Aileen plans to be a writer, comedian and artist when she grows up. A member of the Mandurah Scribblers writer’s group, she has published short stories, poems and letters. At the beginning of this century, she developed a website (no longer active), she still has a blog on Word press (https://joybts.wordpress.com).
The privilege of being part of the creative team behind the Silver Shadows anthology has fuelled her literary aspirations. She will in time go on to publish the Great New Zealand Novel. Meanwhile she will continue to practice and learn, writing for fun and playing with cover design.
Of European descent, pansexual, gender fluid and most likely neurodiverse, born before those terms existed, Aileen performed many roles adequately despite her unconventional ideas. Collaborating with social anxiety, fear of failure and imposter syndrome she was an early explorer of social-cyber and a recalcitrant solo parent. She wrote poetry and stored memories for future contemporary-retro-fiction.
A granny, wife, mother, and guardian of cats, dogs and poultry, Aileen fills her home, garden and wardrobe with second hand treasures and plants. Struggling with procrastination, she will systematize anything to avoid what is most pressing. Nothing pleases her more than seeing the youngest of thirteen grandchildren create chaos and act out magical quests. The teenagers have moved on, she misses them.
Aileen dreams of the time she can escape, travel and write. To explore the love, hate relationship she has with the truth and reality. She is laying flexible foundations knowing that unexpected opportunities come most often to those who are prepared.
