Born Nana Carroll in New Haven, Connecticut, Nana Ollerenshaw obtained an Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, majoring in literature. At the age of twenty-two she married an Australian and moved permanently to Australia. She taught at preschool, primary and secondary levels. Later she changed course and became an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse, practising in South Australia and currently in Queensland. She has three grown children and lives at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast with her husband.

Since starting to write poetry, Nana has won the open section of Laura Folk Fair's CJ Dennis Poetry Award 2004 and 2005, and first place in the Nature category of the Yellow Moon competition 2003, plus placings in many other poetry competitions. The Way Back: Beyond Suburbia is her first collection.

 

The Way Back by Nana Ollerenshaw

From the underbelly of the world, poems of a nurse, a trekker and a traveller. "Nana's poetry is perceptive of human nature, the land she has come to love, its shores and its wildlife. Her poems say 'take a closer look, adopt a sharper angle' - an angle that gives her work strength and insight." Ron Wiseman "A collection of gentle, reflective poems that explore aspects of the poet's life, work and everyday environment. They reveal an eye for detail, as well as great sensitivity to the subject. Her use of imagery delights.." Helen Gould A moving tale, which shows the resilience of the human spirit. Paperback ISBN 1-905202-20-2 £5.99 eBook ISBN 1-905202-21-0 £1.00

The Way Back by Nana Ollerenshaw. A poetry collection commisioned for BeWrite Books by Sam Smith at The Select Six.