A seventh birthday present, of a pop-up picture book, was the catalyst for my life-long love of children’s books, passion for getting kids to engage with books and enduring need to write for children. Life delayed this dream, diverting me instead along a path that taught and honed the essentials: writing discipline, the colour and texture of words, research skills and competence in choosing and assembling words for a specific purpose.  That path consumed more than 30 years with stretches in primary school teaching, learn-on-the-job journalism, newspaper and book editing/production/publication, and learning design.  Now, in semi-retirement, with inspiration from grandchildren and input from illustrator, Rachel Doragh, and translator, Piripi Walker, I am progressively turning the invisible “Magic Story Book” of my classroom years into a series of bilingual picture books for today’s young readers.  To date, I have self-published four titles and I’m currently mid-challenge, growing one of the “Magic Story Book” stories into a novel for 10-12-year-olds.

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