Meet Stephanie
Hi, I’m Stephanie Walters
but everyone calls me Steph.
I’ve been captivated by stories ever since I was a little girl. There’s a VHS tape somewhere featuring my twin sister Melissa and me as toddlers, sitting on top of a couch “reading” books to each other, our curly brown hair framing our smiling faces. Our shared love of books only grew from there. I vividly remember the thrill of Mum bringing home the latest Harry Potter release. Melissa and I had to take turns reading it, and the wait was agonising!
I live in Brisbane, Australia, with my wonderful husband, Geoff, and our three beautiful daughters, Mariella, Hannah, and Arna. Life with three kids aged six and under is busy, messy and noisy, but I love being a mum and wouldn’t trade it for the world. When I’m not writing, reading, or running, you’ll find me building LEGO sets.
Type 1 diabetes hasn’t stopped me
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five, but I’ve never let it stop me from chasing my dreams. When I started running in January 2011, I couldn’t run 100 metres without stopping. What started as a humble goal to complete a five-kilometre race turned into a passion for long distance running. I’ve since completed eight half-marathons, six marathons, and four ultramarathons — including a 150-kilometre race through the Simpson Desert — with no plans to slow down.
From childhood dream to reality
In November 2024, I achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a published author. My debut memoir, It’s Not a Sprint: Lessons of Faith and Endurance on the Marathon of Life, won the Omega Writers’ CALEB Award in the unpublished non-fiction category. I pray that my story inspires readers to keep running the race with perseverance, and that it brings hope and encouragement to those feeling weary on the marathon of life.
My passion for helping other authors
English was my favourite subject at school. My passion for literature led me to studying a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Philosophy from Charles Sturt University, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Editing and Electronic Publishing from Macquarie University.
In 2015, I founded my copyediting business, Comma Sense Editing. I find immense joy in helping authors refine their words and bring their stories to life. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of perfecting a sentence or catching an elusive typo!
