About

I discovered science fiction at an early age – hiding behind the couch when watching Doctor Who (those Daleks were pretty damn scary!) and watching Star Trek (the original series) with my brother.  It was my brother who also introduced me to the great SF authors – Robert A. Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land, The Puppet Masters), Isaac Asimov (I Robot, Robot Dreams), James Blish (They Shall Have Stars, Star Trek – collections of adaptations of the scripts from the TV series), Phillip K Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – aka Blade Runner) and Frank Herbert (Dune series).  To name but a few.

As well, I discovered (all on my own) Arthur C. Clarke (2001 a space odyssey), Harry Harrison (The Stainless Steel Rat series, Death World series), Andre Norton (Witch World series), Pierre Boulle (Monkey Planet – aka Planet of the Apes), George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire series), Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials trilogy) and J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter series).  Oh, and of course, Stephenie Meyer (the Twilight series – ain’t love grand!  I’m more a pale and pasty Edward fan… but then again, it’s hard to go past a good shape shifter, especially when they’re a wolf… )

My all-time, absolutely can read again and again books are (in no particular order):

• Anthem, Ayn Rand
• All the Green Year, D. E. Charlwood
• The Door into Summer, Robert A. Heinlein
• To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
• The Borrowers, Mary Norton
• A Traveller in Time, Alison Uttley

You will note that not all are Science Fiction and not all were written for grownups – but they are all classics!  And highly recommended if you enjoy a great story told by great story tellers.

I have written since I was a kid – my first effort was a fully (self) illustrated book about a mouse for a grade 3 assignment.  It was deemed good enough to be placed out the front of class for parent-teacher night as an example of the work students were doing.  Talk about a happy camper!  No idea where that first effort ended up but I’ve been writing ever since – with published short stories and awards.  Plus my first YA novel Mis’ka: Rite of Ascension (2010) – of course!

I hold an Advanced Diploma of Arts in Professional Screenwriting for Film, Television and Multi Media. Additionally, over the years I have honed my craft through various short courses – including a Professional Children’s Writing and Editing Certificate (Australian College of Journalism), Growing Worlds: Turning Your Stories into Games (ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and Writing for Animated Children’s TV Series (AFTRS – Australian Film, Television and Radio School).  Furthermore, I have completed Copywriting: Writing for Profit course at the Australian School of Copywriting.

My two gorgeous girls Lass and Bonnie

I am also an avid movie fan (including working as a film reviewer), a devourer of good books, enjoy walking my two delightful dogs and eating lots of chocolate (one must have pleasures in life).