The Tralls of Nosa follows a young girl who brings a strange and beautiful plant home as a gift for her mother, only to discover it is destructive, spreading and destroying everything its roots touch. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I live in rural Australia, and I am constantly battling outbreaks of lantana. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant, but as is often the case with introduced species, it ran amok.

Lantana is a beautiful plant, but unfortunately, it’s an invasive weed that spreads easily, destroys native plants, is destructive for biodiversity, and is difficult to control. It’s also toxic for livestock, and it increases the intensity of our ever-present bushfires.

In The Tralls of Nosa, I wanted to draw attention to the problems that are caused for native flora and fauna when foreign species are introduced.

The characters in this novel were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?

Mia was modelled on my youngest granddaughter, who demonstrates compassion, trust, reliability, and integrity, and I wanted to use those positive traits to create a character that would appeal to my young readers.

Asha, Shea, Cooper, Vail. and Addie were modelled on young friends who constantly impress me with their feisty, faithful, determined, and courageous attitudes.

What was the most challenging part of writing The Trall Series, and what was the most rewarding?

The Tralls of Nosa is the final book in The Trall Series, and I had to work hard to make sure it was fresh and impactful and not a rehash of the messages or events in previous books.

The most enjoyable part of writing this book was finally solving the underlying mysteries that were threaded throughout the series.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your series?

My aim was for The Trall Series to engender an interest in the natural environment and to make my readers more aware of the many problems it faces.

I hope that the strong, determined young characters in the series will demonstrate that you don’t have to wear a cape and do amazing stunts to be an environmental hero. Everyone can help to preserve their native flora and fauna by making small, impactful improvements in their activities.

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