Sue Lawson

My latest book is Allie McGregor’s True Colours.

It’s about a teenage girl, Allie McGregor, who’s struggling to cope with house renovations, sharing her room with her mouse-mad sister, an annoying, gross brother, a father who uses Allie’s life as material for his radio program and her old friend Lou, fighting with her new friend Romy. Oh, and Allie’s mum has cancer. It takes all Allie’s courage and quite a few mistakes for her to find her true colours.

The best thing about being a writer is everything! I love being a writer. I love creating new characters and following them through the problems they face. I love the possibilities you explore as a writer and the thrill of developing an idea or question into a story. The other great thing about being a writer is helping students develop their writing. If I had to choose one thing, I’d say the best thing about being a writer is the characters. It’s scary, but my characters become real to me, so I truly love watching them grow and develop with the story.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be…sad! As well as writing I teach and I’ve also had a radio career, so I guess if I couldn’t be a writer I’d keep teaching and do more radio.

My first published work was … a junior fiction novel called Dragon’s Tear. It sold out before the book launch, which was very exciting.

Morning person or night-owl? I used to be a complete night-owl, but I’ve taught myself to be a morning person. I try to be up and walking by 6.30 and at my computer by 9am, when I’m not teaching.  In theory this works, but Rage is a killer! Just one more song! In the past I was a ‘stay-up-all-night-sleep-till-noon’ person!

My first job was babysitting three fantastic little girls, just about every Saturday night. Since then I’ve worked in an office, at a women’s clothes shop, in a gift shop, at the MCG, in radio, as a teacher, taught swimming and written a kids’ column for a paper. Variety is good!

On a quiz show, my special subject would be …okay, so this is tragic, but my subject would be 70s/80s/90s music/movies/entertainment. A combination of Countdown addiction way back when, an incredible memory for weird stuff and twelve years as a radio announcer has resulted in my brain being jam-packed with music, movie and TV facts. Not very useful until I’m watching Spicks And Specks or Rockwiz. Though I did win a lunch voucher at a recent 70s trivia night. Should I be proud or embarrassed?

My last holiday was a week in Tassie with friends. Had a complete ball. It is such a gorgeous place.

My perfect Saturday is… okay; here we go with the tragic again… a Collingwood win at the MCG. I do love my footy! In the summer, my perfect Saturday is one at the beach. Port Fairy Eastern Beach is my favourite.

The last CD I bought was …do I have to answer this? *Cringe* It might have been Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf to replace my very worn copy. But the one before that was Robbie Williams. Does buying Pink for my daughter count?

I’m currently reading …I’ve just picked up Robert Drewe’s Grace, and I’m wondering why it has taken me so long to read my favourite author’s latest book. Before that I read James Moloney’s Lost Property. I love his writing.

Big Brother or Australian Idol?  Totally and absolutely Idol! I love James Matheson. He cracks me up!

Favourite film/tv show is…the short list of my favourite films is Lord of The Rings (any) and Phenomenon (starring John Travolta…see it –it’s just gorgeous.)
And my favourite TV shows at the minute are House, Bleak House, Glass House and Spicks and Specks. (Bit of a house issue there!) And the footy!

My favourite book is… just one?
Lord of the Rings – all three
Cloudstreet (in fact anything by Tim Winton)
A Wrinkle In Time (Madeline L’Engle)
Robert Drewe’s Our Sunshine
Plus E. Annie Proulx’s The Shipping News, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, So Much To Tell You and…

The book character I would most like to meet is… Gandalf because of his wisdom, humour and courage. Plus the magic of course!

The book character I would least like to meet is … that’s a toughie! Hmm, probably Voldemont. Too scary!!

The worst thing I’ve ever written is … I have a drawer full of tragic picture books that thankfully were rejected. At the time I couldn’t understand why…now I do!

When I was growing up I wanted to be … I always wanted to write, but fear held me back …pathetic isn’t it. Don’t let fear stop you doing anything. I also wanted to be a journalist, Collingwood trainer or an Olympic swimmer.

My heroes are … would you be surprised to know I have a list of these too?
My remarkable grandmother.
Neurosurgeon, Prof. Rosenfeld
Tim Winton
Nelson Mandela
Weary Dunlop
Pete Garrett (pre-politician days)
Bono (not just for music, but for his work to end world poverty)
My aunt, Jan Lawson.