Join us as our host, Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine, dives into the fascinating journey of Amy Doak, a lifelong lover of books, reading, and writing. Amy's story is truly inspiring from her early career in media, including advertising, radio, television, and magazines, to her evolution into a freelance writer and now a published author.

After graduating with a computing and marketing degree, Amy's path led her through various projects and roles, ultimately culminating in the creation of Bendigo Magazine and Little One Magazine.

In our conversation, Amy shares her passion for storytelling and the challenges she faced along the way. From taking a big leap of faith and launching her first magazine with a focus on promoting positive local news to navigating the complexities of selling her publications, Amy's journey is one of resilience, creativity, and dedication.

Amy's recent milestone of signing a two-book contract with Penguin Random House is a testament to her perseverance and talent. She discusses the importance of having an ‘accountability partner’ and offers valuable insights for aspiring writers and entrepreneurs alike. As she puts it, "Nothing is a waste."

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MCKERN STEEL

This series is proudly sponsored by McKern Steel. McKern Steel is a leading supplier of high-quality structural steel for residential projects across Victoria.

Located across three venues in Bendigo, they are dedicated to keeping their business regionally based.

McKern Steel are also an active player in the community through the McKern Foundation, which is focused on contributing to community projects that benefit the health and wellbeing of youth.

ABOUT OUR HOST KIMBERLEY FURNESS

Kimberley Furness is the national award winning publisher of OAK Magazine, a proudly independent media publisher dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female change makers and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Kimberley is a long time content creator for print and digital, a social media trainer for rural business owners and the host of chart topping podcasts A Friend of Mine and She Makes News.

ABOUT BE.BENDIGO

Every successful community has a strong and growing business community.

Be.Bendigo exists to provide a range of information, support and programs to assist, develop and grow our broader business community. We are member based organisation with a commitment to developing our business so that we can continue to add value for our members, partners and stakeholders.

Find out more via our website. Be social on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.