Before I was an author I … worked with children as an integration aide and a primary school teacher. I also spent a year in rural China teaching ESL at a university.

I started writing because… it’s something I have always done. I then discovered the joy in creating picture books with my young children. Two of these were published, and I went on from there.

The Bone Sparrow was inspired by… the mandatory and indefinite detention of asylum seekers, including children, in Australia. An article about a child born in detention horrified me. This was something I had to write about.

Describe The Bone Sparrow in one sentence: a story of survival and bravery, which reminds us of the importance and power of hope and the strength of the human spirit.

When I’m not writing I… read and try to find space to put another bookshelf.