QUICK CHAT
TREASURED GIFTS believe it, even on my graduation day.
First job? Working in the accounts department at Butler Brothers in Brisbane. The wage was five pounds per week. My family includes… my husband, Peter. Our daughter, Bronwyn and her husband, Geoff. Our son, Scott and his fiancée, Joanie. First car? VW Beetle. I always wanted really wide tyres. Unfortunately, that never happened, but it did get a paint job.
Your greatest regret? Not understanding about giftedness when our daughter was small. It was only when Bronwyn was training teachers to become gifted education mentors that she discovered she was gifted in innovative thinking and she was 40 by then.
Favourite book? I especially like Hugh Lunn’s book, Over the Top With Jim, because I grew up in Annerley, Brisbane and it reminds me of my childhood – and my Dad’s name was Jim. What are you reading now? I have been fascinated meeting the children in Alan D. Thompson’s book, People Like Me. What are you currently working on? Having just concluded the five-year journey to write The Gifted Kid Book Series, I am currently working on the animation of my stories and preparing presentations for the marketing phase. I am looking forward to interacting with children, parents, grandparents and educators.
author
Gloria Van Donge BIO
Pelican Waters author, Gloria van Donge and her husband Peter did not know they were the parents of a gifted child until she was an adult. The discovery prompted Gloria to create a series of five illustrated children’s books to help educators work creatively with gifted children at a young age. Her goal is to affirm gifted children and help them treasure their potential to excel.
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Can you nominate a day in your life that turned out to be a turning point? Easter 2012 was a turning point in my life because that was when our daughter phoned and suggested the idea of writing a book for gifted children. This unleashed wave after wave of creativity.
What achievement are you most proud of? Creating life – the tender moment of holding our newborn children.
“Learn to appreciate life – a rose petal, the crunch of celery, vibrant colours…”
Creating stories – holding my published books in my hands. You are happiest when? When I’m creative, toying with new ideas, shuffling words, doing my best.
What frustrates you the most? Technology. I am quite challenged by it.
Favourite song? Let’s Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins because I associate it with the idea of freedom.
How do you deal with your frustrations? If it’s a technical problem, I call my husband. If I’ve hit a brick wall in my writing, I go to the beach.
Best advice you’ve been given? As a new author, the best advice was to accept the fact that draft one is only ever a draft. I learnt to hold words lightly, so editing and restructuring didn’t leave scars – only memories of the thrill of reshaping an idea.
If you could tell your 18-year-old self anything, what would it be? Be thankful and generous. Learn to appreciate life – a rose petal, the crunch of celery, the vibrant colours when white light is diffused, and laughter.
What is your favourite place on the Sunshine Coast? The beach – Moffat, Kings, Bulcock – anywhere where the waves roll in and make lacy patterns on the sand.
Tea or coffee? Flat white in a mug – extra hot.
Best day in your life? One of the best, but scariest days, of my life was the day I walked onto the university campus at St Lucia as a mature-aged student. I discovered I loved to study. My father still couldn’t
NRL or AFL? The guys in the family barrack for the Broncos.
Know someone interesting on the Sunshine Coast? Email leigh@myweeklypreview.com.au.
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Creating music – hearing my children’s anthem performed for the first time.
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8 My Weekly Preview | November 10, 2017
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