Dressing for Dreamtime is a contemporary retelling of a traditional Dreamtime tale from Australia, delving into the sacred Aboriginal concept of the Dreamtime. Why was it important for you to turn this into a children’s book? 

I believe that not enough information about Australia is available to children. The belief system of the Aboriginal community in Australia has remained in its ancient roots. They are very similar to our Native Americans, in that they were close to nature and had great respect for it, which they passed on to their children. It is our responsibility to teach our children the sacred in nature. The study of such ancient belief systems is a start. Our children will be next up to take care of the natural world around us. 

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

I did study the Aboriginal culture and belief system. It is fascinating to me and I wanted to share what I had learned with young readers. I also researched the animals that played a key role in our story. My desire to teach leads to the glossary, which information was researched prior to its creation. 

What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?

As a youngster, I always loved animals of all kinds. The zoo was a mecca for me. I started writing at a young age making animals(especially those in Australia), the key characters in my tales. My greatest dream was to travel to Australia to see and experience their wildlife. I finally got there, and although I had written middle-grade novels which included much Australian flora and fauna, the trip made the most impact on my continuing to write in order to highlight endangered animals. 

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

The next book is finished. It will be entitled; The Last Ayer, and will be available in late 2024. It will again feature some endangered animals of Australia and will be a cautionary environmental tale. It will be in my editors hands within the next month or so. 🙂 

This is the proposed cover –  a work in progress. 

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