A journalist of 35 years standing, who has worked for a number of publications, Helen Trinca is currently the Managing Editor of The Australian.

A well-regarded author of a number of non-fiction books, she has previously co-authored Waterfront: The Battle That Changed Australia (2000) with Anne Davies, which has been made into a telemovie, Bastard Boys, and Better Than Sex: How A Whole Generation Got Hooked On Work (2004) with Catherine Fox.

Her latest book, Madeleine, is a biography of little known expatriate author, Madeleine St. John, who was the first Australian nominated for the Mann Booker Prize.

We sat down to talk to her about the art of writing memoirs and why she chose Madeleine St John as the object of her newest book.

Interview by Danielle Williams, course manager of Australian Writers' Centre.

www.WritersCentre.com.au

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