"In my teen years, the urge to write was strong but then life swept me along other paths, including marriage, children and later on, studies in music, ceramics and archaeology—all far removed from creative writing yet providing a deep reservoir of experiences for me to draw on when I came back to writing a few years ago. Along with music-making, it shares top billing in my life—well, I’d better include family in that or I might be in trouble.

"I grew up on the north coast of NSW and after fifteen years away from it, the wheel turned full circle and I found myself, plus family, back again in my favourite little piece of the world and I’ve been here ever since.

"I enjoy novel-length writing but there is something very satisfying about crafting a short story, where every word has to count—no waffling permitted—yet characters must be made convincing, the story kept moving and a single narrative effect achieved. I always find it an exhilarating challenge."

To read Dorothy's winning entry "The Clock", click here.