Kill Your Darlings’ publisher, Alice Cottrell, will be leaving the magazine in early March to relocate to London. 

Alice joined KYD in 2017 as publication manager, and two years later was promoted to publisher. She oversaw a significant transformation in KYD’s publishing program, including the transition to digital-only publishing and the expansion of the organisation’s activities, which now include a mentors’ program and numerous online writing courses. 

‘Alice will be greatly missed by all at KYD,’ says publishing director Rebecca Starford. ‘Like most arts organisations, we’ve had our challenges these past few years, and the pandemic has been especially difficult for Australian writers and arts workers. Alice has been a wonderful leader during this time—calm, cool-headed and always willing to embrace new ideas and strategies. We’re very sad to see her go, but we can’t wait to hear about all her new life and adventures in London​. Thank you for everything, Alice, it’s been a blast working with you.’

‘From pitch meetings and brainstorming sessions to agonising over SEO, I couldn’t have asked for a more brilliant colleague and friend these past five tumultuous years,’ says editor Alan Vaarwerk. ‘Alice will be hugely missed in the office, but I’m excited to follow along as she takes the UK by storm!’

‘After four and a half years at KYD (and nine in Melbourne), it’s time to say goodbye,’ says Alice. ‘I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved during my time as publisher: publishing hundreds of brilliant essays online, releasing three short story anthologies in print, creating partnerships with fantastic organisations, and helping to launch the careers of many talented writers. It’s been a total joy and pleasure to watch our readership grow and grow. 

‘I’d like to say thank you to everyone at KYD for making my time here such a fun and enriching experience—there have been so many laughs and energising conversations along the way. Thanks, too, to all the wonderful writers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I’m looking forward to remaining a committed KYD reader and celebrating all future successes from afar!’

Alice’s last day at Kill Your Darlings is Friday, 4 March 2022. For any further queries about these staff changes, please email [email protected].