For children’s author Aleesah Darlison, who grew up in the Manning Valley, this statement couldn’t be more true.

Since her first picture book, Puggle’s Problem, was published in 2010, Aleesah has enjoyed a career doing what she loves best - writing.

But it goes further than just having her work published and on book shelves (although she said it is inspiring to see your name on a book and have kids write to you).

She’s visiting schools across the country to share her love of writing and is inspiring young people to nurture their creativity.

“I want to bring my message about imagination and how important it is to cultivate it,” she said.

As a writer, imagination is one of the most important tools Aleesah has, and she’s found in her travels some children seem to be losing the skill.

“One of the real big things for me at the moment is that kids need to keep their imagination alive and they’re not,” said Aleesah.

“With expectations of a more rigid curriculum, testing, a focus on NAPLAN, so many after-school activities and the predominance of the ‘gaming world’ on young minds, it’s taking all the imagination away.

“There’s no space to dream or create, to play and write.”

She said there are some teachers fighting the battle in schools but she would like to see children given more opportunities to be imaginative.

Aleesah recommends children have a journal or visual arts diary where they can write, dream and draw, and to use technology as a tool for creativity.

She also promotes the value of reading.

“For me as a child, books were a saviour. The best way to be educated was to read and a big element in developing writing is to read books.”

Aleesah sees her own childhood as a wealthy source of story ideas and inspiration.

“My dad worked in Taree on the railway but we lived on a farm just outside Tinonee and had a property out in the bush. We had horses, cows, ducks, rabbits, chickens and dogs - so we were around domestic animals and those in the bush.

“We would ride bikes, swim in the dam, make cubby houses and ride horses.

“When I write for children, I look back on the things that affected me and my inner child around the age of 10 to 12.”

The area also inspires her characters, ideas and settings.

“I can use Tinonee as a template for any town or village. It is a microcosm of society.”

Aleesah started reading and writing at age four, and in year 11 won a short story competition which saw her school, Taree High, receive three computers (valued at $10,000).

In 1988 she had four items included in the We Are The Future youth literature anthology, edited by Jenny Summerville.

Aleesah decided she wanted to be an author, but was discouraged.

“I kept being told it was too hard, or that I would never make it.”

She listened, and studied marketing at university and started work in the industry.

But she was always writing in her spare time and when she took maternity leave with her first child, she decided to give writing for a living a go.

Six years and a few children later (Aleesah is a mum of four, her youngest being two) she has had published 33 books.

“It’s been a pretty wild and intense ride. I love it. There’s so much variety.”

She’s won or been shortlisted for numerous awards and has attended writer’s festivals in Australia and overseas.

She also wants to give young people a chance to be published.

A few years ago she was involved in launching an updated version of the Manning Valley anthology, We Are The Future, which featured the work of young people and which Aleesah edited.       

She’s also involved again in the Wombat Books illustration challenge, where school-aged children have the chance to be published in a unique picture book written by her.