Growing up Jolene Stockman was described as quiet, shy and super intelligent.
These days she has to stop talking because she just can’t breathe as her words rush out in a torrent of intellectual advice after being dammed for many years.
Husband Paul Quicke and their children Quilliam (5) and Luxton (2) are her support crew.
The children’s unique names had much research and thought go into them as one of her books.
“We were told we’d probably never have kids. Then we have gone on to have two. Quilliam is named after quill as in a pen for me as a writer.
“Luxton is named after lux as in light as Paul is an electrician and works with light.”
She has worked hard to discover how to turn her passion for writing to work for her. Her latest venture is working with her husband Paul Quicke operating the Taranaki franchise of Giggle TV. This is an advertising concept where companies advertise through TV commercials played on TV screens within businesses.
Looking back Jolene now realises just how far she has already come. At 17 she decided to take tackle her fear of public speaking joined Toastmasters. Within 10 years she was the youngest to be awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster Award which is proudly displayed in her New Plymouth home.