Shady Cosgrove

Assoc. Prof. Shady Cosgrove is an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong's School of the Arts, English and Media, specializing in creative writing, prose fiction, and pedagogy. Her research explores themes of migration, survival, family, and sustainability, with notable works like the novel What the Ground Can't Hold and the memoir She Played Elvis, shortlisted for the Australian Vogel Prize. She holds a PhD from ANU and has been teaching since 2003, supervising over 16 Higher Degree Research students in creative writing and narrative studies.

Her creative works blend literary fiction with contemporary themes, appearing in journals like Southerly and Best Australian Short Stories. Awards include the Varuna Eleanor Dark Flagship Fellowship and residencies at ANU’s HRC and Bundanon Trust. Prof. Cosgrove actively contributes to academic conferences, focusing on creative writing pedagogy and narrative theory.

• Education: PhD (Australian National University, 2002), B.A. (Vassar College, 1996)
• Grants: 'Exploring Country within Realist Fiction' (2024), 'Creative Writing Pedagogy and the Workshop Model' (2014)
• Awards: Phi Beta Kappa membership, multiple residencies, and international recognition for her literary contributions.

Her current projects include FREEFALL, a novel exploring post-capitalist communities, and ongoing research on narratology and embodied creative practice.