Lora the explorer, of kindness and inclusion

Tell us about your background, in Türkiye and then Australia.

I was born in Istanbul, Türkiye, in a time of civil unrest which was fuelled by a fragmented political scene, economic instability and escalating violence. In the early 1980s my parents made the difficult decision to leave their homeland in search for a safer place for our family. We landed in Australia when I was very young, and at the time, to me, Australia felt like a different planet.

The seasons were upside down, there was so much greenery, stillness and birdlife. The food was unfamiliar, people spoke a different language, sport was such a big deal in schools. My primary years weren’t easy. I was ostracised and made to feel like an outsider almost every day, but in time I found my place and things improved.

I love being Australian and deeply appreciate the opportunities this country has given me, opportunities that I may not have had in Türkiye. At the same time, I’m incredibly proud of my Turkish heritage and the rich culture and history from which I came.

What made you become a writer?

I don’t think I ever made a conscious decision to become a writer; it just happened because I’ve always loved writing. With two much older sisters, I spent a lot of time on my own as a kid. There were no devices, social media, digital music or audiobooks back then, so I filled the quiet by imagining and making up stories in my head. When I was about nine or ten years old, I started putting those stories on paper – and I’ve been writing ever since.

What led to the Cockatoo Crew series? What message are you hoping to get out there, and to which audience?

The Cockatoo Crew series is aimed at children aged 5–10 years and it came from a desire to share my lived experiences growing up as a child immigrant in Australia. It reflects the way I saw the world and the challenges I faced. There are so few books for young readers that feature such a diverse group of characters, and I wanted to create something that children from many different cultural backgrounds could see themselves in and relate to.

In a world where race, religion, language and land ownership continue to divide us and fuel conflict, I wanted the Cockatoo Crew series to provide a different perspective. One where diversity is celebrated and friendships thrive through an openness to learning, understanding and acceptance. My hope is that readers will come away from these stories with a deeper appreciation for the many meaningful ways we are connected and alike.

What’s the significance of kindness to you?

To me, kindness is a true superpower – and it’s one that my young Cockatoo Crew characters have already mastered. I believe that everyone has kindness in them, they just need the courage to let it shine.

I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many kind people in my life, but when I read the news and see everything that’s happening in the world, I can’t help but wish more people were brave enough to choose kindness.

Have you been a writer for long? How many books have you written?

I’ve been writing for most of my life, it just took me a while to start calling myself a writer. That changed about 15 years ago when my first short story was published. Since then, I’ve had a contemporary young adult novel, Unspoken Rules, published by Rhiza Edge, and a memoir piece featured in the anthology Arab, Australian, Other (Pan Macmillan).

Now I’m thrilled to be working on the Cockatoo Crew series with UWA Publishing. The first two books, Elif’s Itchy Palm and Sambu Won’t Grow, are already out, with the next two, Oksana Spills Salt and Zahur’s Twitchy Eye, scheduled for release next year. My hope is to eventually grow the series into a collection of eight books.

What are the hardest parts of being a migrant or refugee to Australia? 

Being a migrant in a new country comes with many challenges – learning the language, finding employment, navigating cultural expectations, and building friendships and connections, to name a few.

I’m sure everyone’s experience is different, but for me, the hardest part was finding my place and learning to fit in, while also accepting and being comfortable with my differences.

How could Australians make it easier for people arriving?

Australia is far more culturally diverse and better equipped to support new arrivals than it was when I immigrated 45 years ago. There are more services, there is more funding, educational and employment support, and there are stronger community networks.

But of course, not everyone is as welcoming or accepting of immigration as they could be. I think settling in would be much easier for newcomers if more of us approached them with open arms.

Is writing fun, or stressful, or both?

Writing is definitely fun, but more than that, it’s deeply fulfilling. It fills me up inside. I love creating worlds and discovering my characters as I write. It’s a powerful, almost indescribable feeling.

Away from writing, what do you do?

I work as a leader in the corporate world, and when I have spare time, I write. I often wish it were the other way around, but making a living from writing is tough. Outside of work, I cherish time with my beautiful family, and I love cooking, and watching foreign movies.

Who should play the lead roles in the movie adaptation of The Cockatoo Crew?

I would love to see The Cockatoo Crew turned into a TV series on ABC or SBS. That would be a dream come true. As for who should play the lead roles, I really don’t know, but I think it would be wonderful if the actors were newcomers to Australia, just like the characters they’d portray.

More information

https://lorainak.com.au/