Ten Terrifying Questions with Yvonne Weldon!

Yvonne Weldon is a writer of fiction with a uniquely diverse lived experience, sharing truth-telling through writing that stirs reflection to encourage action for positive change. In 2016, Yvonne was shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards David Unaipon Unpublished Manuscript for Sixty-Seven Days, and was awarded a Faber Writing Academy Scholarship in 2017.

Yvonne is the current Deputy Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, the first Aboriginal candidate nominated for the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and was named New South Wales’ Aboriginal Woman of the Year 2022. She has worked in senior positions in Aboriginal policy development, health, human services, child care services, child protection, housing, disability and Aboriginal heritage. She is a proud Wiradjuri woman and maintains strong ties to her homelands of Cowra and the Riverina areas in New South Wales.

To celebrate the recent release of her book, Sixty-Seven Days, Yvonne takes on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …

1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?

2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?

I recall when I was twelve I had a fashion plates set and I wanted to design clothes, I would draw my own patterns on the standard outlines of the various clothing outlines. I loved the idea of changing what was stock standard and making clothes to have independent flare and creativity.
When I was eighteen I wanted to be an accountant but I didn’t get into the course I wanted so when I went to university I enrolled into a Bachelor of Arts degree with an intent to transfer to accountancy after a year. I didn’t transfer, I stayed in the Arts Degree majoring in Sociology. Many people told me that I wouldn’t suit to be accountant and I needed to study something more creative. I enjoyed the variety of courses in the Arts degree. I was interested in going in a direction of making systemic changes to way my people are treated in our own country.

When I was 30 I wanted to continue to bring about change to systems not just for my people but also within. Unfortunately, our traditional practices have been altered and my people’s behaviours have been ingrained in our communities and people without honouring what we have lived for endless generations. I have a strong passion for making a difference to the younger generations- back then, I wanted to continue working in early childhood.

3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?

That you need to respond/ retaliate to people/ things. That old say ‘what comes around goes around’, it is true. The things I have seen, by the way that others behave or have treated me, I just wait, it happens to them for them eventually. So as I have aged, I don’t respond like I used to because life does that all in its own way and own time.

4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?

I have a painting in my house that my Aunty Isobel painted, it is an Wedgetail Eagle. This painting was part of a series that was included in her sister’s – my Aunty Mary Coe Daley’s book Windradyne Wiradjuri Koorie. Music – well that ranges from the 70s (which most people tell me I stuck there), to deep soul music of the 50s and 60s, to classic country of Hank Williams (40s), to Patsy Cline (50s/ 60s) and country music of multiple eras. There are songs used/ referred to in my book that has shaped the way love journeys with you through the yearning.

5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing a children’s book?

I think writing can express a feeling on-page that makes you feel it when you read it. The complexities of words and the use of them can activate different feelings, responses and interpretations, as does punctuation, and sentence structure. I’m a novice, so I’m interested in learning more and hopefully writing more.

6. Please tell us about your latest book!

I describe it as a tragic love story immersed in Wiradjuri culture, travels and practices. It is a fictional novel but there are lived characters and experiences in it. Love can form ways in your soul that you can’t really explain. The deep love in life and in loss is one of the same in 67 days.

7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?

I think the story is challenging but the greatest take away from it, is that if you have love in your life you can move forward with a belief in self as well as other positive people around. They make a difference, you can make a difference.

8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?

I admire Larissa Berendt and James Patterson. Larissa because she can do it all, she writes beautifully, represents with honour through law and shares the truth through her productions/ films. James because I would read his books with such fever that I would stay up all night (and morning) until I had nothing left. The suspense James offers is something I wish I could one day obtain even in a minor way. James writes for a living that is my dream, I wish I could.

9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?

I have a trilogy I would like to write, I think about it every day. I need to do less of the thinking and more of the writing. I also would like to write a few non-fiction books and I have several children’s books I would like to write and illustrate.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Just write. There are words floating around in your head, they might not make sense while they are there, so put them on the page. When I started to write for 67 days, I challenged myself to write at least 500 words every single day no matter how busy or tired I was. I would stay up late in the night (like I am now – it’s 11:54 pm) writing whatever would come out. Some nights I would write over 5000 words.

It was like putting one foot in front of the last, just keep adding your words, you never know what story will come alive from your practice. Don’t worry about getting published, your words, and your story needs to be about you first and if you are fortunate enough to get published, it may end up being for you and so many others too. Be kind to yourself, there are enough people being cruel in the world, we don’t need to do it ourselves as well!

Thank you for playing!

—Sixty-Seven Days by Yvonne Weldon (Penguin Australia) is out now!

Sixty-Seven Days

by Yvonne Weldon

An intense and mesmerising story of first love, culture and belief.

Order NowRead More

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