IT WAS an evening of laughter, intrigue, and a touch of mystery when Phillip Island’s own award-winning crime writer, Sandi Wallace, joined members and guests of the Rotary Club of Phillip Island and San Remo at the San Remo Hotel.
Sandi quickly had everyone hooked as she shared stories from her fascinating life — one that’s almost as full of twists as her novels. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in all sorts of roles: banker, paralegal, cabinetmaker, journalist, and even personal trainer. She admitted she once came close to joining Victoria Police — an experience that, looking back, helped fuel her fascination with the criminal mind.
Her decision to follow her passion for storytelling clearly paid off. Sandi’s debut rural thriller, Tell Me Why, won the Davitt Award Readers’ Choice, and her short crime fiction has earned several Scarlet Stiletto Awards. She spoke about how her love for the Australian countryside shapes her writing — capturing both the beauty and the darker undercurrents of small-town life.
Living on Millowl / Phillip Island, Sandi said she’s hard at work on her next book but always enjoys chances like this to connect with locals. The relaxed, conversational interview gave everyone a glimpse into her writing process, her inspirations, and what it’s really like to “live inside the mind of a crime writer.”
