Joanne Horniman

My latest book is Little Wing

It’s about Emily, the mother of Mahalia, and what happens to her in the five months when she leaves her baby with the father, Matt. It’s about post-natal depression, but I think of it more as a story about feeling that you’ve messed up your life, and how to get back from there.

The best thing about being a writer is being able to make stuff up, every day. I love inventing scenes, and deciding on particular words. I’m always really calm when I’m writing, and forget about myself. Not having to get dressed for work is great, too. I slop around all day in appalling clothes, like sarongs teamed with purple-striped thermal underwear, and my favourite lichen-green cardigan, which has gone all pilled and horrible.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a painter (Chagall, preferably) or a rock musician (Morrissey, from The Smiths. Love that mix of angst and ennui)

My first published work was a poem I wrote for a magazine at school about a dog killed by a car.

Morning person or night-owl? I love the mornings, especially if it’s sunny. And the first cup of tea of the day is always the best.

My first job was washing up in an old pub in George St Sydney.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be Italian cookery. But I don’t really know enough about anything to be on a quiz show.

My last holiday was a few weeks ago – went to Brisbane for a couple of days, browsed in my favourite bookshop (called Archives, which is stuffed with 2nd hand and antiquarian books), stood on the banks of the river and saw a huge yellow moon hanging right next to a tower block, and went to see the Australian Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty. 

My perfect Saturday is going over to New Brighton for a walk on the beach, drinking coffee and reading the papers, and NOT having to do the grocery shopping on the way home.

The last CD I bought was probably a Van Morrison one as a present. I have so many music enthusiasts in my family I let them do all the buying. My current favourite is probably a CD by Fiona Apple called Extraordinary Machine.

I’m currently reading Ludmila’s Broken English by DBC Pierre, and Sentimental Education, by  Gustave Flaubert.

Big Brother or Australian Idol? Idol, but I’ve decided not to watch it this time (though I could get sucked in)

Favourite film/tv show is Black Books

My favourite book is a toss-up between Maggie Cassidy, Big Sur, or Dr Sax, all by Jack Kerouac

The book character I would most like to meet is Miss Havisham, the jilted bride from Great Expectations, but only if I could meet her in that gloomy old room amidst the ruins of her wedding feast.

The book character I would least like to meet is the enormous crocodile

The worst thing I’ve ever written is probably one of the exam papers I did at uni. Sometimes I wonder how  I passed.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a writer or a vet.

My heroes are Little Duck and Pierre, who are my two ducks.  They always immerse themselves so much in the business of simply BEING ducks that they are an inspiration and a joy.