Your Questions and My Answers
Q: How long did it take you to write Crackpot?
A: Crackpot was originally called 'My Mother the Comedian' and started out as a short story. It almost got published way back then - some ten years ago - but thankfully it didn't, as this story then went on to become a book.
Q: Ten years? It took that long?
A: I didn't write the book over ten years.(That'd be about 20 words a day, and that's just plain lazy!) In that decade, I put the story away, kept it warm, gave it lots of love and nourishment, bought it out now and again to see how it was growing, then tucked it back in its bed.
Then one day, after I'd read the story yet again, I had lots of questions jump into my head, like: "but WHY did Phoebe not like Mr Dooly?" and "How come Jake likes vampires so much?" and "Why does Phoebe get picked on at school?" Given I had lots of unanswered questions,I decided to start answering them. And so Phoebe's story grew, and grew, and grew... until it became a novel.
That's a long answer to a short question!
Any more questions? Or is our time up?
Q: Are you a comedian, like Phoebe's mum?
A: Ha! That's funny! No, I'm not a comedian, although when I was in my 20s, I did work in comedy. I find many things funny and some people find me funny right back. But not everyone.
Q: How many children do you have?
A: I've got three children: one adult daughter and twin boys, who are 14. My husband, Steve, has six children. Five boys and one girl. If you're any good at maths, you'll know we have nine children altogether. I get tired just thinking about it.
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I still don't want to grow up, but then again, I don't want to grow young, like Benjamin Button. That'd be plain creepy.
When I was small, I wanted to be a singer. I was, once. I used to sing children's songs, so I kind of fulfilled that dream. Unfortunately, when I started singing children's songs, so did The Wiggles, and they won.
I then decided to be a writer. I'd always loved reading and writing, and at school English was my favourite subject. I suppose you could say that I've now fulfilled another dream.
Two down, about 50 to go...
Q: What other jobs have you had?
A: I've done a whole lot of things. Here's some of the list: typist (I'm very fast), bank teller, publicity officer, sales trainer, sound engineer, music producer, performer, hydroponic lettuce spruiker, jewellery weigher, teacher, student, voice-over artist, mother...
Q: Can you juggle?
A: Only my time. Anything else and i drop the lot!
Q: What about acrobatics, like Phoebe's mum?
A: I used to dream of being a trapeze artist when I was in primary school. (I loved hanging upside down by my ankles from the monkey bar.) Being scared of heights didn't help that career pursuit. But I'm a good cartwheeler. Does that count?
Q: Will Phoebe's dad ever quit the circus and come back home?
A: You'll have to read the next book to find that one out.
Q: Does that mean there's a sequel to Crackpot?
A: Goshgolly, YES! There are two more books to follow Crackpot. The next book is called Dingbat and the third one is called Nutcase. If you buy lots of copies of Crackpot, I promise I'll get the next two books out sooner!
No more questions for now? Good. This page is over then.