The natural world plays a strong role in The Rain Heron, even more central than in Flames. Why do you think this has been such an important aspect of your fiction?

I think it has a lot to do with where I come from — Tasmania. I’ve had the good fortune to have been surrounded by intensely beautiful landscapes for much of my life, and that has worked its way into what I write about. It probably seems deliberate, but it doesn’t feel that way to me as I’m writing. Nature just insists.

The character of the Rain Heron is such an imaginative creation. Did you have any specific inspirations for this creature?

No specific inspirations — it was a mix of mythologies, fables, stories and bushwalks. It took me a long time to settle on the form the heron took. I wanted it to feel like a storm come to life.

The book touches on a range of different genres, with elements of magical realism, cli-fi, dystopian fiction, even horror. Are you aware of genre when writing, or it is something that springs from the story itself?

I didn’t think about genre at all with this book. I just tried to write something that felt compelling to me, with enough impetus to hopefully have people wanting to turn the page. It definitely springs from the story. I don’t feel like I have a lot of control over it.

You have avoided the dreaded ‘second novel syndrome’ and produced a wonderful follow up in The Rain Heron. Do you have any advice for writers who are embarking on a new project?

Thank you! That’s so kind. I try not to give much advice, because I often feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. But I would say: write something you’d want to read. Don’t be too concerned by trends.

In 2014 you won the Scribe Non-Fiction Prize for Young Writers. Will you turn your hand to non-fiction again in the future?

I doubt it. I don’t have the patience, I don’t think I know anything, I hate research, and making things up is far more fun. But who knows? Maybe I’ll run out of ideas.

What are the best books you have read during lockdown?

I’ve just finished I Heard The Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven, which has instantly become one of my favourite books. I’ve also read and loved The Animals in That Country, by Laura Jean McKay, and The Mission House, by Carys Davies.

You can find Suzy’s review of The Rain Heron on our Books We Love page.

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