Blog
“Sold” wins Judges Award and People’s Choice Award at Crash Test Drama, Bundanoon
My new short play "Sold" was a big hit at Melting Pot Theatre's Crash Test Drama in Bundanoon on 11 November, winning the Judges Award and People's Choice Award. Many thanks to the wonderful actors, Sarah, Caroline, Jock and my husband Luke, who played the four roles...
Studio8’s debut single Red Dirt Rodeo out now
Happy Release Day for Studio8's debut single, Red Dirt Rodeo, now available on all major music streaming services. Thanks Rock this Country & RTC Records! Play Red Dirt Rodeo
Red Dirt Rodeo – Studio8’s new single – Pre Add & Save
Studio8's first single Red Dirt Rodeo is out 6 November 2023. Pre add & save on your music streaming service from 24 October by clicking on this link: Red Dirt Rodeo Pre Add & Save Two more singles Back to the Bush and You Got the Moves, and Studio8's debut...
Studio8 gigs Sept to Dec 2023
We've been busy getting ready for the release of our first single in November. Here's Studio8's gig guide to the end of 2023: 30 Sept Peppers Manor House Country Markets 10.30am to 12.30pm 18 Nov Gerringong Village Markets 9.00am to 10.45am 25 Nov Peppers Manor House...
Studio8 recording new album in Sydney
Just got back from recording our new album "Into the New" at A Sharp Recording Studio in Sydney. Many thanks to Nick, our Sound Engineer / Bass guitarist and to Kristos, our drummer on the album. Over seven days we recorded nine songs, which Nick will be mixing and...
Studio8 at Hats off to Country 2023 Tamworth
Luke and I had a ball performing our latest original songs at Tamworth's mid-year music festival, Hats off to Country. We had six gigs over 3 venues - Oasis Hotel, Tamworth City Bowling Club and the Post Office Hotel - as part of the Tamworth Songwriters Association...
Studio8 gigs for June & July 2023
After an amazing four weeks' travelling around Japan, we've dusted off our instruments and are ready to hit the stage back in Oz. Studio8 will be performing at Peppers Manor House, Sutton Forest, in the beautiful Southern Highlands: Saturday 24 June 5pm to 7pm...
Studio8 gigs for April & May 2023
It's great to be performing again with Luke in Studio8. Our gigs for April and May 2023 include: Sat 1 April 5pm to 7pm Peppers Manor House, Sutton Forest Sat 15 April 9am to 11am Gerringong Village Market Sat 29 April 5pm to 7pm Peppers Manor...
Our 4-day walk on the Tasman Peninsula
We loved visiting Tasmania again, this time for walks on the Tasman Peninsula. Over the past decade we have bushwalked on the Freycinet Peninsula, Maria Island and the Bay of Fires, all stunningly beautiful landscapes that are very different to each other. The Tasman...
Five gigs in five days
Luke and I had a ball at the Tamworth Country Music Festival where we played four gigs at three venues - The Welder's Dog, Oasis Hotel and Tamworth City Bowling Club. This is our second festival playing as duo Studio8, with Luke on guitar, banjo, ukulele and vocals,...
Tamworth Country Music Festival 2023
Studio8 will be hitting the road next week to perform at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2023. Luke and I have written four new songs that we'll be road-testing as well as playing originals from Luke's two albums - Goodbye Frankie (2020) & Little Worlds (2021)...
CBCA Illawarra Literary Lunch
Had an awesome time at the CBCA Illawarra Literary Lunch at the Fraternity Club in Wollongong yesterday. I was one of 12 authors invited to talk to about 100 primary school kids and their teacher librarians from Illawarra, Sutherland and Southern Highland schools. Sue...
Playwriting talk for Year 12 students
I had the pleasure today of giving a talk on writing short plays to Year 12 students at Grace Christian School in Bunbury WA. The students have the option in the composing section of their upcoming English exam to write a short play on a given theme or issue. We...
Parkes Elvis Festival 2022
Had a ball at our first Elvis Festival in Parkes! The outfits were amazing and everyone looked so happy to be there. Luke and I (performing as Studio8) had three gigs in two days. The highlight was performing eight Elvis hits on the Memphis Stage. Luke sang and played...
Tamworth Country Music Festival 2022
Tamworth Country Music Festival 2022 was a blast! So many amazing performers, so many venues to choose from. Luke (Johnson) was billed to play solo but talked me into joining him. We had five gigs over three days, with Luke singing and playing guitar, banjo and...
Luke Johnson & Studio8 upcoming gigs
Luke and I will be performing on Saturday 19 March at Gerringong Village Markets 9am -11am. Great atmosphere at these seaside markets, hope to see you there! In April, we are very excited to be performing at Tamworth Country Music Festival and Parkes Elvis Festival:...
Little Worlds is live
Luke Johnson's Little Worlds album is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Youtube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music and CD. The album comprises seven songs that we wrote together: Summer Storm, Falling, Little Worlds, Killing Time, Listen, Gift of Life &...
Berrima Vault House – our first gig for 2022
Luke and I played to a full Covid-safe house at the amazing Berrima Vault House last night. Luke sang and played guitar, banjo and ukulele and I played keyboard. We performed all our original songs from the Goodbye Frankie...
Recording Little Worlds album
Luke and I kept busy during the lockdown by refining and recording some of the songs that we co-wrote for his new album, Little Worlds. The songs include: Summer Storm, Falling, Little Worlds, Killing Time, Listen, Gift of Life and Winds of Change, and can best be...
Wings over Illawarra 2021
The air show at Wings over Illawarra on the weekend was spectacular. From fighter jets to vintage biplanes, the manoeuvres and aerobatics were hair-raising. Dozens of aircraft were on display, including a Qantas 747, McDonnell Douglas Hornet, Catalina, DC4, Tiger Moth...
Australian Reading Hour 2021
Australian Reading Hour on Tuesday 14 September is an annual celebration of reading, literacy and books, and I'm proud to be an Australia Reads Ambassador for 2021. There are many free events for children and teens to get involved in: Watch online and read along to...
Our Outback Adventure
We're back home after our outback adventure and getting used to living in a house again. It's amazing how we happily lived in a pop-up camper with basic cooking and sleeping facilities for ten weeks. We set out from the Southern Highlands in early May and headed north...
Album review of Goodbye Frankie in Tamworth Country Music Capital News
Luke and I are chuffed with the album review of Goodbye Frankie in the July / August 2021 issue of Tamworth Country Music Capital News. Jon Wolfe acknowledges Luke’s prowess on the guitar, banjo and ukulele, and his gentleness in delivery. Jon describes our songs as...
Luke Johnson at the Taphouse Moss Vale during April 2021
Luke will be performing at the Taphouse (Southern Highlands Brewing) in Moss Vale every Thursday and Sunday in April: Thursdays 5.30pm to 8.30pm Sundays 3.00pm to 6.00pm Not only will Luke be performing original songs from his new album GOODBYE FRANKIE, he will also...
Luke Johnson’s Goodbye Frankie Album now available
Luke Johnson's Goodbye Frankie Album is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Youtube Music and Amazon Music. Songs include: Goodbye Frankie / Blue Sky / Heart of Australia / Believing / Like the First Time / Shot in the Night / Too Late for Love ...
Luke Johnson’s upcoming gigs
Luke Johnson, singer-songwriter guitarist, will be performing in February and March 2021 at the following venues: Saturday February 6 Exeter Village Market 9.30am to 12 noon, and Hendriks Cognac & Wine in Mittagong from 4pm to 8pm Sunday 14 February Sutton Forest...
Preview of the Goodbye Frankie album
For a sneak preview of Luke Johnson's Goodbye Frankie album on Spotify, click on the following link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lukejohnson1/goodbye-frankie Enjoy!
Goodbye Frankie album cover reveal
Very excited to reveal the album cover for Goodbye Frankie. The songs on the album are all performed by my husband, Luke Johnson. Luke and I co-wrote the songs, which were recorded, mixed and mastered in the Southern Highlands in 2020. In most of the songs, Luke plays...
Luke Johnson – singer songwriter guitarist
Over the years I have co-written many songs with my husband, Luke Johnson. A talented singer songwriter guitarist, Luke is in the process of recording an album with seven of our songs. As well as playing acoustic guitar on the album, Luke also plays banjo and ukulele...
Inspirational Road Trip
We may not be able to travel overseas for holidays due to the Covid pandemic, but there is plenty to see in Australia. In July, my husband and I headed north towing our new Aliner (a compact pop-up caravan). After a short stay in the sleepy fishing village of...
Books at the Markets this weekend
I'm excited to be selling and signing my novels at the Gerringong and Kiama Markets this weekend. Flying through Clouds (winner of the SCBWI Spark Award, Older Readers, in 2017) and my first novel, Racing the Moon (published by Allen & Unwin in 2014) will be on...
Lunchtime Story Time Live with Michelle Morgan 19 May 2020
It was a pleasure to be part of Lunchtime Storytime Live last week presented to you by CBCA NSW. Here is the video of my live author talk and reading from Flying through Clouds: https://www.facebook.com/CBCANSW/videos/1334128760114961/
CBCA NSW Lunchtime Storytime Live
Every weekday at 12 noon in May 2020, an Australian children's / YA author or illustrator will read from one of their published books, and the live video will be streamed on the CBCA NSW Facebook page or CBCA NSW website. I am very excited to be one of the guest...
Let’s get cultural
All of our cultural institutions may be closed during the coronavirus lockdown, but that doesn't mean we are cut off from them. Many art galleries, libraries, museums, theatres and other cultural institutions are open 24/7 online offering virtual gallery tours,...
Staying connected
Whether you're in lockdown, self-isolating or maintaining social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, it's important to not only keep in touch with family and friends, but to continue work, education and other activities where possible. We have so much...
Another brilliant Tamworth Country Music Festival
Had a ball at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2020. So many great performers and venues to choose from, most of them free. For four wonderful days, my husband and I immersed ourselves in the music and put to the back of our minds level 5 water...
New look website
Introducing my new website - same url with a new look. The old website was created using Adobe Business Catalyst, which as you may know, is being phased out. I couldn't be happier with my new Wordpress creation. Thank you Sarah at JamesMarko for a brilliant job and...
Smashwords annual eBook sale
The annual Smashwords eBook sale is on for eight days only from 25 December to January 1, 2020. There are some great bargains, including my award-winning novel, Flying through Clouds, which is half-price. Happy reading, and have a wonderful 2020!
100th Anniversary of first commercial flight above Sydney
It's 100 years since aviator, Nigel Love, flew movie photographer, Billy Marshall, on the first commercial flight over Sydney. [Nigel Love in the cockpit of a Curtiss Jenny biplane / Milton C. Kent, National Library of Australia, 4922163] To commemorate this...
Two of a kind – short play about racial tensions and stereotyping
Chuffed to get such positive feedback from the Head of English at Grace Christian School in Bunbury about my short play, TWO OF A KIND, which was read and discussed recently in class by Year 10 students. They found TWO OF A KIND to be a 'fantastic text' to compare...
Storytellers Festival at KXT 2019
So excited that excerpts from my new play, Karma, will be performed as part of the Storytellers Festival at Kings Cross Theatre in Sydney, which runs from 27 August to 7 September 2019. You can catch performances of Karma on Thursday 29 August and 5 September at...
Postcard from Sydney Writers Festival 2019
Another brilliant Sydney Writers Festival has wrapped up. I thought it couldn't get any better than previous years, but it did. I took a different approach to selecting sessions to attend this year. As a writer, I've previously chosen sessions that related to my...
Tamworth Country Music Festival
Had a ball at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year! The city was buzzing with dozens of buskers along the main street, and over 70 venues with free entertainment during the 10-day festival. I managed to see at least six performances each day in marquees,...
Islands to glaciers
I recently had the privilege of spending five amazing weeks in Hawaii, Canada and Alaska where I trekked through rainforests, snorkelled coral reefs, kayaked on rivers and mountain lakes, watched whales breaching, dolphins spinning and brown bears catching salmon. It...
Spotlight On @WritingNSW
It was a privilege and a pleasure to be interviewed by Writing NSW for Spotlight On, a monthly feature article on a member of the Writing NSW community: https://writingnsw.org.au/michelle-morgan/ Thank you Writing NSW for the brilliant job you do supporting...
FLYING THROUGH CLOUDS eBook on sale @Smashwords
To celebrate winning the SCBWI Spark Award and as a thank-you to readers, Flying through Clouds is 50% off on Smashwords from July 1 to July 31: Buy FLYING THROUGH CLOUDS eBook on Smashwords The 50% discount will be applied automatically by adding the book to your...
Spark Award for FLYING THROUGH CLOUDS
Flying through Clouds looking dapper wearing its new gold Spark Award: The Spark Award is awarded annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and recognises excellence in children's books that are published independently. Flying...
Autumn Revel: a celebration of the Arts in Canberra
AUTUMN REVEL is a free festival of the Arts to be held this Saturday 19 May 11am to 4pm at the Gorman Arts Centre in Canberra. There will be live music, dance, open studios, art exhibitions, book and craft stalls, kids’ activities and workshops, local food, wine and...
Happy 1st birthday FLYING THROUGH CLOUDS
I can't believe it's a year since this baby was launched! It has been a hectic twelve months with a book tour, blog tour, interviews, articles and reviews. To be the winner of the Spark Award (Older Readers) 2017 is the icing on the cake. Happy 1st birthday FLYING...