McInnes, Annabelle

The Refuge Trilogy is poignant to Annabelle’s personal story. From the age of sixteen she lived in a Youth Refuge while she remained committed to her education. For two years, she was part of a section of society that the world overlooks. She knows what it’s like to dream of a hero, a person that can stand against an entrenched institution and fight for what is right. She also knows that sometimes, that hero has to come from within yourself. These are the principles that drive her stories and her characters. Their emotions and responses to their surroundings are authentic. They are the people that an entire civilisation left behind and yet they still fight for their freedoms, have courage in the face of adversity and ultimately, aspire for greatness.