Canberra author Amelia McInerney is celebrating the publication of her fourth children's picture book - a remarkable achievement after deciding only six years ago to pursue her passion.
Her funny rhyming picture book called Who Fed Zed?, published by Allen and Unwin, hitbook shelves this week. Her fifth book comes out in November. She has a deal with leading publisher Walker Books and another offer in the works.
The former medical sonographer says a sense of fun is key - and playing around with words.
"I think I'm a little bit outside the box," she said.
"I tell stories that are funny. Humour is really big. I think it's very me. Maybe having the different background of being a scientific person, I may have a bit of a different take."
The mum from Yarralumla only decided to start writing picture books after the birth of her third child, Rosalie, who is now six.
"It was like this light bulb moment," she said.
The Book Chook, My Bird, Bertie and Bad Crab were her first three and now comes Who Fed Zed? The zany book has an underlying message about food allergy and intolerance. It may involve a gluten-intolerant goldfish (spoiler alert).
"I hope the book will raise awareness and acceptance of food allergy and intolerance and spark conversations about the importance of food label-reading for allergy-sufferers," Amelia said.
"The story was actually inspired by my own child's severe nut allergies: she is 12 now, but when she was four, there was a mix-up and I accidentally gave my daughter a muesli bar that had peanuts in it. I haven't messed up since but it's every food allergy parent's worst nightmare and I felt so terrible.
"When I went to write the story, I did it in four days. It just came to me because it was coming from this powerful, emotional place."
Who Fed Zed? is illustrated by Queenslander Adam Nickel who also illustrated Zoe Foster Blake's phenomenally-successful picture book, No-One Likes A Fart.
And Zed is often pictured with a long string of poo hanging down, making him immediately recognisable to any goldfish owner.
Zed the fish is white and red.
His poo hangs down in one long thread.
The main thing, though, is what Fred said,
'NEVER, EVER FEED ZED BREAD.'
Amelia and her husband Allister moved from the Blue Mountains with their three daughters Chelsea, 12, Elodie, 10, and Ro
salie, 6.
Allister is in logistics in the air force and the family has lived all over the world and in Canberra twice before. This time, though, it's for good.
"We love Canberra," Amelia said.
