After retiring from her position at Nambucca Heads High School in 2011, Annie pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a full-time writer. She started writing her first novel at the age of 55 and just six weeks later had her first book published.

Since then she has written numerous titles including her latest book, Diamond Sky, which is the third and final book in the popular Porter Series.

The book delves into the life of Dru Porter, an engineer who finds herself in the Kimberley region, caught up in a diamond heist.

Annie says while each book in the series is its own standalone story, the common thread among them all is three sisters who experience a tragedy 10 years earlier.

She says the latest book is about “healing and growth through adversity.”

While Annie and her husband call the Nambucca Valley home, they leave the area each winter to go travelling to remote areas of Australia where Annie gains inspiration for her novels.

“I would love to set a book in each of the locations we have visited,” she said.

“I love writing about ordinary, everyday issues in different settings, and exploring the day to day drama of relationships in the context of larger social issues.”

Annie will be speaking about her latest novel, Diamond Sky, when she presents an author talk at Kempsey Shire Library on Friday 20 October at 11am.

Copies of the book Diamond Sky will be available to buy on the day. For enquiries and to secure a spot at the talk, please contact Kempsey Library on6566 3210 or send an email to kempsey.library@kempsey.nsw.gov.au