, Partners in Crime (Sydney), The Australian Society of Authors and The Society of Women Writers.
She is also a founding member of The Common Thread Writers.
Awards
- Winner, FreeXpression Short Story Competition 2005, for "Compound Interest". Winner, Wollondilly Fellowship of Australian Writers Literary Competition 2001 (poetry) for a villanelle "The Snowcave" Winner, Society of Women Writers National Short Story Competition, 1999 for story called "The Old Feller"; Winner, Society of Women Writers 70th Anniversary Award, 1995 for a story called "The Replay"; Winner, Biggest Little Short Story, The Eastern Writers Group, 1997 for a story called "The Cockroach"; Winner, Eyre Writers Literary Competition (poetry) 1998 for a poem called "Red"; Winner, "The Deadly Poets Society" Competition conducted by Orange County Magazine, United States, 1996; Go to Putrid Prose to read the winning story. Winner, "Inner City Life Literary Competition/NSW Writers Centre," 1998; Winner, Spring Writers Festival, NSW Writers Centre, 1998 (poetry); Winner, Far North Coast F.A.W. Literary Competition (essay/article), 1998 for "Grace Crowley, 1890-1979"; Winner, Fantasia/Holiday Literary Competition for fractured fairytale;Runner up, Hunter Regional FAW Denis Butler Memorial Award 1998 for non-fiction article
- Second Prize, FreeXpression Poetry Competition 2005, for "The Investigative Journalist".
- Highly Commended and Commended in various regional literary competitions, including: Far North Coast FAW 1991; Eastwood Hills FAW 1995; Far North Coast FAW 1996 & 1999; Wollondilly FAW 1997; Eyre Writers 1998; Manly Peninsula FAW 1998; Kelluca Valentine Literary Award 1998; Australian Poetry Award 1998; Society of Women WritersPoetry Competition 1999; Denis Butler Memorial Award 1999.
Wife, Mum and Grandma
Pippa has two sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and (at last count) three wonderful grandchildren. She lives in Sydney, Australia and enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with her family. Every couple of years she and her husband go sailing, exploring the eastern coast of Australia.
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