Time to write for children

Janice Creenaune meets Dianne Ellis, who worked in local government as an assistant to the mayor of Bankstown and now writes children’s books in retirement.

Dianne Ellis has a passion for reading and a talent for writing, but deep within her psyche there is an even deeper love for children and the environment. She combines all these elements to create stories for children. First came the Rusty Rumble series and later Mr Crocodile’s Cooking Class, Kingsley, the cross-eyed kookaburra and Dabbleduck.

Dianne’s first published poem appeared in her school newsletter when she was eight. She continued to write poetry through her life and constantly developed fictional characters and stories in her mind. “I was so busy as a working mother of three, I didn’t have time to take the stories to the next level,” Dianne says.

As assistant to the mayor of Bankstown, she organised huge events and wrote numerous speeches. “I wasn’t particularly good at writing speeches so I took some courses and excelled in the creative writing component. My tutor urged me to continue my creative journey and my confidence to write for children grew from that time. Not sure if my speech writing ever improved though.”

In retirement in Austinmer, living at the foot of the escarpment, Dianne did not have to look far for inspiration. “My husband and I also travelled a lot, so that too allowed me to look beyond for all types of inspiration. Dabbleduck evolved from watching some eastern wood ducks being disturbed by nearby platypuses at Walcha village bridge.

“Poetry has always remained close to me as well, so traversing children’s books just seemed to come naturally to me. Not all my books rhyme, but children react so strongly to those which do rhyme and I enjoy them too.”

Dianne’s first books, the Rusty Rumble series, which she self-published, were just that: poetry in storytelling form for children up to age six.

“I love the promotion of the books through readings in libraries, day-care centres, schools and bookshops. Sometimes I even read at the Nan Tien Temple markets.

“But I must admit it is the passion for writing that is important even if it is not published, and the joy of children when we read together and later discuss the issues. I just love it all.

“The lovely area I live in allows me to feel a very positive energy about me, the sea, the escarpment and my house, and I really had a Rusty Rumble dog myself. I’m a regular ocean pool swimmer and many new characters pop into my head during my morning laps.

Dianne is careful not to preach. “My last three books are about perseverance, friendship, team-work and environmental awareness and I’m thankful children seem to understand their messages.

“Having a cross-eyed kookaburra, for example, allows discussion of differences and even disabilities within us all without necessarily stating it outright. My illustrator, Janet Davies, has done such a wonderful job.

“I love reading all my stories to little ones and sometimes I use puppets and animated voice characterisations to bring it alive.”

Dianne says she is fortunate to have a supportive and encouraging husband in John, who is also creative with his stained-glass work. Dianne also appreciates her writing group buddies who meet regularly to critique each other’s work.

Dianne works on multiple books at a time.

“I’m currently on a second draft of a doggie looking out of the window based on a real dog living just a few doors up the road and I’m also working on the sequel to Dabbleduck.”

Children (and their parents) can also look forward to her first novel, out later this year.

Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com or phone 4267 4880.