From Drama to Dreamtime: How Mem Fox Gifted Australia a Literary Legacy
A beloved author’s journey from aspiring actress to children’s literature icon reveals a dedication to uniquely Australian storytelling and the enduring power of lyrical language.
In 1968, a young Mem Fox made a pivotal decision in London, abandoning her pursuit of a drama career to embrace a lifelong passion for writing. This realization, jotted down in her journal, would eventually blossom into a celebrated career that has gifted generations of children with timeless classics like Possum Magic and Where Is the Green Sheep? Now, approaching her 80th birthday in March, Fox remains creatively active, with new projects in development.
A Late Bloom Rooted in Early Inspiration
Fox’s path wasn’t direct. After completing her drama course, she relocated to Adelaide, South Australia, in the mid-1970s, lecturing in drama while raising her daughter, Chloë. It was Chloë’s love of books, and the noticeable absence of Australian stories within their home library, that sparked a new calling. “When she was little, there were no Australian picture books,” Fox recalls. “There were a lot of English books, there were a lot of American books, but they were not Australian books.”
This gap in the market ignited a desire to create stories that resonated with Australian children, allowing them to see themselves reflected in the pages they read. Fox enrolled in a children’s literature course at Flinders University, initially approaching the assignment of writing her own book with some skepticism. “Actually, at the time I thought it was beneath me,” she admits, “because I thought it was so easy.”
The Long Road to Possum Magic
Fox quickly discovered the complexities of crafting a compelling children’s book. Her early manuscript, initially titled Hush the Invisible Mouse, caught the attention of illustrator Julie Vivas, and together they refined the story of a mouse’s global adventures. Despite earning a high distinction for their work, the publishing industry proved resistant. Nine publishers rejected the manuscript before a tenth agreed to take it on, but with a crucial condition: Fox needed to shorten the book and change the central character to a distinctly Australian animal.
This revision led to the birth of Possum Magic, published in 1983. The book, which follows a possum’s quest to regain its magic through sampling iconic Australian foods, became an instant success, selling over 5 million copies to date. “It sold out its first printing before it was launched – just word of mouth,” Fox remembers. “People were starving for it. They just wanted an Australian book. They wanted to be able to read about themselves.” The book’s success was also heavily influenced by Vivas’s illustrations, which Fox describes as “from heaven!”
A Legacy of Australian Storytelling
Possum Magic paved the way for a prolific career, with subsequent hits including 1984’s Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (again in collaboration with Vivas), 2004’s Where Is the Green Sheep? illustrated by Judy Horacek, and 2008’s Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. These books, alongside Possum Magic, consistently rank among Australia’s top 50 children’s picture books, as nominated by readers.
Fox expresses pride in the flourishing Australian children’s literature scene, a stark contrast to the landscape she encountered when her daughter was young. “You don’t realise it at the time at all, but looking back, you think, ‘God, there was nothing’,” she says. “Then there was something … and then there was a lot.”
The Art of Writing for Young Ears
Even after publishing over 50 books, Fox acknowledges the ongoing challenge of writing for children. She emphasizes the importance of crafting text that is both beautiful and rhythmically engaging. “One of the things that wasn’t mentioned [at university] was the essential need for the most beautiful, rhythmic, lyrical, musical use of words, with every phrase rhythmically contained – so that you were never reading with a jerk, you were never fumbling over the words,” she explains.
Her love of language was deeply influenced by her upbringing as the daughter of Christian missionaries in Zimbabwe, where she was immersed in the sonorous prose of the King James Bible. This early exposure instilled in her a profound appreciation for the musicality of language and the power of storytelling.
Subtlety and Authenticity in Children’s Literature
Fox’s approach to storytelling is characterized by a subtle touch, avoiding overt moralizing. She learned this lesson early on, observing her daughter’s rejection of books that felt overly didactic. “She didn’t like being taught a lesson,” Fox recalls. “It was so obvious, it was so in your face.”
Instead, Fox focuses on presenting universal truths through relatable narratives, as seen in Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, which celebrates the commonalities between children of all backgrounds. “I’m just stating facts – you know, your heart is the same, your hopes are the same, love is the same, blood is the same. I’m just stating facts.”
Fox acknowledges the evolving dynamics of the Australian publishing industry, including the growing presence of celebrity authors. While she recognizes the financial benefits these figures bring to publishers, she maintains that lasting success hinges on the quality of the writing. “Because people buy it because of the writer, not the writing – it doesn’t last,” she states. Ultimately, she believes children will always gravitate towards stories that truly capture their imagination.
When crafting her stories, Fox keeps two distinct audiences in mind: a child close at hand and a classroom full of eager listeners. She understands the importance of creating books that resonate with both individual intimacy and collective engagement. “Because it’s very tempting to write things that adults like – to write a ‘beautiful’ book. I’ve written beautiful books, and adults have loved them, and they’ve been published and they haven’t sold. There’s a lesson in that.”
Despite approaching her ninth decade, Fox shows no signs of slowing down. With several projects in the pipeline, she embraces the ongoing challenge of crafting stories that will continue to enchant and inspire young readers for generations to come. “I might be dead before they come out!” she adds with a laugh.
