Taryn Bashford

Dr Taryn Bashford is an award-winning author of young adult fiction. Her debut novel, The Harper Effect, was published by Pan Macmillan in Australia and Skyhorse Publishing in the USA, followed by her second novel, The Astrid Notes, also published by Pan Macmillan. Both novels explore young people who push beyond expectations and pursue ambitious goals despite the risk of failure. The Harper Effect follows an international tennis player, while The Astrid Notes follows a seventeen-year-old who becomes a world-renowned singer. Taryn draws on both personal experience and research to explore what it takes for young people to reach the top—and remain there. Her third YA novel, Girl Alive (2027), extends this practice into the world of art and draws on her research into the ethical representation of diverse characters. This research also informs her forthcoming Routledge UK textbook, Revision, Inclusion, and AI in Creative Writing: Harnessing the MEDIC Method (2027), which provides a systematic approach to revision that considers representation, inclusion and responsible creative practice. Taryn has also achieved success in independent publishing with her romantic-suspense Tide trilogy, beginning with The Heartless Tide. Her PhD research, both as a creative practitioner and a scholar, emerged out of the predominance of traumatic topics in young adult novels. Using trauma theory and affect theory, and experimenting with the effects of magic realism when narrating trauma, Taryn's work attempts to depict 'in scene' trauma without sensationalising or glorifying. This is preferable to banning trauma novels and treating traumatic topics as taboo. For trauma novels to trigger positive change in society and culture, deep reader engagement is key and the use of techniques within magic realism can have the effect of buffering the trauma depicted while still safely allowing the reader to explore and engage with the trauma. Following on from her PhD, Taryn’s research has expanded into the critical areas of inclusion and diversity in creative writing, with a particular focus on developing systematic approaches to revising creative work. Her research examines how revision can be used to critically evaluate the representation of diverse characters, cultures, dialogue, voice, themes and settings, ensuring these dimensions are thoughtfully considered as an integral stage of the writing process before publication. Her new creative writing textbook also examines the implications of generative AI for authorship and creative practice, exploring how writers can engage with these technologies ethically and responsibly while maintaining the integrity of their work. Taryn has spoken at numerous literary conferences, including Great Writing International in London, and has worked extensively with Queensland Writers Centre, delivering writing workshops and mentoring unpublished writers. Creative practice with a strong focus around structure and revision techniques; Writing around trauma; Magic realism, historical fiction, genre fiction, YA fiction, MG fiction; Writing 'the other', diversity and inclusion; Creative practice in a world of Gen-Ai

[2023] The Girl with the Titanium Heart: the effect of bringing magic realism to young adult trauma fiction. Bashford, Taryn (2023). The Girl with the Titanium Heart: the effect of bringing magic realism to young adult trauma fiction. PhD Thesis, School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/fcdead7