Selected Writing

My first “published” writing was an Enid Blyton, Famous Five/Secret Seven-style adventure story, Sand Island. It was 1972 and I was ten-years-old.

I wrote and illustrated the story, my aunt, the only one in our family who owned a typewriter, typed up the manuscript and my father helped me bind and cover the book. The treasured first and only edition still exists.

In the 40 plus years since, I’ve continued writing, fiction and nonfiction, short stories, articles on dogs, travel journals and diaries. I’ve dabbled with novels, radio plays and even penned a stand-up comedy script. I’ve written letters and emails, and tweeted and blogged my observations on life, the universe and … well, perhaps not everything!

Much of my writing is now published on TallAndTrue.com, an online magazine and forum for writers, readers and publishers. Please feel free to visit TallAndTrue.com to read and comment and to share your own writing.

Selection of Writing

The following is a selection of my writing, fiction and nonfiction, short and long form, published and undiscovered “rough gems”. I hope you enjoy reading them.

BOOK REVIEWS

In April 2015 I answered a tweet from Writing NSW (formerly the NSW Writers’ Centre) seeking interest from potential book reviewers. I found I enjoyed the review process because it made me think about a book from different angles.

WRITING ON DOGS

When I first met Harry he was six-months-old, the last of his litter, hiding under a kitchen table. When the breeder dragged him out, Harry flopped his head on my leg and looked up at me with his worried, brown eyes.

SHORT STORIES

My early short stories were blatant attempts to be published in lifestyle magazines or to win writing competitions. Yet, despite such riveting titles as, “An Album of Memories” and “Tender Reunion”, magazine editors did not rush to publish my material. And then I discovered the Ian St James Awards.

TRAVEL WRITING

I started “travel writing”, recording journals of my travels when I left Australia in 1987 for two years abroad in England and Europe. I kept writing journals, on my daily life in England and wider travels in the UK, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, until I returned to Australia in 1996.