Inge Meldgaard

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, I migrated to Australia as a child in 1957 and grew up in the small town of Yallourn, where my father worked as an engineer. Once I'd finished high school, I moved to Melbourne to study science at Monash University, then worked in a variety of professions, including youth work, teaching, and as a laboratory technician. I returned to study, at Swinburne University, in 1984 (sociology), and again in 1989 (information technology). Before retiring in 2006, I worked in the IT field, my last position being as a departmental IT Manager with Monash University. Besides paid work and study, I've also enjoyed doing a great deal of voluntary work, mainly in the trade union movement and in environmental politics. 



On the more personal side, I've had a lifelong interest in gardening, writing and art. My poetry can be read on the Scribd website. Until fairly recently, I was also someone who kept many cats, mostly rescued. They still tend to turn up on my doorstep, but I now prefer to find other homes for them as there's an abundance of wild birds where I live and I'd rather 'look after' them than cats. However, cats are a central theme in my first book, 'The Cicada', which was published in 2009 and is now available as a revised edition. The book was a very long time in its development as I faced a very steep learning curve, which I imagine most new authors do. It was hard work, but worthwhile, and I have used my professional and personal background to provide authenticity to its details. I've always enjoyed both science fiction and crime/mystery, so decided to combine the two, while exploring some current social issues in a futuristic context. My second book, 'A Death in the Making' is a sequel and is now published as well, together with the third in the series, 'The Seed Gatherers'. All three books are set primarily in Australia. I have also published a colour-illustrated children's book, 'Boggle the Gymboot Bird', together with Lucy Gao.