1/. I’m a career journalist who was suddenly made redundant during the pandemic lockdown this time last year. Fearing cold turkey from writing, I wrote my maiden book in two months. I had encountered many cases of workplace bullying in journalism during my career so I opted for fiction to protect victims but kept the authenticity of their accounts. I chose a female protagonist because they were preyed on most.

2/. With a career in journalism, reading was a challenge but now I’m catching up. I’m reading Jordan B. Peterson’s 12 Rules of Life. My favourite is James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On The Mountain, from high school days.

3/. When I launched my self-published book in two cities 3 weeks ago, I was amazed to find out how bad workplace coercion is in New Zealand and why the country was ranked No.2 bullying nation in the world in 2016. It’s not confined to journalism so I’m hoping to write a book on myriad cases in different professions, cultures, gender, ethnicities etc. The bulk of the money will go to a new trust set up to help victims with counseling and such.

4/. Indie authors should trust their instincts and not leave their fate in the hands of agents of traditional publishers. It’s your story so tell it how you see it best but be open to professional advice. Don’t write to become rich and famous because you’ll lose focus. Just be passionate about sharing your story and see how many readers join you in your journey.

5/. As a child, watching my late father reacting to newspaper reports in a country devoid of TV. I got reinforcement from my university tutor in my first year when I wrote an essay on how my dad’s alcoholism affected our family life. He gave me an A+ and I realised how powerful and emotive words can be.