About me...

I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. When other kids were playing, I was making my own comics, newspapers and books.

My first published book was a stranger danger story called You Don’t Know Me? and I was famous for about five minutes when it was released in 1982.

I have had two more picture books and a chapter book published and others are in the pipeline.

Lots of my short stories and poems for children and adults have appeared in magazines, newspapers and anthologies.

I am also a journalist and have worked on various newspapers and magazines, both as a writer and editor.

How I work...

That depends on what I’m writing. I don’t always start at the beginning and work through to the end.

With picture books and poems, I jot down verses or bits and pieces of the story in small notebooks as I think of them, in between doing other things. When I think I’ve got most of the story, I start putting all my little bits of paper in order on the kitchen bench. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle – I have to find out if there are gaps that need to be filled. Then I go to the computer, key in what I’ve got and prepare the manuscript to send to a publisher.

With longer work, such as a novel, I do write some scenes by hand in a notebook, particularly if I get an idea in the middle of the night, but most of the story will be written directly onto the computer because it’s quicker and easier.

Kids always ask which of my books I like best...

That’s like asking a mum which one of her children she likes the best! It’s impossible to choose.

Big Nanna Little Nanna is "my" story. I was the little girl with the English and Italian grandmothers, fascinated by their tales of how they came to Australia to start a new life.

 I like Grandpa Goes to Mars because it’s about being positive, having a dream and setting out to make it come.

Getting Rid of Wrinkles was great fun to write.

You Don’t Know Me? is special because it was my first published book – my dream of becoming a writer had come true.

If you want to be a writer…

• Read widely.
• Write regularly.
• Learn what you can from other writers.
• Enjoy the journey.