Before writing novels, Janet worked as television journalist, first in Australia, where she grew up, and then in Asia and Europe. As a journalist, she discovered that most interesting people are often the ‘ordinary’ people – who sometimes have quite extraordinary stories to tell.
Janet’s first published fiction, a short story called The Last Dragon, appeared in 2002, and her first novel, The Farmer Needs A Wife, was released in 2009. Since then she’s written more than a dozen books, mostly set in Australia. Janet has won or been shortlisted for awards in the UK, USA and Australia. Janet also writes with Alison May, as Juliet Bell.
Janet has always been a teacher, from pony club classes to high-end IT courses, teaching in person and online. Most of all, she loves working with new writers, just starting on their journey.
Janet co-ordinated the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writers Scheme for several years and has taught at universities and writers conferences. She enjoys working one to one with writers to develop their writing skills and story ideas, as well as working with a finished manuscript to help it be the very best it can be.
Testimonials
From Helen Yendall author of A Wartime Secret
“One of Janet’s many skills is that she demystifies the novel-writing process and makes you makes you believe that you CAN do it!”