The opportunity to meet readers in real life can be both exhilarating and a little daunting. Some authors despise in-person events where public speaking is involved, much preferring to stay in their writing nooks where it is safe and warm and far from criticism and critique.

I am not one of those authors.

In the year 2000, two Silicon Valley engineers launched Hot or Not to rate a female’s attractiveness. Four years later, Facebook threw itself into the ring based on this same premise. It would be easy to say these initiatives reflected the deeply misogynistic world at the time, but it has continued 20 years on. We should be beyond this rubbish, but we’re not and I want to scream and cry rage tears like the hysterical woman these men think I am.

I have been asked this a lot at my events over the last few months. I don’t plan my books, so when it comes to editing … well, things don’t always go smoothly. But are editors the ogres some make them out to be? What exactly do they cover in an edit?

Writers (and creatives in general) get asked to do a lot of things for free.

“Can you just write me a quick blurb for XYZ?”

“Could you read my opening pages and tell me what you think?”

“Could you come and chat to our staff/students about your writing path?”

Is this reasonable?

A library is so much more than a building housing books. Here’s all the things I love about libraries.

From Sunday morning runs to walking home from work, women are constantly surveilling their surroundings. We are tired and we are sick of it.

I gave my protagonist, Gracie, in The Eleventh Floor synasthesia. Find out what that is and how I heard about it through this fascinating insight into the mind of someone who has the magical gift.

In a month of incredible highs and some frustrating lows, I have yet again been alerted to the significant power imbalances that exist in our society.

I’ve been lucky to have both my novels recorded as audiobooks. I’m ashamed to admit it but prior to the recording of my debut, Someone Else’s Child, I’d never listened to an audiobook! Here I pick the brain of my narrator of The Eleventh Floor.

Here’s a rant I’ve had burning inside for years. Not paying Ballkids at the Australian Open because it’s a ‘privilege’ and an ‘honour’ to be selected.

For 2024 I ditched New Year’s Resolutions, instead looking into useful goal setting using a guide from Mel Robbins. I also almost buried myself alive as I tunnelled down a rabbit hole of “manifestation”.

It’s not a new idea; the mental load. We’ve heard the catchphrases and the discussions, but this comedian boiled my blood with his offhand remarks about women.

LAUNCH TIME! I love a themed and potentially quirky giveaway but I’m going to need your help with some ideas…

Social media pile-ons. Is it a case of schadenfreude? When is OK to share our public condemnations?

How do you feel about sex scenes in books? I don’t mind reading them, as long as they’re not cringe-worthy and mostly, I avoid writing them. Anne Freeman is an expert and here are some of her insights.

In Australia, we will be heading to polling booths on 14th October to vote in a referendum known as The Voice to Parliament. If I’m honest, I’ve questioned why the hell this is even a thing.

Behind the scenes of book cover design with the marvellous Amy Daoud. What she considered when designing the cover of The Eleventh Floor.

Anyone else feeling like they’ve lost their social mojo since the pandemic lockdowns?

Most of us cringe at the thought of self-promotion but writing the book is only one part of an author’s job.

When you centre your identity around being the best at something, what happens when you’re not?