Meet Tanya Nellestein

My creative journey has been marked by passion, innovation and an unwavering commitment to the art of storytelling. I have wanted to write since I was a child, and approximately eight years ago I made the conscious decision to develop my artistic practice. I sought out opportunities to develop my craft through online and in-person courses with the Australian Writers Center and The Writers Studio. 

To supplement my early and ongoing development as a fiction writer, I started writing as a  freelance journalist, eventually taking on positions as the Deputy Editor of the Australian  Romance Writers of Australia monthly journal, Hearts Talk and staff writer for the Australian National Construction Review, Blush Magazine and Indie Author Magazine.

As I continued to study the craft of writing, I made numerous contacts, including the Australian Writers Centre Director of Creative Writing, Pamela Freeman, who suggested I join the Romance Writers of Australia. This advice was invaluable as it led me to meet numerous Australian and international authors, further develop my craft, gain a crucial understanding of the publishing industry and learn the business of being a creative.

Breaking free from the shackles of convention, I have carved a niche for myself as a champion of unconventional romance narratives. My stories are a canvas where characters defy societal norms, forge paths less travelled, and explore the depths of human connection with unbridled courage. Within my books I challenge preconceived notions of love and vulnerability, inviting readers to embrace the complexity of the heart.

I choose to publish as an independent author as Tanya Nellestein, and traditionally with 

The Wild Rose Press as Darcie Morgan. My choice to publish independently is based on my desire to maintain creative control of my published works, as well as seek out the highest standards in the development and editing processes.

Throughout my creative journey, I have been shortlisted for numerous awards, most recently becoming a finalist in the Global Book Awards. In 2022 I was awarded the Romance Writers of Australia Sapphire Award for best Unpublished Manuscript for This Side of Fate. In 2021 I was awarded the Romance Writers of Australia Romance in Media Award. 

I have also reached the Amazon Bestseller list on three occasions.

I have developed and delivered a number of writing workshops and presentations, and have been invited to speak and sign at numerous author events around Australia and internationally.

I have worked for over 25 years in the community engagement sector, and have been finding and writing grants for not-for-profits, creatives and small businesses for several years.

Award-winning, best-selling Australian author Tanya Nellestein writes page-turning, gut-churning Viking romance, romantic suspense, domestic thrillers and crime mysteries 

Find out more at tanyanellestein.com 

Darcie Morgan is a purveyor of fantasies -  the hopelessly romantic and deeply sensual kind. 

Find out more at darciemorgan.com