Born and educated in Sydney, I moved later with my husband to Tasmania, where we brought up our four children. I now live on the New South Wales Far South Coast. I love the sea and the wilderness, animals and plants, and want to do what I can to make the earth shine.
I trained in art, although writing always shared an equal importance for me, and I've combined illustration with editorial and writing jobs. I believe the power to make mental images is what inspires the words. In my case, pictures come first in any story and are animated, as I experience them in their own universe of time and space. Then I try to make my words bring them to life (which is the hard work part).
A Boy, a Bubble and a Whole Lot of Trouble is the result of a dream. In this dream, I am in the children's section of a large bookshop when I see a display featuring a certain book. The book title is intriguing and more so the packets of bubblegum stuck to every copy. But so is the author's name — mine! Next morning I remember everything. I know I have to write A Boy, a Bubble and a Whole Lot of Trouble . But what will the story be about? All I am sure is, it must involve bubblegum. That day I go down to the beach and do beachy stuff: strolling, shell collecting, seagull watching, getting sandy and wet etc. As I do, the story pops into my head then gradually grows wings. The next thing is the work of organising and writing down, and, of course, buying some bubblegum so I can get properly into the spirit.
Because this is my first published book for children, it is an exciting time for me. It is particularly exciting to be associated with Scholastic. My own children used to bring home their Scholastic Book Club packs from school and tuck into them eagerly while their imaginations soared. Now grown up, they are still enthusiastic readers, and it pleases me to think that something I do might bring the same pleasure and enthusiasm to other children.
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