MEMBER PROFILE- CECILIA

I have spent most of my life a native of Brisbane South. After attending a presentation by a Queensland author at the Fairfield Library, I spoke to a staff librarian about my interest in writing. She lost not time in giving me contact details for the Fairfield Writers Group, and this launched my attendance at monthly meetings.

My interest began when family and friends suggested I write down my memories of our family life. Not knowing how to undertake this venture, I decided I needed some genuine assistance and encouragement. The busyness of life meant that I have never had time to cultivate this interest, apart from scientific writing for my work, and I was keen to learn the techniques and art of writing for pleasure and as a hobby.

God willing, the result of my membership would be the writing of my memoirs. I look forward to many happy hours of creativity and the opportunities for self development offered by this wonderful group.

MEMBER PROFILE - ANNA

Anna started writing short stories when she was a child. She didn’t take her writing seriously until the birth of her daughter in 2008. She has had a short story published this year and is currently working on a children’s book.

Anna has been a member of the Fairfield Writers Group since March 2009. Some of Anna’s other interests include gardening, crafts, travelling and cooking.

MEMBER PROFILE - FINDLAY

Born in Glasgow in the nineteen-forties, Findlay worked as a newspaper journalist in Scotland and the north of England before migrating to Australia.

After a decade as a political journalist with the ABC in Brisbane, he worked first as a media adviser to a number of ministers, before becoming the principal media adviser to the Queensland Premier, and later, a senior executive in the Queensland Government.

Findlay wrote his first book, ‘Up the Clyde in a Banana Boat’, a semi-autobiographical account of growing up in post-war Scotland, while living in northern China for two years in the mid-2000s.

He has scripted a wildlife documentary, ‘Koalas Out on a Limb’, and is currently writing a book of short stories.

MEMBER PROFILE - CAROL AKA GOLDIE

Carol has been a member of Fairfield Writers Group since its commencement in 2005. At the time of joining she had no writing experience whatsoever, apart from a few compositions at school. Her newfound hobby gives her extreme pleasure, with crime writing being her favourite genre.

Carol is about to begin her first novel – a murder story. She is also going to self publish her short stories and poems in the immediate future to give to family and friends. Her other interests are reading, art, knitting and crochet.

Blog:
Goldie's Short Stories, Poems and Things

MEMBER PROFILE - LORRAINE

Proud mother of three and doting grandmother of four, I am fortunate to have been happily married for 38 years to a wonderful man with whom I am still madly in love. As well as my family, I love God, life, people, travel, reading and writing - not necessarily in that order.

After a diverse work life, I now work as a business writer, but as I move (too slowly!) toward retirement and more leisure time, I’m keen to freelance and to write fiction.

I have always loved writing, and remember writing some good stories and a prize winning essay in my school days, but I lacked both the time and the self-confidence to pursue my hobby.

I was first published in 1976, when a popular womens’ magazine printed my article “Time for an International Motherhood Year”. In the late 90’s, I self-published and marketed a 1500 page self-teaching course in third generation visual computer programming, selling thousands of copies worldwide. I have also written software manuals, and ghostwritten several books on business, finance, taxation and health-related topics.

I have just self-published my first children's book, Melanie’s Easter Gift, and I am now working on my first novel.

I joined Fairfield Writers Group earlier this year (2009) and thoroughly enjoy the monthly meetings and the friendly support of those who share my passion for the pen (well, these days it’s actually a word-processor, which makes the task so much easier than the dip pen and ink pot I began with).

MEMBER PROFILE - HELGA

My turbulent childhood and youth were spent in Germany. After marrying a Dutchman I moved to Holland, where I worked and overcame my first language barrier. Just as I felt comfortable enough, my life was again thrown into disarray.

It was fifty years ago. Australia still adhered to her ‘White Australia’ policy, when in answer to the call for skilled European workers we immigrated to this country. We settled in Brisbane, where I live to this day.

Having to work for a living, a daughter to raise and with painting my hobby, I came to writing only late in life. I always loved poetry; but with English now my third language I can just manage to write some verse.

Three years ago I decided to write my first short novel and had it self-published. The title is ‘Brisbane, Bach and Brandenburg, Hunt for the Seventh Concerto’. The book can be loaned from the Brisbane library.

After this little adventure I joined the Fairfield Writers Group which I hope will keep me busy for some years to come.

MEMBER PROFILE - MARTIN

I began writing engineering reports for oil exploration projects in Canada and the UK. Then I went back to university and researched alternative government planning systems. I emigrated to Australia and obtained work planning new mines and coal-to-oil projects. My hobby was literature and I made a career change and became a secondary school Science and English teacher. For Queensland's Department of Education, I was full-time writer for four years in a team of about 20 people, plus studio staff, who published a Multi-strand Science course, with 32 booklets of about 100 pages each, plus videos and audios, that is the basis of my teaching work. When I had finished I began writing privately a series of futuristic political thrillers, set in Australia, called The Middle Way. I am completing the sixth and will soon turn my attention to marketing them. I have been a member of Fairfield Writers' Group since shortly after inception, 3 years ago.