I love my suburb, Elsternwick, and live most of my life within 15 minutes’ driving distance of my house.
2. What is your nickname?
Rob or Robbie, but most people simply call me Robyn.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Getting tired while driving on a freeway where there is no place to pull up and have a rest.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I aim for clear, concise, relatable, moving, unsentimental and accessible.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Empathic. Sensitive. Persistent. Conscientious. Sincere.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Pippi Longstocking, because she is fun, capable, self-reliant, friendly, brave and adventurous.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I think I’d like to go back to the sixth day of creation, several centuries BCE, to see exactly how Adam was made, and to find out what really happened in the Garden of Eden.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I can’t believe you’re a real writer! Although since I’m a bookworm, I guess it makes sense.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
The people I see around me every day who do things I admire.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Enid Blyton. I loved her books.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Today it’s ‘serendipity’ because I love happy co-incidences, and they occur so often.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Do I really have to pick just one? That would be awful. Maybe The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, because it’s a masterpiece that’s easy to read, yet can be understood on so many levels.
Robyn Bavati is the award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark, Pirouette and Within These Walls. She lives in Melbourne and has three adult children who’ve all left home. Robyn is an active member of Toastmasters International and enjoys public speaking. She loves visiting libraries, book clubs and schools. For more information, see www.robynbavati.com.
