The Tralls of Nindarry follows two ordinary children who, while visiting their grandparents, discover a hidden realm of magical beings called the Tralls and wind up on an epic quest. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Fantasy is a wonderful genre that exercises our brains and encourages us to think outside the box.

Young people today are often presented with a world facing shattering crises and heroes that save it by blowing up the invaders or performing dangerous and unbelievable stunts.

I wanted to introduce my readers to the beauty of nature and the dangers it faced. I also wanted them to realize they could be the heroes who save it for future generations to enjoy – not by engaging in incredible feats of daring or strength but by making small changes that could have a great impact.

I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?

The tralldoms were modelled on Badu Island, where we once lived and where we were very happy.

The setting of this story is my beloved Mt Ninderry. A beautiful mountain, shaped like a resting lion, and filled with an abundance of Australia’s amazing flora and fauna.

Of course, I needed to change some facets of the setting to accommodate the plot as it developed.

What is your background and experience in writing, and how did it help you write The Tralls of Nindarry?

I was a classroom teacher for many years, and I took classes as well in Drama, Digital Storytelling, and Creative Writing.

I also enjoyed entertaining my classes with stories of the brave tralls fighting to save their ancestral lands, but I was always careful not to impinge on the myths and legends of the traditional residents.

When I retired, I became The Storyteller and entertained children with my themed stories both locally and internationally, and I realised that even in this digital age, children love to be told stories.

When I had my own grandchildren, I wanted to leave them a legacy, so I combined some of my stories into a book and based the main characters, Bella and Gemayn, on them.

What story are you currently in the middle of writing?

My stories are complete. There are five published books in the Trall Series:

The Tralls of Nindarry

The Tralls of Mundi

The Tralls of Maruchus

The Tralls of Colum

The Tralls of Nosa

Each one covers an environmental problem impacting our natural world.

I hope these books will make young people more aware of the beauty and importance of our precious flora and fauna, and encourage them to become real heroes by taking care of their own natural environment.

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