I'm an Australian author. I grew up in country New South Wales in a neighbourhood stuffed full of happy children. My adult years have been spent raising boys, teaching, daydreaming, perfecting my recipe for choc-chip bickies and pursuing my love of stories.
I celebrate family, friendship and belonging in my writing. I also love creating stories that bring joy to other people’s lives.
I now live in central Victoria, on the side of a hill (in a house, not just in the long grass!) with my husband and an exuberant black whippet called Olive.
To see more about my day to day life, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.
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This is me on my first day of school. I did not think I'd become a writer at this age. I probably thought more of becoming a hairdresser, a farmer, a teacher or a superhero.
I first thought of becoming a writer when I was ten. My grandfather gave me his old typewriter, so I thought it might be a good idea to write a novel. Easy peasy! Hmmm. Or maybe not. By the end of the first page, my heroine was in a dreadful spot of bother, hanging from a cliff by the tips of her fingers, and I had no idea how to save her. Nor did my hero - he wasn't showing a jot of initiative. So I gave up! It all seemed too hard and not nearly as exciting as climbing trees and thrashing about at the local pool with my friends. I tossed the story and the typewriter aside.
It was many years before I felt excited once more about writing, but when the bug bit, that was it. I fell in love with stories.
I still write myself into a corner sometimes, but over the years I have worked out a number of ways to back myself out again. I don't need to throw the novel or the computer away!
That poor, innocent doll, by the way, was given a dreadful haircut by me soon after the photo was taken. It's a good job I didn't become a hairdresser!
Writing books can be a solitary job, but I am never lonely because I have Olive to keep me company. Olive is my beautiful, black whippet. She sleeps by my desk while I work, then comes for walks with me when I need to clear my head and mull over a plot problem away from my written words.
I used to have a magpie friend called Otto, too. Otto was a free bird but often came inside to mess up the pens and papers on my desk. He was especailly fond of paper clips and rubber bands. He also liked to go for walks with me (riding on my head or shoulder) and he loved cuddles. He has now flown away to live the life of a sensible bird.
You can see from these photos that Olive and Otto have not only been wonderful companions but cheeky ratbags, too. I'm sure they will star in their own book one day!
After playing in the storm water drains with her friend Turbo the poodle.
Joining me on a hill walk around our property.
A young Otto snuggling on my shoulder while I write.
The bigger the mess the happier Otto becomes. He gets very excited when he manages to toss pens and papers down onto the floor.
I work on a computer at a desk in my study. Sounds boring, I know, but it works for me!
The desk is large and filled with pens, pencils, papers, notepads and coffee pots - all the important things to keep me supplied for a day's solid writing. There's a cork board on the wall where I stick cards full of notes about the characters and plot of the novel I'm working on. And there's a book nook full of books (of course) and other quirky treasures.
I have a splendid view from my study, so even though I'm working inside, I get to enjoy nature all day long!
I’m focused and disciplined in my work, except for those moments when an animal pops by demanding a scratch, a cuddle, a yummy treat or a singalong.
Here it's facing the cork board full of notes, but now it faces the windows and looks out to the view (below).
This view changes even less than the clouds I see through my window. Olive is half whippet, half sloth.
Sometimes I stand in here and simply breathe in the smell of all those lovely words and stories and dusty covers.
My house guest, Snowy the cockatiel, demands regular neck scratches.
Otto the magpie likes to snuggle up and chatter while I work.
Authors get to travel all over the countryside and mix with lots of interesting people. I especially love visiting schools and sharing my passion for stories, books and words with children.
Is that hand being held up to stop me talking so much?
Trying to coax Otto down from photographer Leon Schoot’s head.
(Isn’t Leon’s surname cool? He was destined to be a photographer.)
A rare moment where the animals behaved.
After much coaxing, we managed the shot!
We Are Wolves
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
Waiting for the Storks
2022
Escape Hatch Books in Kew has a hidey hole beneath the stairs where you can go in and read books, or take a nap, or just escape from the world.
I spent some time resting here with Pooh after signing books.
I love mountians and fresh air.
Not at all camera shy.
