Profiles > Profiles N-S > Janet Pates
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Janet Pates
She trained as a teacher at Ardmore Teacher's College, and moved from the Franklin area to, firstly the central North Island, then Northland, during 30 years of teaching and family life. She now lives in Franklin with her husband. Janet always had a secret dream of being a writer. Her interest in children's books was fostered through teaching, and through sharing books with her children. She wrote stories intermittently, but began to take her writing seriously several years ago when she joined a writing group organised by Jenny Haworth. ‘This was a turning point for me,’ says Janet, ‘in improving my writing skills, as a confidence booster and in the stimulation of contact with like-minded people.’
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Janet was born in Pukekohe in 1935, and lived on a small dairy farm with her parents and two sisters. Her days were spent exploring the countryside, picnicking in the bush, riding horses to school and helping on the farm. In the evenings, the family would gather around the open fire and read aloud. At school, Janet loved anything to do with words, reading, spelling or composition, but did not find mathematics or sport as easy.