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When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I got the writing bug around 1983. I undertook a correspondence Diploma in Writing with The Writing School which took me nearly ten years to complete as other life issues sometimes took precedence. The course encompassed a variety of writing genres and styles but it wasn’t until 2005/6 that I decided to take it seriously and enter the publishing world.

What was your road to publication like? 

To date, I haven’t submitted a lot of work to publishing houses because I have never wanted to be dependent on someone else determining whether I became an author or not. Even though the feedback I have received has been very favourable I decided to go down the self publishing path in 2006 to get my work out there, and take it from there. So my road to publication has been hard going, but very rewarding and worth it all the way. So many opportunities have now opened up for me.

I have now worked as a freelance writer for a local community magazine, had articles published in Australia Bookseller and Publisher magazine, and for online publishing websites (upon invitation); poetry published on children’s online educational resources; heartfelt poetry published in anthologies, and in early 2009, five of my giggle rhyming poems published in Books For Fiji, presented to the children at Namara District School in Fiji – a wonderful project by Morgan Hayton and Sally Odgers. I have also been invited as a guest speaker to many writers’ festivals including Tropical Writers Festival and Books Creators Expo in Cairns 2010.

Coming up, two of my poems will be published in Jelli-Beanz Publishing’s Volume One: Hopscotch of their annual publication, Packed Lunch, a collection of children’s short stories, poetry and illustrations. Due out in November 2011. It has been an exciting journey, one that is now getting even more exciting for me. So watch this space!


What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Hone your craft. And network. It is amazing what you can learn from other writers about writing and the publishing world. Also don’t put a time limit on achieving your dream of being a published author, if that is your goal. Continue to write and improve your craft because that is what you love to do. But if you give it up because you can’t get a publishing contract then find something else as it means you are not writing for the right reason.

If you really want to be published and can’t find a publisher, maybe your work needs revisiting so take on board any feedback. Otherwise investigate other publishing houses that take on your genre. Or look at other publishing alternatives. Remember, taking alternative publishing paths doesn’t mean that your work is inferior to those published under a contractual basis. You have to think outside the square and believe in yourself. But don’t be too precious about your work if it means improving your skills.

Tell us about your books.

 My latest books, 10 Yellow Bananas (released 2010) and Bubble Gum Trouble and other Giggle Poems (2009) were published by Little Steps Publishing, a Division

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