When I was little my favourite companions were my imaginary friend, Jennifer Hobarr, and my Nanna Mavis. Nan made me plaits from darning wool when I pretended to be a princess and 'adopted' me when I imagined being an orphan. And she had a fantastic garden full of trees and bushes to play in and climb on. Roxette, Russell Morris, Joe Cocker, Eric Bogle, Tina Turner. Ideas for my books come from stories my children tell, things I see or hear, articles from newspapers, movies, other books, pictures, songs and childhood memories.
Every story is like a jigsaw.
Pieces come from everywhere. When I began writing, about 1988, I entered every competition that I could, sent articles and short stories to magazines and newspapers, then approached book publishers with my short stories. To be a writer, it takes imagination, being observant, regular practice - even if it is diary or letter writing, and determination.