The circus comes to Mt Mulligan circa 1930-1940 The mountain has seen many changes over its 400,000 million year old history. A sacred monolith, known for centuries by the custodians, the local Djungan people, as Ngarrabullgan, it's one of two Dreamtime rock formations in far north … Continue reading The mountain … the history and the people

Every time I write a novel, I don't plan to add something I'm passionate about - like art, music, history, theatre, politics, or even digging up fossils. It enters a story because it's what my protagonist demands. This thing, this passion, then becomes the story's … Continue reading The girl … another time, another passion

One of my earliest memories is our grandmother trying to keep us kids within the confines of our north Queensland backyard by saying the gypsies might take you for their own. I didn't mind the threat at all ... roaming the roads in a horse-pulled … Continue reading The girl … another history, another culture

People often advise, Write what you know. It's not as clear cut as that, of course, otherwise we'd never have stories set in the past or the future, or of other cultures, or historical figures, or foreign countries, or even other worlds. Gypsy Encampment, Appleby, … Continue reading The girl … how memory colours story writing

The northern Welsh valleys and far north Queensland in 1921 are the settings for my newly completed adventure for 11-14 year olds. As an author writing historical novels, researching all the elements involved has been a significant and fascinating part of creating this coming-of-age adventure. … Continue reading The mountain … Mt Mulligan mining disaster, 100 years on