Gen Webster Author

  Dear Friend I’d like to share a story with you. Gerry (not his real name) has been telling me that he’s been living in Australia now for sixty-five years. He painted a picture of himself as a young man, when he squeezed into his stovepipe trousers and sporting bright red socks visible above his winkle-pickers attended the dances at Petersham Town Hall. He said that he had a fun time and an excellent life here after migrating to Australia. “The ladies liked me too…” he said with a cheeky grin. I can just picture it. He still has that killer smile (with fewer teeth it has to be said) that swept the ladies off their feet. Everyone has a tale to tell, but not everyone has someone to listen. Look for the youngster hiding behind the leathery skin of folks who mostly go unnoticed and unremarked upon. Please stop and listen to the stories of both the young and not-so-young. I find inspiration all around me, I listen to family stories too and my next project will be about the youn...

  25th August. Hello Friend. It’s proving difficult to find a venue for my book launch, however, not as difficult as finding a publisher. I have approached a few small businesses in mt local area, with an idea to host the launch, without success. As soon as I find a place, you’ll be the first to know. It feels amazing to hold the book in my hands after all the work that goes into the preparation for publication. I have to pinch myself when I see my book on my shelves. It’s been fascinating to be part of the process and scary to realise that as a writer I am responsible for self-promotion, when I haven’t any experience in this area. Fortunately, I have a very knowledgeable friend to help. I have been asked what is my motivation to write. I can’t put it into words (ha ha) but I can tell you what inspired the story of Dear Maggie. I see people sitting outside cafes, people who have retired and spend their days in the sun. I wondered what they were like as younger folks and decid...

  Hello friend, My name is Gen and I’ve recently had my debut novel published. It’s called Dear Maggie. I would like to introduce myself by telling you a little about how I came to write Maggie. I live in the Inner West of Sydney; I’ve raised a family and had a long working life. In my retirement I started to write. We have all heard writers say that from an early age, writing and telling stories was their destiny. This wasn’t my experience, at school when faced with the prospect of yet another essay on what I did on my holidays, I turned to an older sibling who willingly dictated some fictional events from her previous essays. Sister Mary Clare would definitely not have approved. You know now that I wasn’t completely honest in doing my homework, but I hope you will continue to follow me. Next time I hope to have news of my upcoming book launch…