I'm an Australian writer, teacher and wildlife carer.

I enjoy writing children's fiction and non-fiction, poems, short stories for adults, educational resources and wildlife articles.

I've always been a writer. I wrote my first novel when I was about nine years old. It was called 'Double Trouble'. I wrote chapter after chapter then put it away then somehow, over time it disappearedI've been a primary teacher for a number of years, teaching students from age 6 to 12. It's always been exciting to share with students as they learn new skills and make learning discoveries. Of course I always loved reading to my class, whether it was year 1 or year 6. Writing time was always fun too, a time for using imagination and being creative.

At some schools my students were not able to speak English when they started school in Australia and so I trained to be an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher.

I've also taught English to adults who are newly arrived in Australia. We had a lot of funny moments with Aussie pronunciation and language. I've also taught adults to read and to improve their skills and gain confidence.
The experience of teaching both children and adults to read and sharing with them the enjoyment of books has been very special

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As a teacher I wrote and self published many educational resources. In 1998 I decided to do a course on writing for children and completed the Diploma in Children's Writing through the Australian College of Journalism. I was fortunate to have the inspiring Marg McAlister (www. writing4success.com) as my tutor. After completing the course my first book 'Inside the Castle Walls' was published. Then I went on to do the Career Booster Course with Marg (www.careerbooster.com.au) followed by an editing and proofreading course.

Since 2001 I have published fiction and non fiction children's books, short stories and poems, have conducted a writing workshop, have tutored adults in an online writing course, won second place in a national short story competition and co-edited two anthologies of short stories with writer June Keir (www.junekeir-writer.com) for Greypath.

Through my business Write Effect I provide editing and proofreading services, manuscript assessment and ghostwriting services. I have edited and proofread a number of manuscripts including educational, children's novels, YA, academic, life stories, short story anthologies and wildlife manuals.

I love to write every day