Anne McCullagh Rennie

'Inspiring, uplifting, internationally best-selling author'

About Anne

Anne McCullagh Rennie is one of Australia’s internationally bestselling, award winning authors.  She is also a gliding champion, sailor, skier, musician, motivational speaker, has conquered crippling arthritis and written a cookbook for arthritis sufferers, written five novels and her family biography, runs the family business and recently sailed down the east coast of Australia with husband Jim in their catamaran BestSeller.

Her philosophy is:  ‘If I can do it – so can you.’ 

Born in Cambridge, England, Anne studied singing, violin and piano at the Royal College of Music in London and the Akademie für Musik, Vienna.  She went on to become secretary and Concert Manager of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London before meeting her Australian husband Jim on the ski slopes of Austria, marrying and moving to Australia. There she raised a family, taught Suzuki piano and fell in love with the country.

Crippling arthritis motivated Anne to write Pain-Free Living, a cookbook for arthritis sufferers, helping other sufferers worldwide.  

Anne’s first novel Reach for the Dream became an instant bestseller quickly followed by: Ride with the Wind, Song of the Bellbirds and Where the Snowgums Dance.   Her latest novel A Track Winding Back is due to be published in Germany in 2008.  Anne's novels take the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotion. They are 'pacy, spirited and moving'. The settings she choses ' wild and untamed, powerful backdrops for her themes of love, passion and heartbreak' And they have a great Aussie feel!  

Anne's family biography You can call me Ellie is the inspirational, heart-warming true story of her own family's  love and determination in raising their two girls, the younger of whom has Down Syndrome.  In November 2005 it won the SASSY AWARD for 'Strength of Spirit' and in 2007 Anne was presented with the inaugural Lynne Wilding SASSY AWARD for 'Excellence'.

A regular guest on TV and Radio, Anne' s story was featured in ABC TV Australian Story (Flying High, April 2001)  

With an acute business sense and natural marketing ability backing her approach to writing and becoming published, Anne has inspired and motivated many others to define and develop their own professional and personal success. Anne’s story has also been included in magazines and motivational books including Be seen, Get known, Move ahead by Robyn Henderson and Marg McAlister, Reinventing Success by Ruth Cotton, and Nine Winning Habits of Successful Authors by Rachel McAlpine.   Her short stories, articles and extracts from her novels have been published in anthologies and leading magazines and newspapers across Australia 

Melbourne Cup winners Nick Moraitis (owner of Might and Power 1997)and Ken Lazarus (owner of Kensei1987) named racehorses after Anne's first two novels Reach for the Dream and

Anne continues to write stories that delight, intrigue and captivate.  Her energy and enthusiasm are inspirational, her strategies for success are simple and focused.  Anne wants to continue to write stories that are 'a darn good read that you can't put down to the very last word, and that leave you wanting more' and to encourage others to reach for their dreams. 

 

Some of Anne’s career achievements:

  • Has written and published six books

  • Is also published in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand

  • Published her family biography You can call me Ellie

  • Featured on ABCTV Australian Story Flying High

  • Received  four SASSY Awards for her novels and family story including the inaugural Lynne Wilding SASSY AWARD for 'Excellence'(2007).

  • Was commissioned to write a short story for Australian anthology Love, Obsessions Secrets and Lies,

  • Her short stories, articles, recipes and extracts from her novels have been published in anthologies and leading magazines and newspapers across Australia .

  • Sailed down the East coast of Australia with husband Jim in their 42ft catamaran Bestseller

  • Winner with husband Jim of the 1998 NSW 2-seater Gliding Championships.

  • Accredited Speaking Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia & Inaugural Chairperson of the NSAA Professional Development Forums www.nationalspeakers.asn.au/

  • Owners of Melbourne Cup winners named racehorses after her novels

  • SASSY award winner for ‘Following her Dream’

  • Staged The Suzuki 21 Piano Salute to the Bicentenary involving over 300 children, 50 teachers and an audience of 1200

  • Secretary & Concert Manager of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London UK

  • Awarded a scholarship to the Akademie für Musik, Vienna, Austria

  • Studied singing, violin and piano at the Royal College of Music London UK