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Tammy Lousie

Genres: Picture Books, Junior Fiction, Non-fiction and Magazine articles

Member Bio

I was around eight years old when I first thought about becoming an author. When I saw my English grade, I dismissed that idea. To improve my English, I read Enid Blyton’s, Folk from the Faraway Tree series and the Sweet Dreams collection. My passion for books grew, and I went on to establish a writing group, Lowood Writers’ Circle, which operated from 2015 to 2018.  

In 2019, I became a qualified teacher aide and moved to the city. I am currently the treasurer of my local writing group, and I remain an avid reader, among many other interests. 

 

Questions with Tammy Louise

• Which author/illustrator inspires you?

As a child, I loved Roald Dahl, not only his stories but his made-up, nonsense words. Authors like Mem Fox, who works perfectly with Judy Horacek in Where is the Green Sheep? Ghost writer, H.I. Larry in his  Zac Power – Spy Recruit series and author Sally Rippin’s series, Hey Jack and School of Monsters. 

• What draws you to writing for children specifically? 

It’s my character strength. Working with children, I believe I have a good understanding of what language works best for different-aged audiences.

• How long have you been writing? 

Since 2013, when I took the idea of writing for children seriously, and wrote my first manuscript.

• Which professional writing bodies, are you a member of? 

BookLinks Inc QLD, and Queensland Writers Centre (QWC). 

• How do you extend on your writing skills?

I set time aside weekly to learn from resource materials, mainly how-to books that I have borrowed from the library or purchased. I attend WriteLinks workshops and the fortnightly writers’ group at my local library. I also try, but often fail, to listen to two podcasts a week.

• What are your writing goals? 

To set time aside regularly, for working on my current projects, like I’m going to the office.

• Are there any other creative projects you are working on that you would like to share? 

Not necessarily creative, but a local job agency has asked me to give classes to a few of their clients, which I have agreed to do, once a month.  

• Is there a particular theme or underlying subjects that run through your writing? 

I love animals, which appear in my other stories, and I have a great idea for a dinosaur series. I also write short stories for adults, and find bucket lists, creating the life you want or setting goals, can occur frequently in my tales.

• Who / what inspires you?

I moved to the country in 2014, and a friend recommended a book called: Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness by Karen Tyrrell. So when my eldest son asked me if there was anything I wanted for Mother’s Day, I put in my request. It was through Karen, that I discovered Writelinks, and Karen is the author who I think stands out as being proactive in promoting her work. Her dedication over the ten years of knowing her, has been unwavering. 

• Have you got any inspirational writing quotes you would like to share? 

I’m not sure they’re writing quotes specifically, but what has helped to motivate me along the way is: 

‘A Journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step’ – Lao Tzu, Chinese Proverb.  Or in other words: ‘Don’t be afraid to suck at something new’ – insert laugh here.