Noelle Clark is an Australian author of Australian fiction, contemporary romance novels, and historical fiction. Her books feature characters who deal with love and loss; and who experience the often difficult facets of life, such as forgiveness and redemption. Noelle lives in a secluded cottage in sunny Queensland, Australia, surrounded by lush rainforest. She has two grown up children and four grandchildren. When Noelle's not writing and travelling, she enjoys growing her own organic vegetables and herbs, photography, bushwalking, playing guitar, reading and cooking. Noelle is a proud member of Australian Rural Fiction; Queensland Writers Centre; Bathing Beauties Writing Group; YON Beyond Writing Group; Romance Writers of Australia; and Australian Romance Readers Association. She is currently published independently by Stop Press Publishing. Noelle is an author with the acclaimed Bindarra Creek Romance group. Her books have been Finalists in several literary awards, including the Chatelaine Awards, and the ARRA Awards. Questions and feedback are always welcome, so please use the 'Contact me' tab to get in touch. Thanks for visiting.
Influences on my writing style
My own writing ‘voice’ or style, has evolved over the past ten years. I began writing travelogues, mostly as a way to remember all the little details like aromas, tastes, sounds, and the effects a place had on me. A huge fan of Bill Bryson’s early work, I enriched my tales with anecdotes, some funny - some not, and very personal thoughts. When I discovered the works of Louis de Bernieres, I knew that was how I wanted to write. To pick out the tiny details of every day life and inspect them, much like searching for an elusive piece of a jigsaw puzzle, know it was vital to have the right piece in the right place in order for the big picture to be perfect. Louis de Bernieres is amazing. Maeve Binchy’s amazing ability to create life-like, univerally recognisable characters , influenced my own characters. I love their flaws, their quirks, their positive effect on others; I don't care if they are rich or poor, handsome or just ordinary. When readers engage with the characters and write to me saying they laughed and cried along with them, then I know I've nailed it. There are more authors who have influenced me, and I am proud that my stories take a slice of life - an event, or a change, some sort of longed for or dreaded adventure, and spread a thin coating of serendipity or magic on it, then I fill it with wonderful quirky characters - much like plump sultanas in a pudding. When the inevitable question “So, what do you write?” is asked of me, I have trouble pigeonholing my works, my lovely stories, into a box. Genre? It’s just another way of conforming, and even though there are hundreds of sub-categories within each genre, like my own real life, I find it hard to make this hexagonal peg fit a round hole. I follow my own path, stay true to myself, and my writing matures as time goes on. NC