A bestelling, award-winning, genre-crossing author with Viking blood in her pen and a passion for stories that stir the soul. From swoony suspense to psychological thrillers and fierce mythological sagas, Tanya creates unforgettable characters who defy fate - much like she does in real life.
She’s also a grant-writing strategist, community advocate, and champion for emerging writers. Whether she’s mentoring creatives, supporting mental health and regional resilience projects, or turning grassroots ideas into fully funded programs, Tanya brings heart, hustle, and serious impact to everything she touches.
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Her superpower? Blending bold creativity with strategic execution — and somehow making it look effortless.
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Writer. Strategist. Advocate. Changemaker.
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Tanya Nellestein — the plot twist you didn’t see coming.
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Tanya Nellestein is an avid reader, experience enthusiast, outstanding car vocalist, and Queen of fancy dress. In her spare time she is also a bestselling and award-winning author and journalist with a penchant for bloodthirsty battles and steamy romance. From Vikings to present day, Tanya writes page-turning, gut-churning stories about strong women and flawed heroes with a romantic angle that always includes good sex and a happily ever after - eventually.
Her debut novel, The Valkyrie’s Viking hit Amazon’s bestseller list and her sixth novel, This Side of Fate, was the 2022 winner of the Romance Writers of Australia Sapphire Award for Best Unpublished Romance Manuscript and has hit the bestseller list many times over. In 2021, Tanya won the Romance Writers of Australia Romance in Media Award. To date, she has published 17 books.
Tanya lives on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia amidst a cavalcade of never ending disasters, both natural and those of her own making.
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Tanya is also a journalist and editor. From January 2020 - December 2022, Tanya was the Deputy Editor and Senior Journalist for Hearts Talk, Romance Writers of Australia monthly journal. She is currently a staff writer for Australian National Construction Review, District Gazette and Indie Author Magazine. In 2021, Tanya won the Romance in the Media Australia (ROMA) Award from the Romance Writers of Australia.
In her role as the Marketing Manager for the Romance Writers of Australia, Tanya champions the organisation’s mission of supporting and promoting romance authors across the nation. Dedicated to creativity and connection, Tanya inspires both emerging and established writers to thrive in their craft and careers.
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Tanya Nellestein is a bestselling and award-winning author and journalist who writes page-turning, gut-churning stories about strong women and flawed heroes that always includes a happily ever after - eventually.
Tanya Nellestein has been writing since she was a child. First published in November 2020, Tanya has published ten independent novels and appeared in anthologies six times.
Indie published:
The Valkyrie of Birca series:
The Valkyrie’s Viking (March 2021) - Amazon Bestseller
The Valkyrie’s Rule (June 2021)
The Valkyrie Queen (November 2021)
The Valkyrie Returns (March 2022)
The Devils MC series:
The Devil Within (April 2022) - Amazon Bestseller
Where Angels Hide (February 2024)
Townsend & Gray series:
Missing in Shadows (July 2023) - Amazon Best Seller
Murdered in Shadows (February 2025)
This Side of Fate (October 2022) - Amazon Bestseller
The Crown Chronicles (November 2024)
Anthologies:
Christmas at Kissing Point anthology (November 2020) - Happily Ever After for Christmas
Fix Your Crown anthology (September 2021) - Once Betrayed
Stand for Ukraine anthology (May 2022) - The Finale and Stuffed
Darkest Desires anthology (August 2022) - Stairway to Heaven
The Guarded Hearts anthology (November 2022) - The Safe Place
Audio Books:
The Valkyrie’s Viking
The Valkyrie’s Rule
The Valkyrie Queen
The Valkyrie Returns
Missing in Shadows
Foreign Language Books:
(Vikings are almost done in Spanish)
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Writing as Sara Connor: YA Short & Sweet Paranormal Romance
Sara Connor writes middle grade and young adult stories that are a charming blend of magic, romance, and a dash of humour — perfect for readers who believe that love is powerful, and the supernatural might be hiding just around the corner.
Magic in the Making (October 2023)
Forbidden Love and the Silverbrook (October 2023)
Love Spells and Library Cards (November 2023)
The Witchmark Chronicles:
Melody of the Forgotten Magic (April 2025)
Melody and the Shattered Key (April 2025)
Melody and the Song Reborn (May 2025)
Melody and The Silent Song (May 2025)
Melody and the Echo Tides (May 2025)
This Side of Fate was the 2022 winner of Romance Writers of Australia Sapphire Award for best unpublished manuscript in August. The novel was later published in October.
Missing in Shadows placed third in the 2023 Global Book Awards and third place in the BooksShelf's Writing Award, 2024.