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2. What is your nickname?
As a small child I used to correct people when they shortened my name. I feel a bit sad about that now because I have a few friends who call me Ronny and I like it.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Heights and rodents. I have never been so scared as when my friends encouraged me to go on a chair lift. I closed my eyes the whole way across and will never get on one again. I might have stood on a table at school when there was a mouse in my classroom. A couple of brave kids went to get help. I have written a couple of manuscripts featuring mice, despite my fear.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Gentle and quiet in concise prose that touches your heart.
Gentle and quiet in concise prose that touches your heart.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Engaged, persistent, child-centred, quiet, nostalgic.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Mary from Peter Carnavas’ A Quiet Girl. I’m a quiet girl too. I love this character because she is quiet and doesn’t change to be heard. I love how Peter shows us that quiet people aren’t broken or lesser; they don’t need to be fixed.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I don’t think I would travel in time. I was thinking about going back and studying writing instead of teaching, but I wouldn’t be where I am now without the decisions I made and I’m happy with how things have turned out. Get me a teleporter though and I’d travel all over the world. Japan for lunch and France for dinner.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
‘How are you going to speak in front of all of those people?’ I was a very quiet child and young adult. My high school English teacher used to let me do oral presentations to just her. At uni, when I first left school, I chose subjects that didn’t require oral presentations. Now I’m comfortable presenting to kids but adults still terrify me.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
The kids in my life. I have a long list of interesting things kids have said and done over the years. My debut picture book I am NOT an Owl was inspired by something my son said when he was a pre-schooler.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Covid. I liked being at home during Covid and it meant I could do the AWC writing course I’d been thinking about doing. Not long after I broke both of my ankles so had even more time to write. I feel like things always turn out for the best.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Serendipity. There are many reasons I connect with this word. Things in my life always seem to fall into place. The most relevant to my writing at the moment is that serendipity brought Mel Corrigan (illustrator) and I together on I am NOT an Owl.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is the most difficult question. I think it would need to be a verse novel. I’m rather obsessed with them and want to write one sometime soon. I can’t decide between two of my favourites. Can I choose two? What Snail Knows, by Kathryn Apel and The Way of Dog, by Zana Fraillon. Both touched my heart.
