Let's Catch Up.

May already! Where is the year going?

I just looked back at my previous blog posts and realised I haven’t posted an update in several years and I must rectify that … NOW.

My last update was during 2022. My father had passed away, and my mum and I were left with wondering what to do with our futures. Mum had decided she wanted to stop driving before turning 85. So, we moved. We packed up the family home of 44 years and downsized. I changed job locations, and I started a Master of Creative Writing.

I also published my fourth picture book, finished a first draft of a full-length non-realist novel and Mum and I had a three-week holiday/work/study trip to Toronto to visit family.

Something I realised a long time ago, but often don’t pay enough attention to, is my great ability to plan, but I often over plan and in turn, over commit. And by the end of 2024 this was very evident. I was working, studying, helping mum sort boxes, trying to write and maintain a social media presence. I was barely managing, and I was constantly tired.

I found out my heart valve was starting to leak again and then two weeks later my mum had a stroke. She wasn’t physically affected in any way, but I was told she wouldn’t be able to be left unsupervised. For the first part of 2025 I was doing everything I was doing in 2024, with the addition of supporting Mum with rehab.

By mid-2025 I realised something had to give and I took a break from studying and focused on everything else. Writing was my respite. I enjoyed writing sessions with friends, and I was able to complete the first full read through of my drafted novel, making loads of notes ready to start draft two.

After working hard with fellow Masters students and lecturers at Macquarie

University, our anthology was published in June 2025 by WestWords. Living with Illness and Disability, Poised on the Pointe of Pain is a collection of essays and stories from individuals who have experienced illness or disability themselves or via a loved one. My story It’s In The Beat is about what it has been like living with Congenital heart Disease (CHD) and a Defibrillator. The launch of our book was at WestWords in Parramatta in western Sydney, where the forward, written by the NSW Governor Margaret Beazley was read.

Feeling the travel itch, Mum and I spent a couple of weeks on the Gold Coast in spring where I was able to begin putting all my notes into the manuscript by commencing draft two of my novel. Fast forward to 2026, we spent a couple of months on the Gold Coast again, where I was able to do some soul searching and business planning

A few days after returning I attended the Newcastle Writers Festival with our lecturer and six other contributors to launch our anthology Living with Illness and disability, Poised on the Pointe of Pain. It was the first time I had spoken publicly about being disabled. This being my second panel, I was not as nervous because we had planned and rehearsed what we were going to talk about. The audience were engaged and asked amazing question. Our panel was an hour long, but I think the topic was so well received that we could have easily extended the time.

It certainly has been a busy time for me. I may have been a bit absent on the blog, but I have been writing, creating and planning.

I feel it is also time that I reintroduce myself and tell those who are new here who I am and what I do.

Primarily an author. I began self-publishing in 2020 and now have four picture books published. During 2020 and 2021 I completed a Graduate Certificate in Editing and Publishing and began editing.

I am also an educator. I worked as a primary school teacher in the state of NSW for eight years, covering grades K-6 in every subject. I then spent four years teaching in a private coaching college, teaching English and Creative writing. Now I assist fellow writers by offering writing tips and advice. As an extension of being a teacher, I am also a mentor, where I hope to mentor young writers to find their writing voice. Additionally, a book reviewer of children’s books. I post reviews on my website, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and YouTube.

A passionate disability advocate and speaker. Having lived with visible and hidden disabilities my entire life and cared for and taught people with disabilities, I hope to combine my story telling and disability awareness together to write books that I wish were around when I was a child trying to make sense of why I was different. Author visits and disability advocacy speaking is something I am also passionate about, and I offer both.

So, if you’re looking for a new picture book, a book review, editing or mentoring service, or a visit from me to present to your students or community group, then please get in touch via the contact me page and let’s chat.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and YouTube or connect on LinkedIn. Click the icons on the home page to view my socials.

If you’d made it all this way Thank you for sticking with my rambled words and I hope you will stick with me on my journey.

Happy reading and happy writing.