Melissa Garside brings together her lifelong love of language with a deep understanding of what children love to read, drawn from her years as a teacher.
Melissa lives south of Sydney with her family, their hilarious golden retriever and some entertaining free-ranging chooks. When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys getting her hands dirty in the garden, immersing herself in nature and using her family as guinea pigs for her recipe-free kitchen experiments. Melissa also sheepishly admits to collecting books about words and subscribing to online dictionaries.
Melissa’s debut junior fiction novel, Lexie Moon & The Word Burgling Bungle is out now from Riveted Press.
When did you start writing?
I started writing in Kindergarten. My first story was about a pirate called Jim.
As a kid, I wrote stories, family newspapers and plays for friends. I’ve been writing for fun ever since. I seriously started writing for kids in 2018.
Where do your ideas come from?
My ideas can come from anywhere and usually come from being observant and curious about the world around us. It’s also important to let yourself daydream and wonder.
I always have a notebook with me to write down ideas that pop into my head.
What was your favourite book as a child?
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame was probably my favourite.
I also loved Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, lots of Roald Dahl’s books and the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. Anything that sparked my imagination.
Where do you write?
I have a desk at home that overlooks our garden. I love watching the little birds dart in and out of the trees and birdbath.
When I’m not writing at my desk, I like to scribble in a notebook when I’m out and about.
Who is your favourite author?
I have been inspired by Jackie French for years. She is an amazing children’s writer, but I also have lots of her books about gardening and chooks.
If you could have any invention, what would it be?
I wish I had a cloning machine, so I could have more of me. One to write, one to travel and one to do all the boring housework.