Associate Professor, Creative Writing
College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Amy Matthews is an award-winning multi-published novelist, an Associate Professor in the field of Creative Writing, and a committee member and recent Deputy Director of Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts. She writes under the names Amy T. Matthews, Amy Barry, and Tess LeSue, in multiple genres, including literary fiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, and historical romance. Amy was named John Howard Clark Scholar at the University of Adelaide; is a past Chair and longstanding board member of Writers SA; a judge of literary awards including the Adelaide Festival Awards and the MUD Club Prize for a debut novelist, and an affiliate of the JM Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice. Amy's scholarly interests include genre fictions, popular romance studies, historical fiction, and fictions of climate change/crisis. You can find more information on her creative work at amytmatthews.com and amy-barry.com.
PhD, Creative Writing (2007), University of Adelaide
First Class Honours, Creative Writing (2002), University of Adelaide
BA, Communications and Film & Electronic Media (1998), University of South Australia
BA, History and English (1995), University of Adelaide
Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision (2023)
CHASS Research Excellence Award for HDR Supervision (2021)
Chair, Writers SA (2017-2020)
Research Fellow (University of Adelaide, 2012-2015)
Dobbie Literary Award shortlist (2012)
Colin Roderick Literary Award shortlist (2012)
Title of John Howard Clark Scholar (University of Adelaide, 2011)
Adelaide Festival Unpublished Manuscript Award (2010)
Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Student Feedback in Teaching and Learning (University of Adelaide, 2009)
Anna Campbell Award (2009)
RWA STALI Award runner up (2009)
Australian/Vogel Literary Award longlist (2006)
Deputy Director, Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts
Supervisor, Creative Writing & Literary Studies (PhD, MA, Honours)
Topic Coordinator:
CRWR1001 Ideas: Imitation and Originality
CRWR2002 Love and Death
CRWR3100 Workshop: Stories and Submission
Amy's teaching interests include all forms of fiction (novels and short stories), with a particular focus on commercial genre fictions, including historical fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, horror, and fictions of climate change/crisis. Amy is also an expert in the field of the Creative Arts/Creative Writing exegesis.