a collective of children's story writers
When did you start writing?
I first began writing as a child, mostly because my vivid imagination extended well beyond the boring limits of the truth!
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Sally Hepworth, Stephen King, Jeanine Cummins, Matt Haig, Alex Smith, Stuart Wilson, David Walliams, Beth Lincoln, and Jeff Kinney.
Have you travelled widely?
Born in Montreal, Canada, and growing up in Toronto, I have traveled to Quebec City, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Hampshire, Chicago, Boston, Florida, Aruba, Cuba, the Caribbean, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and the airport in Auckland!
What are your favourite books/genres to read/write in?
I try to read as widely as possible across a range of genres, but my absolute favorites are Roald Dahl's books, particularly Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Do you write mainly for children, or have you written for adults?
I write for both children and adults and enjoy them both immensely. However, I definitely find that I am far more imaginative and have a lot of fun when I write for children!
Do you derive inspiration from your own family/friends?
I get ideas from my kids, husband, my own life experiences and dreams. I enjoy collecting interesting pieces of information and putting different ideas together.
Have you created characters based on people you know?
Most of my characters start with a tiny fragment of truth and then evolve into a unique, entirely fictional person.
Do you feel writing and being a member of The Ten Penners helps you push your writing to a new level?
I absolutely love being part of the Ten Penners. It is so fun to create stories together as part of an anthology, and I am incredibly proud to be a member of this highly skilled group of writers and illustrators.
Do you think of the setting as a character or just a background to your story?
I actually think of the setting as part of the character itself. If you have the setting established, it naturally leads the characters to react and interact in ways specific to that environment and from there, the plot comes next.
What writing groups do you belong to?
In addition to the Ten Penners, I belong to the Gold Coast Writers Association and am a former Write Links member.