MOLLY FERNANDES
MOLLY FERNANDES
Books
MOLLY FERNANDES
Molly Fernandes, part nomad, part immigrant, and part Western Australian, grew up in the 1970s in Perth, after spending the first two years of her life in war torn Beirut. The daughter of parents that drifted, she gathered stories as she grew.
These tales unfolded on the shorelines of Cosie Corner and Emu Point, where she spent her summers as a young girl.
She gained a deep respect and appreciation for the power of the written word from a young age as she visited many remote places and began exploring story writing. Spending time in the Kimberley, Southwestern Australia, the most isolated city in the world and traveling the globe has given her a unique fascination with people and places, resilience, challenge, and struggle.
She began her apprenticeship by reading Enid Blyton, Kenneth Grahame, and Ernest Hemingway. Her passion for writing and art inspired her to become a primary school teacher.
She has published two books; ‘Owen’s Afternoon Tea’ and ‘The Call of the Boodier.’
Molly’s love of nature always draws her towards gardening, hiking and observing the birds that visit her garden. Today she lives with her family on the northern beaches of Perth in Western Australia.
Writing is as much an adventure for her as
reading and she thoroughly enjoys bringing stories to life in text and in drawing.
Q. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW AUTHORS THAT YOU WISHED YOU HAD RECEIVED YOURSELF WHEN YOU STARTED?
A. Take your time, don’t rush and understand that writing a book is a journey of many steps.
Q. HOW MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE DO YOU INCORPORATE INTO YOUR WRITING OR DO YOU MAKE UP EVERYTHING?
A. real life is a great resource for writing and using content from my life helps to make the writing authentic.
Q. HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR READERS? DO YOU OFFER THEM A FREE BOOK? DO YOU OFFER THEM A NEWSLETTER?
A. I write a letter to my subscribers, sharing things that catch my interest, connect with readers on Instagram at events and through the Author penpal program.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AUTHOR? CAN YOU TELL US WHY? EVERYTHING?
A. I have lots of favourites. I am kind of a collector of them. I love different authors for different reasons. I love Favel Parrett, Barbara Kingsolver, Ian McEwan, Dylan Thomas. they are authors that really take the reader on a journey.
Q. HOW LONG DO YOU RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR NEXT BOOK?
A. It really depends on the book and how clear the idea or concept is in my head. ‘Call of the Boodier’ sat percolating for about a year. My current project got started quickly but then there is a lot of research happening.
Q. ANY HOBBIES? DO THEY HELP YOU IN YOUR WRITING?
A. I love exploring, investigating and being in nature. I think I am usually inspired to write when I am in nature.
A. DID YOU JUST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER OR DID YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO START WRITING?
A. A little of both. I desperately wanted to write as a kid, but life took over and then as a teacher I had a gap in the resources I needed to teach, so I started building narratives around leaning content.
Q. WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK ABOUT YOUR WRITING?
A. My family is incredibly supportive. It’s definitely a leap of faith before a story is made into a book, and I am very lucky in this regard.
Q. IF YOU COULD PICK ONE OF YOUR BOOKS TO BECOME A MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER, WHICH BOOK WOULD THAT BE AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY THE CHARACTERS?
A. I love to see ‘Call of the Boodier’, made into a movie. I am not sure it is a rational thought or just that I can visualise the book very clearly. I would love local home-grown talent.
Q. WHAT WAS THE FIRST BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?
A. I love reading books that move you. I would have to say that ‘Old Yeller’, about this beautiful stray dog. It made me cry for days.
Q. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
A. ‘Call of the Boodier’ is a historical fiction set in the Boranup forest on Wadandi Boodja, near Margaret River in Western Australia. It’s about the challenges Riley faces in his town and morally with himself as he joins in the search for a tiger that has gone missing in the bush as a result of a road accident. He faces dangerous situations, a bit of crime, bush fire, and self doubt whilst trying to save this wild tiger from being captured by the wrong people.
Q. AN AUTHOR'S PATH IS NEVER EASY. WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
A. It isn’t easy. I would say connecting with other writers, setting manageable goals and absorbing creative things. Could be theatre or music performances.
Q. WHAT ARE THE ETHICS ABOUT WRITING ABOUT HISTORICAL FIGURES?
A. I think it is really important for people in line with the facts. I try really hard to just gather, reflect and observe without making judgements and try to understand their experiences from their perspectives.
Q. WHAT IS CURRENTLY LACKING IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TODAY IN YOUR COUNTRY?
A. I think there are many incredible programs going on in education and then some not great ones. I do not like making generalisations but I guess time to reflect, repeat, explore, practice, and authenticate is the biggest thing missing.
