I am a former journalist, media adviser and speechwriter, and member of writing groups including SCBWI, Writers SA, Australian Society of Authors and Children's Book Council (SA) with an Advanced Diploma in Professional Writing. A volunteer writer for the Australian Refugee Association and member of a Creative Kids Tales critique group, I juggle words while being distracted by lorikeets, magpies, possums and koalas in my backyard in the Adelaide Hills. I’ve won a short story competition, been commended for another, had stories published in anthologies and am currently editing another middle grade novel and a non-fiction picture book.