Q&A
Tell us something interesting about yourself:
I have lived in 25 houses and 4 countries.
Current job title:
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Tasmania.
How would you describe your identity?
British-Australian.
Tell us your favourite medium for reading:
Audio.
Tell us your favourite location for reading:
Outside in the sunshine.
Book title:
The Queen on Our Corner.
What inspired your creative process in writing or illustrating your book?
I wrote this book for a few reasons. I’d been thinking about how there were lots of people who lived on the corners of my home town. I started to wonder about them and where they had come from, and what they had done before arriving here.
One morning, I had a long conversation with a man who used to be a saxophone player but who had sold his instrument in order to buy food. I wondered if there were other homeless people who had been musicians, athletes, librarians, readers and writers.
Then, a friend of mine told me a story about a homeless soldier who had once been a hero. I kept thinking about all these potential heroes – the kings and queens – around us. Could I stop to find out more? Maybe, even, help them find a palace?
Favourite character or moment from the book – and why?
The Royal Hound - everyone needs a doggy courtier!
What themes or messages does your book raise?
Homelessness, empathy, really seeing and noticing everyone.
How would you describe your artistic or writing style in three words?
Empathetic. Emotional. Curious.
