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Facing the Stars

Ever since I was a child, I loved to read and write. It was and still is my biggest passion.

When I hit my teenage years, I became really interested in astrology. Not so much the daily horoscopes, but rather the way each sign governs distinct personality traits. It soon became a way for me to understand others. I spent many years reading non-fiction books about the zodiac before I realised I had never actually read a fictional tale on the topic.

When I was 16, I found a woman in my hometown named Eve Old, who tutored writers after school in order to develop their talents and skills. The second we met, a bond was instantly formed. She became my mentor and friend. I was invited to join a group she had formed named the ‘Inkspotters’ and once a month, we would get together over a big feast to discuss reading, writing and a chance to share our work. These were some of the best moments of my life. I was the only child in the group and she spoiled me like I was her own.

One afternoon, during a private session with Eve, I shared my initial concept for Astrology Pond and she loved it! I remember feeling a fluttering in my chest, as I dreamed about it being published someday. I would write for weeks and then a year would go past, before I would start again. I kept getting caught up in my young adult life; never sure where it would actually go.

When I was 18, I moved to Geelong, living there for three years whilst I completed my Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University. One day, I heard from my mum, who was working at our local Medical Centre back home, that Eve had come in feeling quite unwell. I rushed to visit her on my weekend off and she was so happy to see me. We chatted in the sunshine, sipping tea and discussing the latest books we had read. Little did I know, that was the last time I would ever see her again…

A year later, I found out from the ‘Inkspotters’ that Eve had passed away. I cried, wallowing in regret at not being able to say goodbye to her. She was one of the kindest, most nurturing women I had ever met and she was gone. For months afterwards, I would visit her grave and talk to her; unable to let go. I kept thinking about how she had always believed in me and this fuelled my need to finish Astrology Pond. In 2013, it was finally completed and published. If you look inside, you will see that I dedicated it to her, as well as my grandfather, who I was also incredibly close to.  The people around me that knew and loved Eve, kept telling me how proud she would be. I honestly feel her warmth shining down on me at times.

Let me give you a quick plot summary: Astrology Pond is about a young teenager named Danni Hamilton, who is passionate about astrology and the secrets behind the stars. After having vivid, prophetic dreams, she forms a group of twelve people (each one belonging to a different sign) and together, they learn more about each other and themselves. What Danni doesn’t realise, is that there is so much more to her dreams. The stars are calling her! The sequel takes place in an alternate universe, where the group are placed on an important, astrological mission. Friendships are won and lost. Romance blooms and jealousy strikes. When you place twelve very different personalities together, there is bound to be some heat!

After realising I was now officially a published author, I began to write the sequel and just last month, ‘Facing the Stars’ was completed. The Signs of the Zodiac series was born. I am now in the midst of writing the third and final instalment in the trilogy – Aligning the Signs.

I still have all of Eve’s emails. I wanted to share an excerpt from one of them that means the world to me: