Fairy-tale ending: From struggling reader to published author

Inverloch author Rebecca Wright struggled to read as a child. Now, at 54, in true fairy tale fashion, she’s published her very own fantasy novel, 15 years in the making.

‘Soraya’s Song’ is Ms Wright’s first book, and was officially launched on August 16, right before schools and families around the country celebrated Book Week.

The book transports readers inside a beehive, following Soraya, a gifted young scout bee whose colony is driven towards rebellion by drought, food shortages and a ruthless queen.

It first began as a story for Ms Wright’s four children.

“I just started off writing it for them and just for them, but then I had a few people read it and say, ‘You should publish this’, and it sort of went from there,” she said.

Ms Wright didn’t have to look far for her inspiration.

Despite being allergic to bees, she became fascinated by those visiting the lavender bush beside the back deck of her Inverloch home.

She watched them move between flowers and began reading about their complex colonies.

“The more I learned about bees, the more remarkable they became,” she said.

“I thought, ‘I could write a story about this’, and just sort of got lost in their world and in the characters.”

Writing the novel around work and raising four children meant the manuscript was often pushed to the side, but with her children now being adults and moved out, Ms Wright found time to finish the novel.

“The writing has been easy; it’s the editing process that’s the hard work,” she said.

Ms Wright’s accomplishment becomes all the more meaningful when considering her journey.

While attending Leongatha Primary School, she had difficulty learning to read and was almost held back.

“Once reading finally clicked, I never stopped,” she said.

Those early struggles with reading blossomed into a love for books, which was encouraged by both teachers and family members.

Wright even went on to study journalism and literature and worked as a journalist at the Sentinel-Times.

She had always hoped to publish a book.

“My lecturer once said to me, ‘All journalists are just frustrated authors. That’s what we really want to be’,” Ms Wright said with a laugh.

“So that’s what I’ve always felt like I wanted to be, a writer and to get a book published. It’s a good tick off a dream.”

Ms Wright self-published ‘Soraya’s Song’, and said seeing the finished novel on Paperplay’s shelves, where she has worked for six years, was both thrilling and nerve-racking.

“With journalism, you’re fact-writing,” she said. “But this is really personal.”

An audiobook is planned for October, while Ms Wright has already completed a sequel which is now being edited.

She said she hopes her own journey encourages children who struggle with literacy to persevere.

‘Soraya’s Song’ is currently available at Paperplay, Inverloch, and online at sissliterary.com.