Being a writer is often shrouded in romanticism and glamour. While many dream of becoming the next J.K. Rowling or crafting a New York Times bestseller, the reality for most writers is far less idyllic. For many of us, writing is a passion, pursued not for financial gain but for the love of storytelling. Indeed, it often costs more to write a book than one earns from it; it is a creative labour of love.
In 2013, facing unemployment and anticipating a job search that could last 1-2 years, I seized the opportunity to lead and co-author my mother’s biography, A Question of Colour – My Journey to Belonging. Her story, which includes her removal from her family in 1958 and her placement on Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement in 1960 as a dormitory girl, is an underrepresented narrative from that era. Many of her fellow dormitory girls had grown old or passed away, making it more necessary to document her account. I am proud of this book, as it offers a rare, first-hand perspective from an Indigenous viewpoint during a dark chapter in Australia’s history.
The process of writing, especially historical accounts, demands a high level of discipline, focus, and accuracy. Ensuring that facts and information are verifiable is essential, adding a layer of pressure not typically encountered in fiction, where creative freedom often prevails unless it’s historical fiction.
Writing serves as a fulfilling creative outlet for me. It allows me to dive deeply into stories, capturing moments in time and contributing to our shared history while also reflecting my own family’s history. My initial foray as a contributing author was with the Lonely Planet Guide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia in 2002. More recently, I contributed to the Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia anthology (2024), edited by Samantha Faulkner.
Looking ahead, I am excited about my next manuscript, The Black Pearl – Life of an Island Digger, which has been acquired by Magabala Publishing and is set for release in 2025.
