ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

Rachel Matthews first came to my attention with her recent novel Siren (see my review), published by Transit Lounge.  Siren is her second novel: her debut Vinyl Inside was highly commended in the 2003 Vogel and received critical press acclaim when it was published in 2008.

Rachel is also a very busy lecturer and VCE English teacher, but has found time to complete a PhD in creative writing… and to share some insights into her life in Meet an Aussie Author!

I was born …in Shepparton

When I was a child I wrote…poems and short stories and rewrote Abba songs.

The person who encouraged/inspired/mentored me to write was…Mrs Benson in Year 11 at Shepparton High School. She was stern and wonderful and enjoyed a terrible story I wrote about two people saying goodbye at an airport. I think I’d been watching too much of The Love Boat.

I write in… my bedroom in silence. Or I stay in hotels and lock myself away.

I write when…I can get away from everything.

Research is….something that happens along the way. I don’t like to plan or structure the first draft, it interferes with the creativity.

I keep my published works in …a shelf.

On the day my first book was published, I…took it up to Shepparton to surprise my parents.

At the moment, I’m writing …student assessments and planning my next book.

When I’m stuck for an idea/word/phrase, I …don’t worry about it, I just make a mental note to come back to it.

 You can find out more about Rachel at her website.

Thanks for participating, Rachel!