Fetch follows a toy that acquires artificial intelligence and goes on a journey where he learns of loyalty, laughter, and love. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

I was inspired by my grandchildren’s interest in gaming and the characters and stories these games engaged them with. I thought the concept of developing a real-life toy which could enter a game and communicate with children was a unique and interesting perspective to take.

The characters in your book are interesting and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I wanted children and young adults to feel like they could get to know the characters and therefore support and engage with them.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I looked at the issue of sibling rivalry. On one hand, Victor and Victoria Nerdie were competitive because they strived for personal dominance over each other, beyond the material world they had grown up in. On the other hand, Sam and Samantha Perret, whose worlds had been handed many tough calls, were not competitive. It paints an interesting contrast between the privileged and non-privileged of society.

Also, the theme of Artificial Intelligence is one that children of today will live with in its many potential forms. The humanisation of Fetch is a likelihood which children who read the story will inevitably face.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am working on an adult fiction story to complete my trilogy of adventure stories set in Papua New Guinea. I am also at the editing stage of a joint project with co -author Dion Mayne. The book is the historical fiction novel, Masquerade Gold, and is the companion novel to Boomerang Gold.

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