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Total books written: 25
Ages of readership:
Most typical wordcount per book:

Countries published in: Australia, New Zealand, UK, South Africa, Korea, US.

Movie rights, merchandise or other exciting offshoots: Only audio books so far!

Title of Featured Book: Up A Tree
Blurb: .Summer holidays and the Grubb twins have built a
>dodgy flying fox up the gorge. Molly and Simon also have to cope with a mad
>parrot and a loony neighbour.

Place where your book is set: Country Victoria.

Genre(s): Humorous adventure

Extract from an independent review:

"Fast paced and believable, this story has just the right balance of
>excitement, emotion and peer group relationships."
>extract from Children's Book Council Notable Books 2003 (judges' comments)

What's the inside info about your life as a writer?
lI have an old bungalow out in the back yard and that's where I go to write.
>The walls are covered in posters and the cats come and sleep on the old
>couch. It's hot in summer and freezing in winter, but it's all mine.

Do you have another job as well as being a writer?

I teach professional writing to adults at TAFE..

Why do you love to write?

It makes me happy. I love creating other worlds, imaginary people who then
>become real and sending them on adventures and quests. I love books too so
>making some of my own is the best thing.

What inspired you to write your book (or series which includes this book)

I wanted to write action and adventure but also with fun and humour. My
>sister's mother-in-law's budgie inspired the first part of the story, then
>I made the budgie into a parrot. I also wanted to write about a flying fox
>that terrified me when I was a kid.

What surprised you during research, writing or publishing of this book? It was one of the few books I've written where the whole plot came to me
>one night when I couldn't sleep. When I got out of bed the next morning, I
>started writing it and it all came out pretty much as I imagined it.

If students are doing assignments on this book, what special insight into
symbolism, metaphors, choice of title, characters or research can you
provide:

Think about all the mad, weird, unexplained things that have happened to
>you and try to write a story where you solve one of them!

Secret writing tip for students:

Don't write about anything you've seen on TV - what's in your imagination
>is a million times more interesting and exciting.

Personal pet peeves:

I don't like rewriting much, but I know it's really important because
>that's where I fix all the holes in the plot. I nearly always have to fix
>the endings too - they're hard to get right!.

When you were aged 8 to 15, what job(s) did you think you would have (if not a writer):

I wanted to be a ballerina first, then later I wanted to be a vet.

What you're working on next: A mystery/adventure novel with lots of secrets.

Are you available for paid school visits at ASA rates?: Yes

Are you blue-card approved to conduct school visits in Qld:

Are you available for free school visits in your local area during book launch months?: No. But as a lot of schools in my area are not very wealthy, I do visits
>for reduced rates.

Is your computer/internet connection set up to do online chats?: I'm not sure - I use Skype for telephone and I'm on cable so I think so..

Do you speak/webchat in any languages other than English?: No