Q & A

When is your birthday?

September 15th. That makes my star sign, Virgo.
Virgos are curious, sensitive, and always spot the tiny details!

What inspired you to become a writer and artist?

Being an only child until the age of 15, I read hundreds of books to keep myself busy! The books I read always inspired me to write my own stories and draw my own pictures. 

If you could have dinner with any author (living or dead), who would it be and why?

Roald Dahl so I could ask him how on earth he came up with the idea for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

What different jobs have you had?

I worked in a shoe shop! This job inspired my love of colourful shoes. After that I worked in fashion retail and now I’m an art teacher and author.

What’s a totally random interest you have that has nothing to do with writing or art?

Aviation ✈️

What’s your family heritage?

Both sides of my family came to Australia from Southern Italy in the 1950s. My husband’s family came to Australia from China in the 1830s! I love that my kids have such rich historical backgrounds.

If you could only listen to one song, over and over, what would it be?
Who is it. By Michael Jackson.

What’s one art or writing rule you love breaking?

I never plan anything. 

Where do you get your ideas from?

Everything around me. Eavesdropping on people’s conversations at the supermarket, the weird and wonderful things in nature, things my kids do and things that bug me.

What are your hobbies?

Gardening, baking (although, im not very good), op shopping, sewing.

If you weren’t an author and teacher what would you be doing instead?

I’d be a Florist. Surrounded by colourful flowers all day. 

If you could live inside any book, painting, or movie scene which one would it be?

I’d live inside The Chocolate Room, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 1971.

What’s your favorite book from childhood, and why?

THING. By Robin Klein. I loved it because it was about an only child who longed for a real life pet. AND.. Animalia by Graeme Base because his illustrations are like magic.

What always makes you teary?

Thinking about Vincent van Gogh’s life, saying goodbye to our dog, Cesar and not having my dad around anymore.

Did you always want to be an author, or did it happen by accident?

I wanted to be an author from when I was very little – but that changed as I got older when I decided I wanted to be a scientist! That idea changed too. Then one day, not long ago, my little sister asked me to write a story about one of her illustrations of our Nonna. And that was the first story I had written in a long time! 

What’s the best piece of creative advice you’ve ever received?

The mistakes are the best parts. 

Oh, and how do you pronounce your surname?

Fri- tee- tah 🙂