A Brief Biography

I was born close to a half century ago in Canberra, in a hospital that was demolished some time before now, ironically killing a young girl in the process.

I had an odd but happy childhood. I used to collect dead animals. I had a whole box of them on the front verandah. This peculiar hobby was terminated by my mother when I picked up a bone unbeknownst to me to be full of ants. I screamed. My face turned black before my mother hosed me off.

An unfortunate camping accident resulted in second degree burns cut short a promising athletics career. I used to run and I used to run fast. My event of choice was the 1500 metres track race. For my age, I was in the top ten in Australia. I even took the opportunity to compete in an international event! That was a real buzz.

I am truly lucky to be alive. When I was eighteen I suffered my first psychiatric breakdown and subsequently hospitalised. I have seen the inside of various mental health wards over 70 times so far! It never gets any easier.

In 2014 I graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Writing. It was hard work, but ultimately rewarding. In this time, I was awarded a scholarship for Academic Excellence.

I have had four books published over the years. Two were general fiction (about mental illness) and two were gothic horror. Now I have written four novels and working on a few more.

I used to be an avid drawer and painter. In my time as a visual artist I have managed to have a self portrait hanging in the Nolan Gallery. I had not enough time to dedicate myself to visual art, music and writing, so I was forced to drop one. I chose to keep music and writing.