Jennie has worked as a primary teacher for most of her career, which began in the early 1970s in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. She later moved to the outback settlements of the Northern Territory, in the remote locations of Maningrida, Pine Creek, Lajamanu and Warrabri. Shortly thereafter, she taught in the western suburbs of Sydney. During that time, Jennie focused on her academic writing, children's literature, and, more recently, historical narrative.
Jennie is enthusiastic about teaching; her inspiration to write is developing as she works with young children. She credits this experience as having shaped her interest in social history and the lived experiences of the past. Her interest in memoir, history and philosophy becomes evident in her writing as her words contain stories about challenge and adversity.
This novel, Tanami Desert Star, is based upon Jennie's experience living in the outback of the Northern Territory. Her research into the early communities of regional Australia from 1860 to 1880 enabled her to reflect upon the difficulties that the early settlers may have faced. She is presently continuing research on historical fiction.
Jennie is married with three grown-up children and currently lives in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia.
