Tell us about yourself.
I’m an award-winning Australian/Norwegian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland and an MBA from Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
My country romance, “Forgiving Liam,” was a winner in the Firebird Book Awards, a contest supporting women and children in long-term shelters who are escaping homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
I’m published with Dusty Saddle Publishing and Black Velvet Seductions.
What do I love? I’m passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. I’m happily married and live in Norway with my husband, kids, and rescue pets.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Southeast Asia (due to my parents’ work there) and Australia, where I’m originally from. I’ve always loved writing since I started reading and learning to write. I had some amazing English teachers throughout my high school years who encouraged me to pursue a career in literature, history, or journalism. I chose to study journalism and work for the newspapers until I found a different path in business.
I love writing, and at work, I’m the go-to person for editing my colleagues’ work.
What was your journey to getting published like?
I was lucky because I started writing drafts on a well-known readers’ and writers’ platform, where I found author friends and beta-readers. One of the staff read an early draft of Lessons on Seduction, my highly steamy romance, and suggested getting it edited professionally and submitting it to a romance publisher. I followed her advice and received a contract from Black Velvet Seductions in 2020.
Through this experience, I’ve had other stories published, including with Dusty Saddle Publishing for my sweeter country Australian romances.
I enjoy writing dark romances – many of the gritty scenes are influenced by what I saw and heard while working as a journalist, from crime scenes and court reporting to mafia-linked stories.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
I’ve had a lot of good feedback from my mentors. I suffer from a chronic illness, which limits my energy levels and pain tolerance, in addition to combining full-time work, medical procedures to keep me going, and a family. A few times, I came close to quitting and stopped writing for a while. My mentors, who are bestselling authors, knew something was up, reached out to me, and got me back on track. I have a few projects underway now, thanks to my friends. 🙂
Their advice: never doubt myself and keep writing.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If writing is a dream, then do it. There are plenty of reader/writer platforms where you can write and find beta readers. Also, be wary of vanity publishers and platforms that approach you with deals that seem too good to be true. It’s a dangerous trap, and I’ve seen a few people fall into it, struggling to get out.
It’s better to take the hard road, accept rejections from publishers and/or agents, and refine your stories. Find a publisher targeting the genre you write, and if you aim to self-publish, reach out to supportive author communities.
