As a writer/author, how would you describe yourself – beginner, emerging or established?

Definitely a beginner.

Was being a writer always something you wanted to be?
I've always written stories for my three sons when they were young. I certainly had the imagination and I loved reciting them to
the boys. I had also written a collection of poems in my teens and after having my boys. I have always loved poems and reading  Elizabeth and Robert Browning's verses. 
However. not having any experience of how to be an actual writer or begin to look at publishing, my
writing days were short lived.

When and why did you start submitting your work to publishers?
I was proud of my stories and my boys did love them so they encouraged me to submit one of my adventure
stories, I had written on my father's old typewriter, to Ashton Scholastic Publishing company, back in the 1994. My
excitement at the time, shrouded the realisation that the story was poorly written grammatically, and terribly
misspelled. I received my first rejection, which was upsetting.

Were you encouraged or discouraged after doing this?
I continued writing for my boys but yes very discouraged and never submitted a story again until recently.

What and when was your first acceptance? How did you feel?
This is yet to be seen!

After that first rejections how did you cope with it and do you have any advice for our readers on this
front?
After that initial rejection I didn't think writing was for me. Being a mother of three boys I didn't have time to
pursue it further anyway not back then. Now I say to all don't give up keep trying and give it a go!
I am now 65 and back attempting to enter the author's world. It is never too late.

Do you enter competitions? How have you fared? Would you recommend entering comps? Can you recommend
any specifically?
I have only entered one so far, the children's school magazine Touchdown comp in 2019. Yes I would absolutely
recommend entering the comps. Any that are running at the time you are ready to try. They are always being run
by various groups.

Do you go to conferences/festivals? Do any stand out? Did they help with your career?
I have attended the GCWA meetings and some local library events with guest speakers on how to write for
children, they are definitely a great incentive to help learn the writing process. Facebook writing groups are also a great way of learning and getting to know other authors and what they experience.

How long have you been writing? And what have you written? 
Since 1992. I have a number of short, boys adventure stories for my sons and magical fairy stories for my nieces. 
from 1998 to ago my sister and would organise and cater children's birthday parties and I always gave them a gift of a story written, illustrated and printed by me which included their name and all their friends names who attended the party. Books would be for either the Birthday boys (a truck adventure story or the Birthday girls a magical fairy story. I would read it at the party then give it to the child as a gift. Here a few titles of what I have written and given out.
"Sky's Birthday Surprise," "Shelly's Birthday Dream," "Declan's Birthday Surprise." 

What or who inspires you?
Jules Vern, C.S.Lewis, F.Hodgson Burnett, Emily Bronte, Enid Blyton, Diana Gabaldon, JK Rowlings, Julia Donaldson to name a few! 

Do you belong to any professional organisations such as SCBWI, ASA, State Writers’ Centres. Have they
been helpful?
GCWA Gold Coast Writers Association and SCBWI Society of Book Writers and Illustrators, Just Write for Kids. 
Yes, they are all very insightful and have been very helpful in providing many learning avenues from the various writers within their groups.

We all know that would-be writers should read and write as much as possible – do you have any other
advice?
Always put your imagination down on paper, it is amazing how a story can unfold from just a simple thought!

Do you have an online presence? What works best for you? 
Being a Children's book illustrator you can find me on my ArtScape website, Facebook and Instagram all work well for me.