ADVERSITY LED TO A PASSION FOR WRITING

GERMAN-born Gold Coaster Gisela Sedlmayer (right) has overcome language barriers to publish young adult fiction books, even nabbing several awards along the way.

She was born in 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. Her family escaped to the West just before the Berlin Wall went up. Developing a love of writing from her author uncle, Gisela began writing short stories about animals but after a battle with cancer, which she was convinced would claim her life, she was inspired to publish a series that had become a lifelong passion.

And so the Talon series was born — after her husband Albert taught her how to use a computer she began pouring her ideas on to the page. She spent the next several years bringing her characters to life.

The four-book Talon series of children’s novels is written to encourage all children to know they can achieve anything by courage and determination. Her book Talon, Come Fly With Me is up for a Favourite Young Adult novel award.

She has also been a nominee at the Global Ebook Awards.