Narrative Distance

Narrative Distance

The first time I learned about narrative distance – also called psychic distance – I was attending a writers’ workshop in York. It was a light-bulb moment for me. Workshop teacher, author and freelance editor, Debi Alper, described narrative distance as the space...
The Power of Nature

The Power of Nature

Thirty minutes from suburban Melbourne, as the road winds its way through native forest, we enter the tranquillity of the Dandenong Ranges. Mist rises from the forest floor. Late afternoon sunlight dances across ferns. Thick folds of discarded bark hang from pale grey...
When Fact Becomes Fiction

When Fact Becomes Fiction

I was recently interviewed by a journalist about the release of my historical thriller The Engraver. The Dutch edition of De Graveur spins the tale of famous Baroque painter Rubens, his chief engraver Lucas Vorsterman and a stolen treasure. When the journalist asked...
Pumpkin Pies and Sensory Immersion

Pumpkin Pies and Sensory Immersion

Whenever I smell freshly grated nutmeg, my mind takes me to the kitchen of my childhood home. My dad and I stand side-by-side with our sleeves rolled up, wearing aprons: he mixes canned pumpkin with eggs, cream, brown sugar and spices, while I roll out pastry for a...
Embracing Failure

Embracing Failure

Writer Samuel Beckett coined the phrase “Fail again. Fail better” in his penultimate novella Worstward Ho in 1983. It became the mantra for individuals, entrepreneurs and writers around the world, urging them to overcome their challenges and continue striving to reach...
Nothing Wasted

Nothing Wasted

When I completed the first draft of The Engraver, I honestly believed it was pretty good. My brash opinion lasted only a few days. After I climbed down from my pedestal, I looked at the manuscript with fresh eyes and realised that no one would publish it in its...

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