Fiona said she was drawn to the writer’s realm from a young age and after completing a number of training courses, was able to secure publication for her tale of a magical handbag called Harri. 

The illustrated children’s story touches on themes of belonging and overcoming challenges as the anthropomorphised Harri enlists the help of a young girl to find its way home and reunite loved ones.

Fiona said her own family was a great source of inspiration for her burgeoning literary career.

“I am a devoted grandmother. Being a Nanny is my reason for living and I have always told stories to my grandkids,” she said.

“My father was very keen on writing and we used to write stories and he would tell stories when we were going along in the car and I started doing that for my children.

“My husband said ‘why don’t you try to get one published’, so I started writing them down more permanently.”

While undertaking one of a number of creative writing courses, Fiona said she took on a project to give life to an inanimate object. The writing exercise would become the basis for the now-published Harri’s Quest.

“I got this handbag and had to imbibe feelings onto this inanimate object and my tutors and editors loved it and said to take the story further, so I did.”

The reading proved a hit for youngsters at the local library, and Fiona’s first work has is currently on shelves at the Dust Jacket in Inverell.