Upon hearing the news that her song 'Fly', featuring accomplished singer Rachael Beck, had been nominated in the 2015 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA), she knew she couldn't give up on a dream she'd been chasing for 27 years.

The HMMA's are a precursor to the Academy Awards. Nominees are invited to walk the red carpet and given an opportunity to talk and pass their portfolio to film producers at a private seminar.

Katie will travel to Hollywood in November to attend the awards, a surreal experience considering she was ready to give up on her songwriting before the news broke.

"I walked into my father's (Taree solicitor Ray Stack) office and said, 'Do you think it's time for me to stop writing and maybe give up my crazy dream'," Katie said.

"But he told me that I write beautiful songs with meaningful lyrics and in fact he thought I should indeed continue my dreams and follow my passion."

Chasing dreams is at the core of Katie's song 'Fly'.

"I wrote the song for my daughter Lucy, about my wish for her to chase her dreams when she left for boarding school," explained Katie.

"Saying goodbye and letting your children go is one of the hardest things that a parent will ever do.

"I guess it has evolved from a personal farewell, to a song now that suits a broad range of goodbyes."

Lucy's boarding school, Loreto Normanhurst in Sydney, which Katie also attended, sent the song out to parents who might be struggling with saying goodbye to their children.

After the positive feedback they received, the school asked Katie if as a former student, to come to speak to the students.

Despite being terribly nervous, Katie says she delivered a speech that she hopes will inspire others to achieve their goals.

"I believe that whatever you want to achieve in this lifetime, you can do it," Katie said to the students.

"With determination, courage, a little luck, confidence and sometimes plan B, C or D, you will succeed.

"For some of you that will happen quickly, for others, there may be some road blocks along the way, but I truly believe that no matter how long it takes, and for me, it was 27 years, you can achieve your goals.

"Remain sincere, take criticism well, stay humble and follow your heart this will guarantee your success."

In Katie's case her plan B involved changing 'Fly' from its original form, to one that will be suited to film.

This involved Katie re-writing some of the lyrics and Pete Stevenson, her producer, re-arranging the song around Rachael's voice.

Rachael, who has featured in many productions including the lead role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Beauty and the Beast, has two daughters of her own.

"When she sang this song she closed her eyes and sang it as if she was singing to them," Katie said.

"It was so beautiful to watch the emotion and passion she put into this song for me."

Katie will take a whirlwind trip of just four days to Hollywood with her best friend Amanda Vance to attend the awards.

"When I was eight-years-old I told my dad I was going to go to Hollywood," said Katie.

"It's incredible the song I wrote for my daughter about following her star is the song chosen by the HMMA.

"After all these years, I finally have the opportunity to make my songwriting dream come true."

Listen to 'Fly' here. 

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