Launching a new world - Azoria is an enchanted land, where only talking animals live.

by Rebecca Mugridge

Nambour author and illustrator Claire Smith is one of those people who is brimming with talent, passion and the kind of creative imagination that launches worlds.

Claire has been a Nambour local for seven years, living on the Coast for 23 and is part of the warm community of creative people that care about this little Hinterland town. 

“I emigrated here in 2001 from a small fishing town called Sheringham on the east coast of the UK. 

“Nambour is a really welcoming town and it still has that strong community feel. In fact, I’d say that community engagement here is growing. There’s a very active arts scene including live music, film, dance, exhibitions and of course there are lots of creative people.”

Claire (AKA Grandma Claire) created a fictional world full of life in her Azoria books, and says while she has always been a writer, the journey to becoming an author was an unexpected one. 

“I have accidentally become a children’s author. I’ve always written, whether it was as a journalist in the UK, a singer-songwriter, or a technical writer for my clients here. 

“In the last few years I have written a number of comedy scripts, one of which I directed, filmed and edited.”

Claire’s two young granddaughters, Artie and Rae, live just outside London and last June she went to visit her family there.  

“On the only wet day we had while I was there, Artie and I were at home. She started to build a long path with some oversized purple and orange building blocks.‘Where’s that path going to, Artie?’ I asked. ‘It’s going to Azoria, Grandma Claire,’ she replied, as if I should already know. 

“‘Where’s Azoria, darling?’ I enquired. 

“‘Oh Grandma, it’s in our imagination!’ 

“So, we went on our imaginary journey to Azoria. We met a unicorn, went for a picnic,

explored the forest and met lots of different animals. That night as I lay in bed, I decided to write up a short story about Azoria and do some little cartoon drawings.

“My plan was to leave it behind when I left, as a reminder of our time in Artie’s imaginary land. 

“I didn’t get to finish the little story. So, on the day I was leaving, my son, Kieron, suggested I carry it on at home and send instalments to the girls. When I got back to Australia I decided to try and draw better pictures.

“The story rhymed and each page had a brightly drawn picture. When I showed it to my son and his wife, Hannah, they both said I should publish it. 

“On December 15th, I launched my book, Azoria, The Gathering, here on the Sunshine Coast. It all happened incredibly quickly.”

Claire says the moment of physically holding your book for the first time is indeed very special to an author.

“It was the most amazing, unbelievable feeling to see my work as a real book! I still get tingles when I pick up a copy to sign for a customer - I still can’t quite get my head around it!

“I love meeting and talking with the people who buy my book and my original paintings. The feedback has been absolutely incredible and I am so grateful. One person bought 26 copies!”

It is quite a talent-driven endeavour to write a book people love, but to also create the artwork is impressive.

“The pictures come first, funnily enough. An image pops into my head and off we go, but it might not end up as the first illustration in the book. I’ve almost finished book three as far as the illustrations go, and it’s the pictures that drive the narrative, for me.

“I have over 300 beautiful marker pens in my studio, just looking at them makes me want to create. she smiles

Claire has many achievements under her belt, including also being the founder of Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast.

“WRSC was founded in 2012 by myself and three other local wildlife carers. We had all been involved with wildlife rescue and caring for some years prior.

“Since 2012 WRSC has answered close to 75,000 calls for help, we’ve digitally mapped the declining macropod population on the Coast, built a kangaroo hospital and raised over half a million dollars for small rescue groups across the country who were impacted by the 2019/20 bush fires. We are now concentrating on education in the community.” 

Like many writers and authors, Claire is a huge fan of books herself.

“I LOVE books! I grew up on a diet of Beatrix Potter stories, Wind in the Willows, Brer Rabbit, Enid Blighton, and as I got older I progressed to books like The Hobbit. 

“I believe that children’s books are more important than ever. Story books are so important in helping to foster the imagination. They can also help children learn great life lessons, and that’s where I’m definitely focused with my books.

“My stories encourage listening to each other, sharing the load, kindness, working together, respecting our environment, accepting each other without judgement, all through the eyes of the animals who narrate the stories,” says Claire.

Find out more about Azoria at grandmaclaire.com