Sue Elmes

I live in sunny Brisbane in tropical Queensland, Australia. I have a grumpy but supportive husband of over 50 years, and we are lucky to have most of our extended family close by. We have 3 amazing children and their partners, 6 delightful grandchildren as well as 3 grand pussycats and 1 grand puppy dog we get to play with or babysit whenever we want.

Writing poetry not only brings me joy but it helps me express pain and anger and delight in a way that nothing else seems to. I love that a line will emerge from the depths of my brain and insist I pay attention. The fun challenge is to build the rest of the poem so that it sounds good to the ear and moves or delights the reader.

My other joy is watercolour painting. I have only been painting for a few years. All my earlier creative life was writing or teaching drama and theatre! Painting takes me to another place, rather like meditating. We can no longer rough it camping in the Australian bush but I can capture images of the trees and creeks in my painting.