By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A CHILDHOOD memory of her grandfather hunched over a typewriter surrounded by piles of paper stayed with Rachel Drummond.
The Bell Park author cites him as the inspiration behind her determined efforts to publish her young adult fiction novel, The South Forsaken.
But moving to Geelong and discovering what lifelong residents take for granted inspired the plot.
“I wrote around what I saw,” Ms Drummond said.
“Geelong provided fertile ground for my imagination. Once I realised the CSIRO animal health laboratory was in my backyard the story all but wrote itself.
“The story stands on its own but Geelong plays a starring role, including iconic spots like Simonds Stadium and Cunningham Pier.”
Ms Drummond began seriously pursuing the project after her grandfather died a few years ago.
“My grandfather is my inspiration, not only in writing but in life.
“I remember begging mum to translate his (Serbian) stories over and over for me. I’m sure in the end she could recite them by rote.
“I can picture him clearly seated behind his typewriter, piles of paper stacked haphazardly around him in the guest room as he immortalised his stories and poems in words.
“I knew that I wanted to do that too. I like to think that he would be as proud of my efforts as the rest of my family have been so far.”
Ms Drummond used her nursing background and fan-driven interest in the horror and zombie genres to sketch the story’s background.
“I noticed there was a surprising lack of zombie and post-apocalyptic books based in Australia, so I wanted to write about something closer to home.
“I wanted to invent a virus that could even in one’s wildest imagination actually happen and then guide a small group through this new horrific landscape.
“I wanted to write the book that I wanted to read in a setting I knew intimately.”
Ms Drummond self-published the book before finding a publisher, with print and digital editions due for release in September.
