Dr Merlyn

My blogs

About me

Gender Female
Industry Education
Occupation Writer
Location Sydney, NSW, Australia
Introduction I left school at 14, becoming a self-taught couturier for stage and individual clientele until university at 41. There I achieved a Distinction average across studies (BA (Theatre Studies /Psych/Sociology), Grad Dip Cont.Ed (Arts/Theatre) M.Phil (Arts Ed) PhD (History/Literature/Adult Ed). I've been an omnivorous reader since learning to read around the age of 4. At uni I found that I could write and now, with the changed university environment becoming unattractive, that's my next career. Candide is my personal literary metaphor for an obdurate naiveté that accompanies my peregrinations like a well-travelled suitcase, somewhat battered but buoyant still. By rights I should have the armour of a confirmed cynic, yet remain an innate optimist to this day, trusting people and persisting in a Micawber-like expectation of miraculous windfalls. If I have a gravestone perhaps the homily might read, ‘Waiting for something to turn up.’ I have a life-long desire to do something of real value for my planet and its creatures and hope career no.3 will be the right vehicle.
Interests Literature, the ocean, being human
Favorite Movies Big Fish, Fight Club, Meet Joe Black, Pan's Labrynth, Mr Reliable, Ten Canoes, The Draughtsman's Contract, the directors Kurosawa, Hal Hartley, Lina Wertmuller, Life of Brian, Babbette's Feast
Favorite Music Pink Floyd, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Asha Phutli, Carly Simon, Mozart, Ravel, Holst, Mahler
Favorite Books Letter From Peking, Lord of the Rings, The White Goddess, Writers: Katherine Kerr, Edith Pargiter/Ellis Peters, Terry Pratchett, Sarah Dunnant, John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, Guy De Maupassant, George Orwell, some work by Stephen King

My first dog