Autobiography or Fiction?
A friend recently asked how much of my writing is autobiographical. The truth is, most of my stories are sparked from a personal experience, a family memory, or a striking anecdote.
But what happens next is where the magic lies.
From Laetitia and Rick in Long Stay at Ryan’s Waterhole to Li Jie and Ming Lee in The Waterfall of Greater Understanding, my characters may have real-world origins, but they now inhabit a space entirely their own.
The Spark that lit the Fire Part 2
For my novel In Plain Sight, the journey of my protagonist, Penny Matheson, didn’t begin with a plot twist, but with a sense of place. The true catalyst was a weekend of sharp contrasts: walking the historic, enclosed Eastern Beach Baths in Geelong, noticing a quiet quarry sign, and then returning home to Mount Martha to find a beloved, wild stretch of bushland completely flattened for development.
Fused with real-world research into severe trauma—and an unforgettable tapas lunch at MoVida—these sensory fragments ignited the twin storylines that underpin Penny’s emotional and professional evolution.
The spark that lit the fire
I reckon it takes some kind of internal fire to commit to writing a novel. But every fire has to be lit by something – no matter how small a spark – and sometimes those sparks take a long time to land in the right place. In the case of my novel Finding Marco, the spark stayed dormant for over 10 years.
Why Being Proudly Human Matters
Celebrating Authentic Storytelling in the Age of AI
To my granddaughter, about my own kindergarten experience
A loving childhood memory that teaches courage, persistence, and pride.
How to inspire curiosity about biodiversity in youth
A reflection on encouraging young people to care for biodiversity through curiosity rather than guilt.
How I became an accidental novelist by pursuing the story of an endangered butterfly
How an interest in an endangered butterfly led unexpectedly to writing a novel.
Is childhood more complex for young people to navigate these days?
Reflecting on the differences between past and present childhood experiences.
How to think kindly about wasps
A gentle exploration of the vital role wasps play in the natural world.
Here’s the secret to good writing habits
An honest look at building a sustainable writing practice through discipline and life experience.
When Teeing-Off and Writing a Novel Collide
A personal reflection comparing the challenges of golf with the creative process of writing.
Scene from the window
The Coprosma, a weedy tree growing hard up against our bedroom window, had to go. But we hadn’t counted on the wattle birds.
How significant is the loss of insect life in our gardens?
A reflection on noticing fewer insects and what that loss may mean.
Here’s what’s good about cockroaches
A reminder that even the most disliked insects can play important roles in science and nature.