WORDS, stories and language are the forte of a Burradoo playwright, songwriter and newly accomplished novelist.
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After writing several plays and songs, Michelle Morgan has published her first novel Racing The Moon.
The engaging young adult novel follows the story of a 13-year-old boy living in Sydney during the Great Depression.
"My inspiration came from a family barbecue. My uncle was telling stories about growing up in the depression and the stories were quite amusing and I was just taken by some of the things he was saying," Mrs Morgan said.
Mrs Morgan put pen to paper during her family's three year stay at Norfolk Island from 2001 to 2005. After immersing herself in the history of the Great Depression and other topics tackled in the novel, she completed one of many drafts.
The Morgan family moved back to the Southern Highlands and Racing The Moon wasn't looked at again for another eight years until 2012.
"I started working full time and I just put it aside and instead I started to write short plays in the mean time," she said.
"I was trying to find an idea for another short play so I started looking through all the things I had written over the years and I stumbled across Racing The Moon. I started reading it and thought 'Oh that's not too bad,' so I started work on it again."
Allen and Unwin published the novel in January 2014 and Mrs Morgan said it was still hard to believe.
"It feels good and unreal to have my first book published. I look at it and think 'is that really mine?," she said.
"It's a long and hard process so it's good to see the end result."
There is talk that Racing The Moon could fit into the national curriculum as a text suitable for English and history.
"I wanted it to be readable, something that would entertain but not be frivolous. It's historical, looks at serious issues and has humour, but it's also not confronting," Mrs Morgan said.
"It allows teachers and parents to have conversations with children about the issues in a non threatening way."
Racing The Moon will launch at Bowral and District Art Society (BDAS) Gallery on Friday, February 21 at 6pm. There are limited spaces and bookings are essential. Bookings can be made at The Bookshop Bowral 4862 1634.
Copies of Racing The Moon are for sale at The Bookshop Bowral, on the Allen and Unwin website and will be for sale at the launch for $15.99.
Details: www.allenandunwin.com and www.michellejmorgan.com.au.
