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WRITING. STORYTELLING. TEACHING.

Growing up in the late ’80s in a working-class family meant weekends and school holidays were spent at home while my parents worked long hours.

To keep my restless mind occupied, I would paint, concoct stomach-churning “recipes” in the kitchen, snoop through my older sister’s things (haha), or write.

I created hand-stapled magazines with my best friend and wrote birthday poems for my sister’s friends (much to her embarrassment), and dramatic letters about how I must be adopted because my mother refused to let me eat all the sugar in the house.

Back then, I thought “real” authors wrote about fireplaces, willow trees, marmalade sandwiches and other unfamiliar things from faraway places.

I always wondered if stories that felt like home existed.

Well, now, I write them.

My writing voice, like in 'Rosie and the Mamak Shop', published in 2020 almost always carries a Singaporean flavour; vibrant, familiar, heartwarming, and fun. I also love pushing boundaries like I did in 'Curly' published in 2022. I believe picture books are a powerful yet safe way to explore themes some might think are “too complex” for children.

Of course, my journey to becoming 'Rachelyn Gordon, the children’s picture book author' didn’t happen overnight. I spent years working in the media industry (MTV, local and international advertising agencies, and Singapore Press Holdings) before becoming disillusioned with that fast-paced life.

 

I eventually found my way to Singapore Botanic Gardens and while I worked alongside an incredible team to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the Gardens, I finally discovered my true calling: teaching.

 

I earned my teaching qualifications from James Cook University, and finally, FINALLY, everything clicked into place.

WRITING. STORYTELLING. TEACHING.

 

I brought them together in my classroom every day, determined to foster a love for reading and writing in children. High expectations, a culture of growth and learning, and quality picture books at the heart of every lesson led to so many classroom successes.

Today, I continue to blend writing, storytelling, and teaching whether it’s brainstorming new picture books, designing creative writing programs, or working with children in ways that feel authentic, purposeful, and deeply meaningful.

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© 2022 by Rachelyn Gordon. 
 

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