1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
One of my manuscripts has been rejected by 23 publishers since I first wrote it in 1986. Although my motto as a writer is ‘Never Give Up!’, after 40 years of trying, it may finally be time to accept that this one is unpublishable.
2. What is your nickname?
As a child, my three younger siblings called me Neffie, as ‘Stephanie’ was too hard for them to pronounce. My latest nickname is ‘Dame Stephanie’ – bestowed upon me by my cheeky coffee-club friends after I was awarded an Order of Australia Medal this year.
3. What is your greatest fear?
As I reach my mid-70s, my greatest fear is running out of time to finish all the books that I still want to create – including an historical murder-mystery novel for adults.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Meticulously researched, imaginative, kid-friendly historical novels and environmental picture books.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Determined. Dedicated. Creative. Enthusiastic. Undaunted.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
My favourite book character as a child was Alice and her amazing adventures in Wonderland – so many wonderful creatures to meet, places to visit and weird and wonderful things to experience.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d travel to 2036, to see if the film inspired by my book Lennie the Legend has finally made it onto the big screen, and whether any of my other books are still in print!
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
My 10-year-old self would say, ‘Thank goodness you finally worked out what you are good at and what makes you truly happy and fulfilled!’
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My family and my author and illustrator friends continue to inspire me to keep creating no matter what!
10. What/who made you start writing?
My parents read to me from a young age and our house was full of books. I wrote and illustrated my first ‘book’ when I was seven, and I was constantly encouraged by my teachers to become a writer. Not surprisingly, writing, editing, illustrating and creating have become an important part of who I am.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
My favourite word is ‘serendipity’. No matter how hard things have been over the years – and there have been some truly heart-breaking moments – the difficult times have always been balanced by serendipitous moments of joy, wonder and fulfilment.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
No doubt it would be The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I have already read ten times. In fact, it’s probably time for a re-read!
Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder OAM has worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian, a book editor, a Hansard editor at Federal Parliament and an academic. She is the author of over 30 books for children, and she has won both the CBCA Book of the Year Award and the NSW Premier’s History Award.
One of my manuscripts has been rejected by 23 publishers since I first wrote it in 1986. Although my motto as a writer is ‘Never Give Up!’, after 40 years of trying, it may finally be time to accept that this one is unpublishable.
2. What is your nickname?
As a child, my three younger siblings called me Neffie, as ‘Stephanie’ was too hard for them to pronounce. My latest nickname is ‘Dame Stephanie’ – bestowed upon me by my cheeky coffee-club friends after I was awarded an Order of Australia Medal this year.
3. What is your greatest fear?
As I reach my mid-70s, my greatest fear is running out of time to finish all the books that I still want to create – including an historical murder-mystery novel for adults.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Meticulously researched, imaginative, kid-friendly historical novels and environmental picture books.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Determined. Dedicated. Creative. Enthusiastic. Undaunted.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
My favourite book character as a child was Alice and her amazing adventures in Wonderland – so many wonderful creatures to meet, places to visit and weird and wonderful things to experience.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d travel to 2036, to see if the film inspired by my book Lennie the Legend has finally made it onto the big screen, and whether any of my other books are still in print!
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
My 10-year-old self would say, ‘Thank goodness you finally worked out what you are good at and what makes you truly happy and fulfilled!’
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My family and my author and illustrator friends continue to inspire me to keep creating no matter what!
10. What/who made you start writing?
My parents read to me from a young age and our house was full of books. I wrote and illustrated my first ‘book’ when I was seven, and I was constantly encouraged by my teachers to become a writer. Not surprisingly, writing, editing, illustrating and creating have become an important part of who I am.
My favourite word is ‘serendipity’. No matter how hard things have been over the years – and there have been some truly heart-breaking moments – the difficult times have always been balanced by serendipitous moments of joy, wonder and fulfilment.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
No doubt it would be The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I have already read ten times. In fact, it’s probably time for a re-read!
Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder OAM has worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian, a book editor, a Hansard editor at Federal Parliament and an academic. She is the author of over 30 books for children, and she has won both the CBCA Book of the Year Award and the NSW Premier’s History Award.
