Do you have any early memories of being interested in writing?
My late father would invent stories in the garden of our childhood home. He was a good storyteller and would constantly improvise. I was always excited about what his next story might be.
I escaped through books from a young age. I was an introverted child and would go off on my own to read in my bedroom or in a tree. Being a keen reader, I became completely fascinated with how language could be used to construct a narrative, convey emotions and relay experiences. The more I read, the more I wanted to write. I think I was about 8 or 9 years old when I decided that I wanted to be a writer.
Storytelling and reading was your starting point?
Yes. I realised how powerful words could be, how they could transport a reader and how a writer could create their own world.
When you read a lot from a young age, your vocabulary grows and expands quickly. My English teachers at school noticed this and would take me aside to tell me they would like to submit my stories somewhere or other. This built my confidence in my abilities. I always knew I could write.
It does sound like you had a fair bit of support and encouragement at home and at school?
I was encouraged at school and at home, particularly by my father who had a creative streak. I wanted to learn more about writing and read everything I could. It was the one area in my life where I felt I could shine.
Was your dad interested in the arts?
My dad was a real estate agent who had bursts of creativity and would suddenly start painting! He did not attend a single art class – it was pure natural ability. As a first-generation migrant raising children, he really only had the weekends to paint or to work on his garden (his other artistic outlet). He had his own art exhibition at the local arts centre and would often give away his paintings to schools, restaurants and friends. Out father-daughter bond was forged through a mutual appreciation of art.
Did you go on to study literature at college or university?
I completed an arts degree at Deakin University in Melbourne, majoring in both Professional Writing and Editing and Literature. Deakin’s professional writing coursework covered poetry writing, script writing, fiction writing, non-fiction writing and editing. As part of my Literature studies, I chose to focus primarily on Shakespeare. His flexibility and inventiveness with language inspired me, as did his nuanced characters and the universal human themes played out in his dramas.
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