The Soapmaker

A bushfire had raged through the mountains behind our home ravishing everything in sight. Walking through the charred remains, I had an overwhelming urge to express my desolation; to share the experience with others. I was about ten years of age, and it was after this fire that I realised I wanted to be a writer. I began writing poetry, and throughout school enjoyed creative writing.

At 19, I had a palm reading. The palmist said I would one day earn my living from writing. The journey from there to here has been fascinating, and my many and varied experiences, personally and professionally, all contribute to the words which flow.

My greatest inspiration comes from Nature. I’m always in awe of what she has to offer, and what she has to teach us. I’m grateful for every bird whistle and sunrise, the frost upon grass, fresh water rising from a hidden spring, and the glowing light of a Full Moon in Winter. I’m at my happiest when my hands are in the dark, damp soil, and the Sun shines on my shoulders.

I wrote my first book, Fields of Lavender, a collection of poetry, in 1991. A couple of years later, in 1993, I was commissioned to write a book on the history of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Protection of Animals. I called it The Compassionate Years.

Communication has been a key theme in my life. I talked so much as a young child, that my mum used to send me to the neighbours when her ears got sore! Can’t say I blame her. I was a right little chatterbox. Thank goodness I learned to read. I’ve always loved books. As a child, my head was up in Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree or some other magical place. I dreamed that one day my own children would inherit all the books from my childhood, but alas, I didn’t count on moving countries several times and the impractical nature of transporting books wherever I went. I also remember feeling so strongly that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer so that I could stay home with my children.