Author Interview | Wendy Parker

This interview is part of a series, introducing the members of Australasian Christian Writers, to give you the opportunity to get to know us a little better. Today we’re interviewing Wendy Parker. Welcome, Wendy!

Fast Five

Kiwis or koalas?

Koalas. But, my friend just went on a cruise to New Zealand and said the Kiwis are really funny. (Not, sure if she was talking about the bird or the locals!)

Mangoes or kiwifruit?

Definitely kiwifruit. I gag on the taste and smell of Mangoes.

Hobbits or Mad Max?

Hobbits, my precious. (My lame impression of Gollum)

Books or TV?

Books, books and more books. Besides, what’s a TV?

Sun or snow?

I moved to Australia from England…which one do you think?!

Getting to Know Wendy Parker

What’s something interesting or unusual about you that not everyone knows?

I have three moles on my right leg that line up in a row.

Where are you from? [city and state or country]

I was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, which is in England. But I grew up in Hinckley, Leicestershire, which is not far from Nuneaton.

What is your town or city most famous (or infamous) for?

Cheese and pork pies. Also, they recently found King Richard III bones buried in a carpark in the middle of Leicester.

What books are set in your town/city?

George Eliot, the Victorian writer, was born in Nuneaton. Actually, the hospital I was born in was named after her. I’m not sure if she wrote about her home town in any of her books. Maybe I should read one of them!

About Your Writing

What do you write?

Children’s Christian fantasy and a weekly blog.

Who or what are your main writing influences?

I love Wendy Alec books! I love the way she takes Biblical truths and real facts and weaves them into a fictional story. C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl have also been a big influence in my writing too.

Do you have any books published?

Not as yet.

How long have you been writing?

13 years.

What inspired you to start writing?

I always loved writing plays and stories as a child but never really thought of it as a career. I stumbled upon a children’s writing course when I was reading an Australian Woman’s Weekly when my kids were a lot younger and I thought, “I could write better children’s stories than some of the books I see in the shops.” So, I signed up! My tutor (a published author) told me that I have a natural gift for writing children’s stories and I finished my course in record time!

What’s your favourite part of the writing process?

Writing dialogue. I find it easier than writing long, descriptive paragraphs.

What’s your biggest writing challenge?

I work fulltime at another job at the moment, so coming home and “switching on” my writer’s brain can feel like an uphill battle sometimes.

How does your faith impact your writing?

C.S. Lewis was once described by a friend as, “a man in love with the imagination.” As I’ve grown deeper in my faith with God, I believe he is helping me to fall in love with the imagination that he gave to me and to embrace it, rather than be scared of it.

Finally, where’s the best place to find you online?

You can find me on my weekly blog, www.thebigvoiceonline.com