Rowan MacDonald

Fiction Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer

TAS
Australia
Tasmania AU
Website: 
linktr.ee/rowmac

Author's Bio

Rowan MacDonald lives in Lutruwita / Tasmania with his dog, Rosie. His writing has appeared in publications around the world, including most recently: Overland, New Writing Scotland, Meniscus Literary Journal, Watershed Review, The Bookends Review, The Headlight Review and Sans. PRESS.

Rowan's fiction has been awarded the Kenan Ince Memorial Prize. He has also been judged a finalist in the Tasmanian Writers' Prize, longlisted in the Furphy Literary Award, nominated for Best of the Net, and twice shortlisted in the Australian Writers' Centre Furious Fiction Challenge. 

His childhood ghost story features in the book, Hexy Bitch, by BAFTA-winning actress, Daisy May Cooper. Rowan has appeared on the podcast, Make Every Word Count, and YouTube channel, Shawn Breathes Books. His work has been adapted for US horror podcast, Thirteen, and into short film by New Form Digital. 

He's ranked in the Top 3 Most Popular Book Reviewers on Goodreads (Australia) and enjoys being a remote volunteer for the Arctic Convoy Museum, based on the shores of Loch Ewe, Scotland.

"Gentle, authentic storytelling." - Australian Writers' Centre.

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Journals:
Defunct
,
Defunkt Magazine
,
FLARE: The Flagler Review
,
Headlight Review
,
Hive Avenue
,
Inkwell
,
Kaleidoscope
,
Kind Writers Literary Magazine
,
Mikrokosmos
,
Miracle Monocle
,
Ocotillo Review
,
Poor Yorick
,
Scriblerus
,
Sheepshead Review
,
Stonecrop Magazine
,
Thirteen Bridges Review

Fiction

Anthology:
#BloodLore: A White Stag Anthology (White Stag Publishing, 2025)
Journals:
Black Fork Review
,
Bright Flash Literary Review
,
Coffin Bell
,
Dipity
,
Ignatian Literary Magazine
,
Open: Journal of Arts & Letters
,
Paper Dragon
,
Red Ogre Review
,
The Archive
,
The Bookends Review
,
Third Wednesday
,
Vine Leaves Literary Journal
,
Watershed Review
,
Welter
,
White Wall Review
Prizes won: 
  • Winner - The Kenan Ince Memorial Prize
  • Finalist - Tasmanian Writers' Prize
  • Longlisted - Furphy Literary Award
  • Nominated - Best of the Net
  • Shortlisted x 2 - Furious Fiction Challenge, Australian Writers' Centre

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Louise Wolhuter, Kirsty Iltners, Tim Winton, Richard Osman, Fredrik Backman, Stephen Ronson, Bill Bryson, Alistair MacLean, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ernest Hemingway, Enid Blyton, Paul Jennings, John Marsden, Edna O'Brien.
What I'm reading now: 
Mixtapes and MTV: Triumphs and Tragedies in 1980s Music by Tony Wellington, HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean, Best Australian Ghost Stories by Graham Seal, Australia's Aviation Heroes by Colin Burgess

More Information

Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Australia
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Oct 16, 2025