I’m so looking forward to being part of the Margaret River Young Readers & Writers Festival this year – and the countdown is on, with less than two weeks to go! There are free events at the Storytelling Snug in central Margs on the weekend (18–19 May) and in the following week (20–23 May) a […]
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Diving in: a radio interview
I had the pleasure of chatting live on air with ‘Freo-verse’ co-host Miles Openshaw on Radio Fremantle last week so am sharing a short excerpt of the interview here (with huge thanks to Wild Dingo Press’s marketing guru, Rachael McDiarmid!). The interview gave me a chance to reflect on the joy of writing about maritime […]
A new thing coming up
Hello, 2024. I’m always happy for a new year. The silly – and very stressful – season is behind us. Time opens up to think, rest, and hatch a new project or two. Time to dive into a new read, perhaps? On 1 February I’ll be able to help middle-grade readers and their parents, teachers and […]
Precious creative time in the Pilbara
As some of you know, I’m currently in the Pilbara enjoying a creative residency thanks to the generosity of the Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund. My time in the red north is coming to an end and I’m keen to post some memories before they become just that. This residency has offered so much goodness – […]
2021 Minderoo Foundation Artist Residency
It was during a recent writing residency that I applied for another, so convinced the experience had made me of the critical value of time for a writer. Time without the noise that so often gets in the way of being able to do good work. For me, a writing residency is about that quiet. […]
How to be an author – all your questions answered
It’s always an idea when you’re seeking advice to go to an expert. Someone with inside information, someone with experience and skills, and the ability to communicate it all to you in a no-nonsense, practical way. Which is why aspiring authors should ensure they get themselves a copy of How to be an Author: The business […]
Writing and hope. And puzzles. And coffee.
Last week, as I drove to Warnbro Community High School on my first day as writer-in-residence, I was certainly going through all these as possibilities. I was also revving myself up to give all the students I’d meet that day my best energy. I’d be working with each class of Year 7s right through to […]
Like a fish
‘A book isn’t complete until it has been read’, a wise person once said. I’m going to add to that. A packet of noodles hasn’t been enjoyed until it’s been eaten. Over the last couple of weeks at WA’s Shenton College, Year 11 English classes have been reading 90 packets of instant noodles. I only know […]
Giving thanks
As we head into a new school year and requests for school visits start to roll in, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible curiosity and generosity of those in the Australian education system and library services. These communities of people foster in others their love of books, writing and illustration, and the creative process behind […]
Stimulation, not silence
It’s fair to say that most people think writing is a solo affair: writer, computer, room, coffee. Silence, and thought. No interruptions. And this model is true for some. But it doesn’t work for many writers, and I’m one of them. I need stimulation, including interruptions when I want them. I need to see other […]
