Just So Stories

Welcome to Just So Stories, Rachel!! It’s such a pleasure to have you pop in and share with us. Let’s jump right in!

Thankyou to you and your readership for having me 😊 It’s always a pleasure to share Escape from Cuttlefish Cove with adventurous readers.

First of all, let’s find out a little more about you before your debut as a children’s author.

Were you a reader as a child? If so, did you have favourite genres and authors? What about as you got older? Do you think this reading history has helped to shape your own writing?

Oh my goodness yes! Enid Blyton, Elyne Mitchell, Bonnie Bryant, R.A. Montgomery and later, John Marsden filled my bookshelves. The adventurous nature of Escape from Cuttlefish Cove reflects my love of swashbuckling adventure and loose concept of ‘reality’ (there’s always room for a little magic!)2.

How did young Rachel evolve into a senior intelligence analyst?

In many ways my love of figuring out ‘who-dun-it’ in books spilled over into real life. I was always attracted to roles where I had to figure out the answer, and research was a natural calling for me. Intelligence is just a specialised field of research.

I read that in your analyst role you research and write intelligence products. Can you explain to us a little more about that?

An analyst takes vast reams of information and extracts the story. Depending on the exact role, the stakes of finding the ‘true’ story in the data are high. It’s more than a summary – technique and artistry hold hands and there is a predictive element at play as well. The intelligence product is the vehicle for adequately communicating the results to decision makers.

Tell us about the leap from your ‘regular’ job to the concept of Escape from Cuttlefish Cove (and the start of a whole new exciting series). What was the most difficult part of the process?  When can readers expect the next one in the series?

Reading the above – you’ve probably realised that it’s not as big a leap as it might seem. To write a book, I’m still looking for the story hidden amongst the copious ideas in my head. The difference is, I get to change the information I’m drawing on to suit my story. And nobody dies, unless I kill them. That definitely doesn’t happen in my day-to-day job.

Escape from Cuttlefish Cove is the embodiment of allowing my brain to take off in every different direction to see what happens next. It was riotous fun and I honestly can’t point to anything that I found difficult about creating it. I did have to be very careful to maintain consistency – all 64 endings still needed to make sense, and have their own ‘aha’ moment.

In the next instalment readers will find themselves trapped in an opulent mansion with a crook on the loose. They’ll have to keep their wits about them to solve the crime and Escape from Marigold Manor in April 2024!

Which, do you think, is more challenging – the intelligence products or middle-grade fiction? And why?

That is a very interesting question. I really enjoy both, and when you enjoy something, it’s the overcoming of challenges that leads to satisfaction and the afore-mentioned enjoyment. For me, anyway. 

On a different tack, I understand you live west of Sydney, beyond the Blue Mountains range. That whole area is a lively spot for creatives, and ,in fact, has been for many years. Do you also find that?  And why do you think that might be? Is it because the creatives have more or less congregated there, or because there is a vibe that inspires the creativity?

I have found the local artisan culture to be unbelievably welcoming and supportive. I’ve lived in the Central West a long time so can’t really comment on what it’s like elsewhere, but the creative personalities here are beautiful and generous souls. It’s inspiring and I think when you can feel safe with some of your inner most feelings – as creativity is so apt at expressing – you are inspired to uplift each other.

One question I always ask is what does your working space and day look like? (we do love photos if possible!!)

My day is in constant flux. Time for writing is chiselled out of small spaces between work, family and general life. I could be typing on a laptop at my children’s after school classes, or flicking through bundles of paper as I proofread in my lunchbreak. I dream of a time when I can just relax into it for a day but truthfully the adrenaline of having such limited time is a very effective tonic for procrastination.

I would guess that your analyst job can get stressful/intense, and I do know that writing can also be pretty consuming, so what do you do in your downtime? Hobbies? Recreational activities?

I live in a rural landscape and love sharing that with my husband and young daughters. A perfect moment would be watching a beautiful evening sky from horseback somewhere in the middle of a green field with not a house in sight.

Finally, can you sum yourself up in just six words?

Six inspirational words. Some assembly required.

Rachel, thank  you so very much for giving up your precious time to share with my readers. Congratulations on Escape from Cuttlefish Cove which is just a delight – I’m very much looking forward to the next one!