Kathleen is a self-taught writer who has drawn inspiration from her contrasting workplaces. Her writing is thoughtful and compelling. Characterisation is one of her strengths.

Her manuscript “Johno” due for release in September 2026 by Hawkeye Publishing is based on a true child migration story. The narrative follows the life of a boy deported from Scotland to Australia at the tender age of seven.

“Johno” is a story of betrayal, abuse of power and war. It is also a powerful story of resilience, of overcoming and reckoning with the past. The work has been described as a moving, and profound account of human resilience.

In the Young Adult fiction story ‘Babanginy’, Connor shines as a protagonist with a unique voice and an excellent mixture of flaws and strengths that make him intriguing and realistic.

The supporting cast is varied and vivid, with every character standing out in some way. Conversations between characters are great to read because each character has their own motivations and goals, driving a lot of the conflict within the manuscript.

Kathleen’s emotional scenes work well to hook a reader, and can easily get them on the edge of their seat.

Kathleen uses strong, creative sentences, and good original phrasing that has a lot of imagery and humour. Her writing portrays characters realistically, showcasing the subtler forms of human nature.

Kathleen O’Reilly Johnston writes with insight gained from holding space for the vulnerable.  Her prose reminds us of the reasons we are drawn to story: to connect, to learn, to experience and to hope.