Ted’s Monstrous Secret – release date – 5th September 2025
About 1 in 7 adolescents and children in Australia have experienced some form of mental health disorder, many of them feeling as though they don’t belong. When Ted is born different to the other turtles, he disguises the way he looks. Still teased because of his appearance, Ted sets out to ensure that others don’t feel the same hurt that he does, but in doing so, will he overcome his own insecurities?
Ted’s Monstrous Secret will be my third picture book, and second with Starfish Bay Publishing. This story has significant personal meaning, stemming all the way back to my first weeks in high school. Without dredging up too many unwanted memories and to cut a long story short – I was short, I had a huge backpack, and I was called ‘turtle’. Those memories have never left me, so I wrote this story for children who have been teased about their appearance, to show them that we are all unique and incredibly special. We should never be ashamed to stand out from the crowd.
One Lonely Lizard – release date – 5th October 2024
Bruce is speckled white and black, with prickly spikes all down his back…he’s also incredibly lonely, searching for someone to share his bugs and lair with. But Bruce has a problem – he doesn’t realise he is camouflaged. Determined to find a friend, Bruce sets out to show off his talents to anyone who passes by. But when all attempts fail, can Bruce understand that he only needs to be himself to fit in?
One Lonely Lizard is my second children’s picture book, due for release in early December 2024. As most of my books are, this one was born from a personal experience. When I was out hiking one weekend, I happened to stop for a drink next to a rock. It was only when the lizard flinched that I spied him, sunning himself under the baking sun. Had he been trying to get my attention? I liked to think so. I’m a firm believer in receiving signs from the universe, so I took this as one to write a story. I called him Bruce, after Grandad, because I always feel his presence around me. Perhaps this was his way of planting an idea in my head.
One Lonely Lizard follows Bruce on a journey to find a friend. It aims to show children that we don’t need to be anyone but ourselves to truly find our people.
Frankie and the Furball Fiasco!
Frankie hides her furballs in the most peculiar places – in our pot plants and in our shoes! But when I find a hairy clump of fur in my spaghetti and meatballs, I suspect that things aren’t as they seem…Is Frankie really the furball fiend?
Frankie and the Furball Fiasco! is my debut picture book, released in August 2022. Written during Covid lockdown, this story was inspired by my son who got extremely bored during those months. It’s a light-hearted, humorous story that I know children will laugh-out-loud at.
The most beautiful story to come from this book is from a little girl who was suffering from terminal cancer in Brisbane. Her parents said she wanted them to read it to her multiple times a day because it made her laugh. I was so saddened to hear that she passed away in 2023, but I was so proud that she had enjoyed my story so much. This was the reason I wrote this book – to put a smile on children’s faces, who don’t have a lot to smile about.
