Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why don't your books have proper endings?
A: I like to leave the endings open so readers can interpret what happened for themselves. Who wants to read stories that end when you close the book?
Q: How come you write picture books and novels too?
A: I love writing picture books because I guess I am a frustrated illustrator. I'm just not good enough at drawing or painting to do them myself.
Q: Do you choose your illustrators
yourself.
A: I try, but particular illustrators are not always available. They are busy people and each book takes a long time to illustrate. I often have to wait in a queue.
Q: What is your favourite book?
A: I don't have one.
Q: How many books have you written?
A: About 40. I stopped counting
Q: What are you writing at the moment?
A: I have several picture books in the pipe line, but I am working on a Young Adult Novel at the moment.
Q: What is it about?
A: I'm not sure myself yet. It's too soon to say.
Q: Who is your favourite author?
A: I don't really have one, but for kids, Roald Dahl has to be out there. As for adult authors, I really couldn't say. I read so much that is good.
Q: What sort of books do you read?
A: Mostly non-fiction. That's where I get all my ideas from - before you ask that question. I especially like unsolved mysteries, ship wreck stories and things like that.
Q: A lot of your stories are scary. How come?
A: Not scary so much as mysterious. I reckon that life itself is pretty mysterious at times, don't you?
Q: How old are you?
A: 55 years old. I have three gown up children and two lovely grandchildren.
Q: what else do you do apart from write books?
A: I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I lecture in Creative Writing. I love my job, by the way.
Q: Do you have any hobbies.
A: I have 4 dogs, three Jack Russell terriers and a Rottie. They take up a fair bit of my time. I also read a lot. And write even more.
Q: How many awards have you won?
A: I have won the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the year four times.
Q: Will you ever stop writing?
A: When my publishers get sick of me.
I love writing too much to stop.