I grew up in the US where I started out my professional life in IT. In my 20’s I moved to Australia for work and adventure. For over a quarter of a century I sat at a desk at a variety of companies, big and small, international and local, creeping my way up the corporate ladder and taking overseas assignments. In 2006 I was given a golden handshake and jumped at the chance to retire ealry and finally sit down and write the novel I knew I had in me. Almost exactly three years after I “retired”, my first novel, Starting Over, was published. Two more have hit the stores since then and there are one or two others shuffling along on my computer (see the My Novels and Current Projects tab for more details). I’ve also written a handful of short stories, the first of which was published in 2008 with an odd assortment following on from that. Check out the Short Stories tab above to read a selection and find out about my self-published anthology.
As time marched on, I discovered a new “hobby”, line dancing. That’s taken me on a wild ride and has given me yet another creative outlet with choreography. It’s not at all the same as writing a novel, bit it does feel very much to me like writing a short story. It’s something that has me mulling over ideas for a few days before sitting down to put pen to paper to produce a stand-alone work that didn’t exist the week before. It’s hard to explain, but I do gain a sense of joy and accomplishment from “creating” that “doing” just doesn’t match. Reading and dancing are great, writing and choreographing are next level.
Though four years studying mathematics at University didn’t exactly train me to be a writer or line dancer, it gave me an amazing career in IT with the opportunity to travel the world, meet a wide variety of people, and get outside of my comfort zone. My life’s been a perfect breeding ground for imaginings that made it into my books and it has given me the confidence to teach and lead line dancing sessions. Corporate presentations, giving author talks, or running a Hoedown all require some organisational discipline and the courage to go for it.
Australia is now home but I’ve lived and worked in six countries on five continents. Now, I’ve found the best place in the world to call home: Hobart, Tasmania, and I’m not leaving it except to visit family. The new me is done with travelling, loves her new home and life, and I couldn’t be more content.
Article from Hawkesbury Independent Magazine, March 2016 (click on image to read article)
