I was born in Brisbane Queensland and grew up barefoot. Not because my parents couldn't afford shoes but because I liked the feeling of the earth beneath my feet.

Billy likes to sit under my desk while I work

I especially liked walking to school barefoot on rainy days so I could splash through the puddles. (My parents had a thing about wet, soggy shoes). I also liked to run barefoot through the waves at the beach because I loved to feel wet sand between my toes (but not inside my bathers!).My family moved to Melbourne at the end of primary school and I have lived here ever since. Unfortunately, I also had to learn to like shoes because my feet got too cold.

I began my writing career by publishing a school newspaper that got me into big trouble with my teachers. I remember being hauled into the Deputy Principal's office for a big 'talk' when I was in Year 11. She obviously didn't appreciate my journalistic skills. I have no idea why. Maybe it had something to do with the gossip column about the teachers.

I spend half my life at basketball. Here Ru and Kit play one-on-one in the backyard - in full uniform!

Later, I worked as an English and drama teacher, producing the annual school play. Here I discovered that the real drama was happening behind the scenes. Thriving in this hotbed of teenage gossip it was a natural progression to the world of publishing (and gossip) as editor and later publisher of a group of children's magazines, 'Comet', 'Explore', 'Challenge' and 'Pursuit'. My favourite task was writing the answers to the letters page.

My first novel for teenagers was published in 1992. My first non-fiction series for children was published in 2001. I have written more than 40 books - everything from young adult novels to beginning readers for six-year-olds. My most recent novels for teenagers are 'Cupid & Co' and 'The Losers' Club' and 'Lake of the Lost' for eight to 12-year-olds. My most recent non-fiction is 'Time Machine through Australia', a series of books about Australia's early years.

Combining two of my favourite things - with my family in San Francisco

I have two children, a husband named Vincent and a dog named Billy. My daughter Ru is 13. My son Kit is 11. We're a mixed up household as my husband has a Chinese background and I'm a 6th generation Aussie. Even the dog is mixed up - half poodle and half schnauzer. I have a study at the top of the house that overlooks the sea. Naturally my desk faces away from the view or I would spend all my time looking at the ocean and never do any work. I also often work in front of the TV at night. It's not a habit I would encourage (certainly not in my own children!) but the TV isn't quite interesting enough to hold my full attention so I need something else to do at the same time.

When I'm not working I spend a lot of time watching my children play basketball and reading trashy magazines. As you can see I still love gossip!

Favourites

People: family and friends
Colour: green
Book: too many to choose
Sport: basketball
Outing: movies
Activity: travel
Holiday: tropical island
Food: peking duck