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​

Who are you and what do you write?

I’m an Irish opinionated fixer of words and people. I write women’s fiction, flash fiction, and nonfiction, with a toe dipped into picture books.


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

Ever since I learned to read, I’ve written. I still remember those first copybooks from school in which we wrote stories and drew a picture to go with them. My English teachers were great encouragers in secondary school.


How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

I wrote in my diary for many, many years and stopped when the kids were born. I did a writing course when they were very small but didn’t do anything with it after. The mentor was encouraging though. We won the Irish lottery visa, emigrated to Texas, and got busier. Once I had teenagers, it was easier to set time aside to learn more, and I joined a group called Faithwriters. The great thing about it was that they had a weekly challenge, and by studying winning entries each week and getting and giving peer reviews, I worked my way up to the master level. I then self-published my favorite entries into a small book of flash fiction called Joy in a Box.
 
Since then I’ve set up an editing business and have helped many authors self-publish their own books. I’ve also published three workbooks, which are all self-help focused—one is about healing the heart, the second is about letting the Holy Spirit move through your life freely in creative ways, and the third is about living life on purpose to maximize everything in you. I’ve been doing inner healing since the ‘90s and thought it would be great to write something people could do in the privacy of their own home. I’ve also taught many classes on working with the Holy Spirit and wanted to give a guidebook for others to take that journey. I became a certified life coach a few years into all this and wanted to encourage people to be all they could be, so the third book has a lot of questions helping people understand who they are and what they are in this world for.
 
I think my favorite writing is women’s fiction. You can create a lot more and pull people into beauty.
 

What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

My current book has been quite the journey. It’s women’s fiction set in my homeland of Ireland, and it’s set in the ‘80s. I’ve had a lot of great feedback on it and had a few requests for fulls, but it needed more work. I’m almost finished round 1 of a major rewrite and am working with a good developmental editor to help iron out all the kinks. I’ll query the next hundred agents then....
 
Any time I get to write creatively, it’s enjoyable, but I do love kudos. :D


Would you go back and change anything?

No. I am who I am. It is what it is.


Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?

I’d like to have my first novel published by a recognized publisher within five years, and hopefully the second one would be out within ten. I’d also like to write many more self-help books and have accompanying video series and audio books. The more people I can help to live a full life, the better.


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

Just enjoy yourself. Words are like dough—you can shape them together in the most stunning, extraordinary, fun ways; and the greatest happiness is during the creation of something gorgeous, not the finished result. Write your lovely heart out.


And most importantly... 

Ketchup or Mayo? Mayo – olive oil mayo
Night or Day? Night – it’s so quiet and sacred.
Inside or Outside? Outside - without the snakes and wild beesties. I loved the woods in Ireland.
Dogs or Cats? Dogs
Twitter or Facebook? Facebook – I love making people laugh and post daily memes, and occasionally I open my mouth and Jesus falls out.
e-book or Paperback? Paperback unless I’m traveling
Sun or Rain? Sun – so much rain in Ireland. It’s nice to stay dry for days at a time.
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Notebook but keyboard for writing novels – so slow otherwise.
Comedy or Drama? Comedy. Who wants to cry?
Chips or Chocolate? Cadbury’s chocolate, although sometimes I have a hankering for crisps and nothing else will suffice.

When I was eight-years-old our neighbor’s house caught fire. Three people didn’t make it out of the house, one of whom was a childhood friend. For weeks after, I’d walk out our front door every morning to go to school, not wanting to look up at the burned-out house. I stared at the ground instead,  but the smell of smoke that lingered was always a reminder that there was no turning away or hiding from what had happened.


During this time, I don’t remember crying. My reactions to the accident manifested throughout day-to-day life. I was afraid if I left our house, it wouldn’t be there when I got back. I was afraid something would happen to my mom and dad. I didn’t want to go to school, and I’d tell my teacher I felt sick so my mom would come pick me up. I hated spending the night over friend’s and family’s houses. This lasted six to twelve months after the fire, during which my oldest brother also joined the Navy, the first one in our family to leave home.   


If someone were to ask me what was the single most important event that had the greatest impact on my life, I’d have to say the fire and the months after. Losing people, saying goodbye or never getting a chance are themes that underline my writing. Loss is a lens through which I’ve looked at the world. So naturally the stories and characters I write are stories of characters dealing with some sort of loss. In EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS, December struggles to accept the truth of her past, a past that includes a mom who chose to abandon her. In THE SPACE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND, Cassie struggles to find a way to live the best life she can with her mom, knowing it’s inevitable she will lose her. Both December and Cassie are proactive about their loss. They find ways—December with her passion for birds and Cassie through her passion for art and math—to navigate their way through loss.


Being a teacher, I’ve had students who’ve dealt with losing parents, losing grandparents, and it’s important they have mirrors representing their experiences, mostly to help them know they’re not alone. With loss comes the learning of letting go and moving on. Finding a balance of remembering the life before the loss and moving forward can be tricky for adults, let alone children. Stories about loss—“sad stories”--are reminders of how fragile but resilient we are. These stories reflect the everyday sorrow and joy of our lives, the heartache and struggle involved in making our way through the chaos. 


I don’t know how long it took before I stopped fearing that every time I left my house or felt secure enough to spend the night over a friend’s house, but it did eventually happen. However, I had parents who were there for me and helped me through this time with love and patience. I know not all children have that so it’s also important to remind adult readers that sometimes they—whether they’re teachers, mentors, friends, aunts, uncles, sisters, or brothers—can be the person who’s there to walk through the chaos with the child.


There are some lines about loss in Mary Oliver’s poem, “In Blackwater Woods”  that I think sum up well the importance of “sad” books in children’s literature: “To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.”


I hope my books can be a companion to readers who have experienced loss, or a catalyst in inspiring discussions that lead to deeper connections between teachers and students, parents and children. Any form of art that shines light on our day-to-day vulnerabilities and how we can find a balance between these difficult moments and our resilience is an opportunity for all of us to widen our compassion and our empathy toward each other. 
​

Follow Geoff and Coy here! 

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The Interview...
​

Who are you and what do you write?
​
We are Coy Kissee and Geoff Habiger, best friends since high school, game designers of RPGs and card games, sometimes herders of cats, and baseball fanatics. Oh, and we also write books. We have (currently) two series that we write. The Saul Imbierowicz series features an ordinary man who faces extraordinary circumstances when he’s thrust into the middle of Prohibition-era Chicago’s gang wars. While that’s bad enough, he soon learns that vampires are not just legends. There are currently two books in this series, Unremarkable and Untouchable, with the third book in the first trilogy currently being written.

Our second series is the Constable Inspector Lunaria Adventures, which are detective dramas in a fantasy setting of magic and monsters. In book one, Wrath of the Fury Blade, Constable Inspector Reva Lunaria is assigned a new partner, Seeker Ansee Carya. Together they must stop a serial killer who is killing people by cutting them in half with an enchanted sword. Book two, Joy of the Widow’s Tears, comes out in June of this year. In it, Reva and Ansee must deal with a double homicide where the victim’s bodies have disappeared. Before the investigation can get underway, Reva is suspended, and she and Ansee must stop a zombie plague from overtaking the city.


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

We’ve both been avid readers for our entire lives, but the writing bug came late. While Geoff dabbled with some short stories in college, the real writing didn’t start happening until after we went on a vacation together to Chicago with our wives for a joint anniversary trip. That’s where the initial idea for Unremarkable and Saul Imbierowicz was hatched. We fleshed out the basic plot on the drive home, and the rest, as they say, is history.


How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

To date, the journey has been fantastic, although a bit slower than we’d have liked. It took us seven years to get Unremarkable written and published. It took only about five years to get Wrath of the Fury Blade written and published. Getting published was never a problem since Geoff also owns a publishing company, but getting both books written and to the point where we were happy with releasing them to the wider world took time. We’ve been happy with the responses and feedback that we’ve gotten from our readers on Unremarkable and Wrath of the Fury Blade and have been making faster progress on our follow-on titles. Now if we could just find a way to quit our day jobs and write full-time.


What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

From a technical/process perspective, the hardest part of our writing experience has been marketing our books. Marketing is always a tough nut to crack for many writers, and getting exposure as relatively unknown authors is something that we have to work hard in order to make it happen. That’s why we like doing interviews like this one.

The most enjoyable part has been all the great people we have met since becoming authors, from fellow authors (in many different genres) to the many great readers who have read and enjoyed our books. Meeting these people, and talking about the books that we write, the books that we like to read, and the entire process has been a blast. We hope that this will continue for many years to come.


Would you go back and change anything?

Would we change anything with our books? Probably not, although we’ve often wondered how Unremarkable would have turned out had we written it in third person instead of first. We’ve been very happy with how it’s been received, so we probably wouldn’t change anything. If we could go back and start writing sooner, or even finish up the process on writing Unremarkable in fewer than seven years, I think we would do that. In that case, we’d probably be ready to start on our next trilogy instead of getting ready to finish the first.
​

Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?

In five years, we’ll have completed the first Saul trilogy and should be wrapping up the next trilogy. We’ll also have a few more Reva Lunaria adventures written as well. In 10 years, we’d love to be writing full time and hopefully have a couple of new series started. Maybe if we can land a movie/TV/streaming deal that will happen. Hey, Netflix, look over here!


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

We always tell new writers that the first thing they need to do is read. Know your craft. The best way to do that is to read a lot of books, written by a lot of different authors. Whether the writing is good or bad, you will see what to do, or what not to do. And don’t worry if you don’t write every day. We took seven years to get our first book published. It’s not a race. Work at your own pace, write when you are inspired, and don’t put pressure on yourself to hurry up and finish.


And most importantly...

Ketchup or Mayo?
Coy: Both.  But the real question is Mayo or Miracle Whip, in which, the answer is clearly Miracle Whip.
Geoff: Depends on what I’m eating. Ketchup for burgers, French fries, etc. Mayo (well, Miracle Whip) for a sandwich.

Night or Day?
Coy: Night.  I am a night owl, not an early bird.
Geoff: Day. I have always been a morning person.

Inside or Outside?
Coy: Inside.  That's where all of my favorite things are.  Plus, there's A/C in the summer and heat in the winter.
Geoff: Outside, though it makes it hard to write. But I like to go hiking, camping, etc. and that’s always better outside.

Dogs or Cats?
Coy: Cats.  I don't dislike dogs, but I'm just not a fan of them.
Geoff: Both. I love cats and dogs, though I currently only have two cats. If I had more time to devote to puppy training I’d get another dog.

Twitter or Facebook?
Coy: Facebook.  Yes, I'm old.  Now get off of my lawn!
Geoff: Both. I do Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends, but I hang out on Twitter to connect with authors and readers.

Ebook or Paperback?
Coy: Physical book.  See previous comment about my age.  Although, I have been getting more ebooks lately.
Geoff: I prefer a physical book, but sometimes I get ARCs only as ebooks, so I read them that way. I understand the appeal of an ebook, but I like the feel of reading a physical book.

Sun or Rain?
Coy: Inside.  That way neither of them impacts me.
Geoff: Sun, but not too much and not too hot.

Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook?
Coy: Keyboard.  When I write by hand, my words and letters take shortcuts from my head to the page.
Geoff: Pen and notebook. Specifically, a Pilot G-2 gel pen with blue ink and a college-ruled spiral notebook. I write all our first drafts that way.

Comedy or Drama?
Coy: Both, but they have to be quality.
Geoff: Both – and I agree with Coy, they have to be good.

Chips or Chocolate? 
Coy: Both, but not together.  Chocolate chips are good, but no chocolate-covered chips.
Geoff: Chocolate, though I like my chips too. So maybe both is a better answer.
​

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DAWN HERE! 

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​

 
Mosaic is a collection of very short stories, ranging from scary pieces to those full of hope. Through these stories, I hope to provide glimpses into what it means to be human.  Each of us is made up of many different pieces that, when fit together, make a beautiful, messy whole. Those tiny pieces in and of themselves don’t mean much and are easily overlooked. But, when we put them all together, a full picture of what it means to be human starts to form.
​

The Interview... 
​

Who are you and what do you write?
 
I am Dawn Hosmer. I write Psychological Thrillers and suspense.
​

Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to write. I wrote “books” in elementary school for assignments and fell in love with storytelling. As a teenager, I wrote tons of poetry full of teenage angst and longing that are collecting dust somewhere in my crawl space.
 
When my children were younger, I wrote several children’s books and queried them. I did not get any agent or publisher interest, so I shelved those, and they are now, too, collecting dust somewhere.
 
I tried to write my first novel in 2006, The End of Echoes. It was inspired by a real-life event that impacted my life in a profound way. Writing this book was healing for me in so many ways, and it truly is the story of my heart. You sometimes hear authors say they were meant to write a certain story – I was meant to write The End of Echoes. I feel like it was my destiny.

 
How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?
 
The journey has been full of peaks and valleys. After writing The End of Echoes, I queried for many years and well over 100 agents. I was met with rejection after rejection. Each one felt like a knife through the heart because this story was so dear to me.
 
Instead of succumbing to defeat, I wrote my second book, Bits & Pieces. Writing this book was so much easier for me than the first. The words literally poured out of my fingers, and I got the first draft written quickly. After re-writes and edits, I queried again because my dream was always to be traditionally published. Again, I was met with countless rejections. Again, this took an emotional toll on me, so much so, that I couldn’t write a single word for over two years.
 
Then, a dear friend and I went to dinner, and she suggested I join Twitter because of the writing community. I DID NOT want to join another social media platform and was quite resistant. Throughout the meal, she wore me down and convinced me to join.
 
I am so thankful I did. When I joined Twitter a little over two years ago, I decided I was going to go all-in by following agents, publishers, editors, and trying to build a community of writers.
 
I participated in several pitch contests in March and April 2018. For anyone reading that isn't familiar with what a pitch contest is – you summarize your story in 280 characters or less. Agents and publishers then read through the pitches. If they like your pitch, it means they want additional information.
 
One contest I participated in was #adpit. I got interest in Bits & Pieces from ten agents and publishers. I was over the moon excited and sent off the requested materials. Right away, one agent and one publisher requested the full manuscript, which I happily sent off.
 
The publisher was a small independent publisher, Ant Colony Press, and the agent was from one of the largest literary agencies in Canada. Ant Colony offered a contract the same day I heard back from the literary agent in Canada. She offered me a revise and re-submit saying she loved the story and would more than likely accept it if I eliminated the major plot twist in the story.
 
I went back and forth on what to do. My dream was always to be traditionally published, and it sounded like that would be possible if I adjusted my story to fit what the agent wanted. I didn't sleep much that night, trying to make my decision about the path I wanted to take.
I ultimately decided to go with Ant Colony Press for a few reasons. One, I was not willing to change my story and remove the major plot twist (most readers LOVE that plot twist, and I'm so glad I kept it in there). Two, I'd heard so many horror stories about agents taking a book and then waiting years to find a publisher and sometimes never finding one. Three, the industry is changing so much, and I'd heard that many traditionally published authors were still responsible for all of their own advertising and marketing with much lower royalties than indie publishers offered. Because of my chronic illness and being in my mid-forties at the time, I didn't want to wait years to have my book out in the world. I didn't have any emotional energy left to ride that rollercoaster. So, I signed with Ant Colony.
 
I know this was the right decision for me because as soon as I did, my words returned and I could write again! I hadn't been able to write for over two long years!
 
I signed with Ant Colony in May 2018, and Bits & Pieces was published in November 2018. It was well-received, and I've had steady sales and reviews since it released, thanks mostly to the Writing Community on Twitter.
 
As many small, independent publishers face, Ant Colony was having trouble managing all of its authors because money was tight, and they were operating on a shoestring budget. I signed with Gestalt Media for my second book to be released, The End of Echoes, which came out in August 2019.  Gestalt Media worked with Ant Colony Press to also obtain rights to Bits & Pieces, which re-released in September 2019 under Gestalt.
 
Sales and reviews have been much slower for The End of Echoes, which has been hard for me. It truly is the book of my heart, and I want it to get the same love and attention that Bits & Pieces has received. I also know that it's a much more emotional read and may not attract the same audiences as Bits & Pieces. It is a slice of life suspense that follows two families' tragedies over the course of eighteen years.
 
My third book, Somewhere In Between, is a Psychological Suspense, and it releases in June 2020 through Gestalt Media. It is currently on pre-order through Gestalt (the paperback and hardcover) and on Amazon (the eBook). I'm also currently working with a narrator, so it will also be available through Audible (as are my other two books).

​Dawn's other books include... 
​

The End of Echoes

Two families, forever linked by tragedy.

Ruby Dunkin is in an abusive marriage. Her best efforts aren't enough to shield her two children from an abusive father whose cruelty knows no bounds. Their volatile situation ends in tragedy when Ruby's eldest son, Billy is torn away from everything he loves. Consumed by hatred and self-loathing Billy becomes the thing he hates the most—his father.

Chelsea Wyatt, a senior in high school, goes missing after work one night, never to return. Her parents are devastated, only knowing this kind of tragedy from the news. Crimes like this are unheard of in their quiet, midwestern town. Consumed by the tragic fate of their friend, family member and neighbor, their lives and futures are forever altered.

For over eighteen years, no one knows the connection between Ruby Dunkin and Chelsea Wyatt. A journey through time reveals the common thread stitching their heartbreak together. Yesterday echoes throughout each character's life as they decide how, and if, they will break the chains of the past.

Will they continue to leave a legacy of pain and loss for future generations? Will they break the cycles of abuse that have destroyed so many lives?

​Bits & Pieces

A chance encounter with a stranger traps Tessa within the mind of a madman. 
 
Tessa was born with a gift. Through a simple touch she picks up pieces of others. A “flash” of color devours her, the only indication that she’s gained something new from another person. Red equals pain; purple, a talent; yellow, a premonition; orange, a painful memory; and blue, a pleasant one. Each flash blurs the lines between her inherent traits and those she’s acquired from others. Whenever she gains bits of something new, she loses more pieces of herself.
 
While assisting in search efforts for a local missing college student, Tessa is paralyzed by a flash that rips through her like a lightning bolt, slicing apart her soul. A blinding light takes away her vision. A buzzing louder than any noise she’s ever heard overwhelms her, penetrates her mind. As the bolt works its way through her body, images and feelings take over. Women’s dead eyes stare at her as her hands encircle their throats. Their screams consume her mind. Memories invade her of the brutal murders of five women. 
 
Will she be able to find the killer and help save the next victim? Can she do so without completely losing herself?
 
Bits & Pieces is a fast-paced, riveting Psychological Suspense with supernatural elements that leaves the reader guessing until the end.

​Find out more about Anna here! 

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​Booktopia
​

Who are you and what do you write? 

I'm Anna Whateley, and I write #Ownvoices YA fiction, and potentially children's stories in the future! 


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

I wrote in diaries a lot as a child, but then nothing for many years. Two years ago I found myself unable to continue paid work due to disability and care needs of my children, and took up narrative fiction. Now here we are! 


How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

I've had an easy journey compared to most, though it's all capitalising on a strange life and many years studying literature as an academic. I wrote Peta Lyre's Rating Normal because I'd booked an editor session at the CYA Conference in Brisbane - but I didn't have a manuscript! I really needed the strict deadline, and I'd recently heard the call for more own voices work. I put my fantasy writing aside, and wrote Peta Lyre very quickly, tapping into parts of myself I hadn't listened to in a long time. Her voice was natural and her world flowed. I took it to the conference and pitched widely. Danielle Binks signed me up as a result, and we garnered some publisher interest. I chose Allen & Unwin, and they turned out to be the perfect match! They've been wonderful, and nurtured Peta Lyre as closely as family would. All in all, it will be two years from writing to release, and I'm pretty sure that's not how it's supposed to be. I feel lucky, though I worked hard, too.


What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

The hardest part has been juggling family life and my disabilities. That's not a new problem though! Also perhaps knowing what's expected of me. As a neurodivergent person, I really like to get things right and follow the guidelines. Those don't always exist, so again, I'm grateful my publishers are willing to answer questions, and be gentle with my anxiety. The most enjoyable thing is everything else. I love writing, editing, and the whole process. The community of #LoveOzYA writers is strong and I couldn't imagine my life without them now. Events are always engaging and inspiring, even when they move online in a time of crisis. 


Would you go back and change anything?

I'd maybe write down the dates of everything I did in *one place* to understand my own journey better. I have ADHD, and my understanding of time is... problematic! I use file creation dates a lot, and emails I've sent and received, to piece it all together. I wouldn't change anything about Peta Lyre though. 


Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?

Hahaha, I tend not to look too far ahead. But I guess I'd like to publish more books, and in different genres. I love new puzzles to solve, and each genre and format is a new puzzle. I'd love to see more neurodivergent representations, so mine was one of many for young readers to choose from. For that to happen I need to keep the market interested, and readers asking for more. 


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

Write from the heart, and face your own pain. If you side step, the work will lack depth. It's only with courage that we can write the authentic emotional moments that readers need.


And, most importantly... 

Ketchup or Mayo? - Both, not together.
Night or Day? - Twilight? 
Inside or Outside? - Inside. Or a beach.
Dogs or Cats? - Dogs
Twitter or Facebook? - TWITTER
Ebook or Paperback? - Both
Sun or Rain? - Rain, always.
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard
Comedy or Drama? - Musical... I suck at this.
Chips or Chocolate? - Chips. Hot chips dipped in ice cream. 

Who are you and what do you write?

​Hi there, I’m Loretta Garbutt and I love to write children’s picture books. I also love to
write short stories and essays, mostly about people who are trying to figure out their lives.
 

Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

I just recall always being keenly aware of words. One set of my grandparents was born in Ukraine, English wasn’t their first language but they had a good grasp of it. Sadly, my brothers, cousins and I never learned it.
 
Still, Ukrainian was spoken when family gathered. The adults all crammed into the small farmhouse dining room after a large meal, grandparents and aunties in chairs, my tall uncles, arms folded, leaning into the wall. Talk went late, serious dialogue with a lot of nodding then tears and suddenly laughter and jokes, it was fascinating. Watching their changing expressions, I yearned to understand what was being said and believed if I listened hard enough I would just get it, I loved the sound of their secret language. Who knows, maybe that’s where a love of words started, in the struggle for them.

I don’t know why we have these affinities for things, whether it’s born within us and something in our life experience triggers them or if they’re created from environment. But it’s such a strong image for me.
 

How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

Grade 4, first poem.
Grade 5, poetry competition, 2nd place!
First completed book read, Charlotte’s Web. I cheated and skipped a chapter or two because it was sunny out and my brothers were playing hockey without me.
I was a lazy reader.
​
My family was very musical though, mom a piano teacher, so although there were books in the house, I couldn’t be bothered. That said, I lost myself in song lyrics. Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Genesis, Yes, any song that had a lyrical hook. I think that developed my love of story. I can recite certain albums from beginning to end, not sure if that’s something to be proud of but for sure, my writing was born from there.

Endless journaling.
Essay competitions in school.
Found the theatre – woohoo!

But then, grade 13, we used to have that up until a few years ago in Canada, Mrs. Guthrie introduced me to literature and I was ready to hear it; the way she unravelled hidden meanings behind words blew me away.

I was a lazy student, bored, a brat, then The Stone Angel changed me, didn’t skip a chapter, read it twice in fact and devoured others.

I think we can count ourselves very lucky when we find a teacher that speaks to us and takes us out of our teen heads, makes us hungry for something different. Mrs. G opened doors into Tolkien, Thoreau, Dostoyevsky etc. etc.!
 
For years I just wrote, squirrelled away ideas, formulated thoughts, had a couple of essays published in our Globe and Mail newspaper but my writing didn’t really have a direction. I was a full time mom and actor, but I was nagged by not writing.

THEN, I took a job in a children’s book store, one of those iconic places, Mabel’s Fables, similar to the one in You’ve Got Mail. The door to children’s literature was flung open, best classroom ever.

After a year, without a doubt, I knew what I wanted to write: Picture books! 

Began the journey, workshops, writing groups, conferences, the circuit.


What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

The hardest part was not knowing if I was actually any good and wondered if I was spending time and money on acquiring a mediocre skill, 10 years of frustration. “Was this a waste of time and would I actually ever be published?”

I was driven to become a good writer and I worked at it daily. Studied under good people, asked questions.  I was thrilled to have the store; daily I was reading the best stories I could get my hands on, they blew me away. I loved their simplicity or how smart they were with just the minimum of words.  
 
I was lucky to find a critique group where I we can still safely share stories and we trust one another to give helpful advice. This definitely made my work better. And some positive feedback gave me hope. It’s not easy to put yourself out there, to share your work and leave it open to criticism, but for me, It was one of the most important steps to getting better. If my story can pass the critical eyes of critique group, it will be that much better prepared for the sharp eyes of an editor.

The best response to my writing was a rejection from a UK publisher – “Your story is lovely and engaging but we can’t accept it at this time.” Woohoo, someone actually read my story and liked it!
​
I was extremely lucky to have a story plucked from a slush pile at Kids Can Press. That first story didn’t pan out but my first picture book, A Stopwatch from Grampa from Kids Can Press, was released on April 7, 2020. I have a second picture book coming out spring of 2022.

Would you go back and change anything?

​The process has been a blast! Watching a book come to life from manuscript to illustrations to holding it in my hand. Amazing. I’ve learned so much from my editor Katie Scott, she’s been a fabulous teacher.

And I’d like to say be open to that, editors have the expertise and know the market. Trust them. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that someone has my back in this and only wants the best for my story.
 
Do I have to pinch myself? Yes.

I think the fact that I’ve been an actor, interpreting scripts, taking improv, has helped me with character creation and story and rejection. Rejection isn’t personal, it’s just not a good fit for a publisher. It still hurts but "never give up, never surrender!"

And if I would change anything it would be to trust myself sooner and not be so critical. Perhaps I should have started writing sooner but honestly, I’m not sure if I was ready. It had to happen organically. And don’t stay in a box, try new things, get out of your comfort zone. Growth in your life equals growth in writing.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?
 
My plan, to write into the future and keep learning. My dream, to have a few more picture books published and maybe try my hand at a novel.

I’d love to find a quiet cottage somewhere in Wales and write for 6 months, not unlike Colin Firth in Love Actually, even though I think he was writing in France. One dream at a time but also, I plan to enjoy the process, not make it a chore.


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?
 
Advice, I am honoured to give it: never say ‘no’, to yourself or to your work. Be open to change and to making your work better. It’s easy to hang on to our stories we love but always be open to finding new channels. We are writers, creators so don’t block yourself by saying ‘no.’

Also, it’s difficult to get published so understand the market. It’s difficult because there are many factors to think about and that’s stressful when we just want to write, but knowing what you’re up against will help. If you can somehow use that to make yourself better, then you will suffer less disappointment.

Above all, give yourself the benefit of the doubt. No one will do that for you. When you find yourself saying, ‘I’ll never get anything published, then add, ‘yea, but what if I did!’

Believe you can be better. Pat yourself on the back sometimes and don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go as hoped. We all have a plan within and we have to let it unfold.
 

And most importantly, we want to know... 

Ketchup or mayo? - Mayo - Duh
Night or day? - Day – mornings for sure. Fresh and frosty in winter – a slow unfolding in summer.
Inside or Outside? - Outside – walks, gardening, birds, trees.
Dogs or Cats? - Dogs or Cats are great – maybe cats, but depends on the personality.
Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter – FB gives me anxiety but love connecting with family.
Sun or Rain? - Rain mostly, it’s cozy and thoughtful.
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard with a little pencil and notebook on the side.
Comedy or drama? - Drama – Anything historical, Jane Austin, yes please.
Chips or Chocolate? - Chips – but it’s a free for all if they are in the house, no control.

Who are you and what do you write?
 
I write children’s picture books so I’m a children’s author. I’m also a parent and Early Years teacher. I’m terrible cook, a pretty good friend and an enthusiastic but out of tune singer.


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?
 
My first book (Big Rain Coming) has been in print for over twenty years. After it was published, having three babies in two years slowed things down for a while but since they started school I’ve published an average of one book per year. My fifteenth book (Shoo, You Crocodile) will be released in November.
 
I always say I began writing by accident when a story in my head (Big Rain Coming) wouldn’t go away so I wrote it down to set it free. I don’t think that was really the start. Like most authors, I’ve always loved stories and writing. I still have my childhood collection of picture books and I was lucky enough to begin life with parents and grandparents who read to me.
 
As a university education student I ignored advice to select a variety of electives and instead followed my heart, which favoured children’s literature. I completed four courses in children’s literature, as well the compulsory courses Language Arts One and Two, under the tutorage of Mem Fox. I think it was always in the stars that I was going to write for children.
 
 
How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?
 
When my first book came out I pretty much ignored it and the initial print run of 10 thousand copies sold out within months. There was no social media and I didn’t do school visits. The book was a CBCA Notable but I wasn’t aware a Notable list even existed. (Without social media it was mainly school librarians who accessed the Notables.) I didn’t realise the subsequent American edition was a big deal; I assumed it was the natural process. So I sat on my hands for a decade while the book sold thousands of copies around the world. I now realise that was a bit of a dream run. Nothing’s been quite that smooth since!
 
I sold a few more stories without an agent, submitting by snail mail to the slush pile, just as I had with Big Rain Coming. Even back then it was said that about 1% of slush was published. For many years now I’ve been fortunate to work with Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown. Having an excellent agent definitely helps to build and maintain a career.
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What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?
 
Sometimes it all feels hard. Lots of work is rejected. The industry is competitive and celebrity writers take up space, so do international creators. The crowded market can be overwhelming. But writing picture books is what I love to do. I also adore reading and sharing them. I was a picture book lover before I was a picture book author and sometimes I can’t believe I’m actually part of the industry. To think that grown-ups and children share my books together. How did that happen? It’s magic.


Would you go back and change anything?

No.
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Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?
 
(Future plans – is this where I plug the new book?) I hope to continue writing and publishing picture books until I’m in the retirement village, and maybe then too. In the near future I have a new book (subtle enough?) titled Tell `em. I’m super excited about this one because it’s such an amazing collaboration between a team of creators including the children of Manyallaluk School in the Northern Territory. The book is about them and 100% of author royalties will be directed to the school. It’s co-authored by Rosemary Sullivan and illustrated by Karen Briggs. It’s so beautiful. I’m very proud of it.


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?
 
Don’t undersell yourself or your work. Don’t give everything away for free. Value what you do and expect others to as well.


And most importantly...

Ketchup or Mayo? - I’ll take the tomato sauce if it’s my dad’s homemade variety.
Night or Day? - Day
Inside or Outside? - Out if it’s warm. In if it’s cold.
Dogs or Cats? - Both
Twitter or Facebook? - Neither. Both.
ebook or Paperback? - Paperback.
Sun or Rain? - Sun
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Both but mainly keyboard
Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate