Local Chick… Candice Fox From Maroubra

By James Hutton on August 12, 2014 in People

Maroubra resident Candice Fox is a novelist working on her latest book. Candice shares her local favourites with The Beast…

How long have you lived here?
My people have been here forever. My mother was born and raised in Randwick, and spent her childhood slathering herself in coconut oil and baking to a crisp on Coogee Beach.

What’s your favourite beach?
It would have to be La Perouse. I’m not a great surfer; I tend to get rolled like a dice at Maroubra and Coogee.

What’s your favourite eatery?
Billy’s Cafe at Maroubra Junction. It’s not just the great coffee, which I consume daily, but Billy and his friendly team.

Where do you like to have a drink?
The Maroubra Junction Hotel suits all my needs, and it’s walking distance from home. There’s a group of regulars left of the bar who would dive in front of a truck for you – lovely, lovely people.

Do you have a favourite sporting team?
The South Sydney Rabbitohs. I used to work for Alfie Langer at his restaurant up on the Sunshine Coast while I was an undergrad and he often took all the staff to the games.

Do you have a favourite quote?
The novelist E.L. Doctorow said that writing a novel is like driving a car at night: “You never see further than the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

What music are you into at the moment?
Tragic love ballads from the 80s. Toni Braxton, Celine Dion… I know, it’s pathetic.

What do you get up to on the weekends?
My parents are close by in Maroubra so I try to visit when I get the chance. My partner Tim and I try to enjoy the sunshine whenever we can: bushwalking, swimming or reading under a tree.

What do you do for work?
I’m a novelist at heart. I was offered a two-book deal for the Bennett/Archer series in Australia and the US, so lately I’ve been editing book two of the series, EDEN, and trying to write book three. I do this in cafes and libraries around the Eastern Beaches. I also lecture in Writing and Media Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

What’s your favourite thing about work?
My favourite thing is also the worst thing: it’s all self-directed and completely in my own time.

Who is your favourite person?
I have a tonne of respect for my literary agent, Gaby Naher, who’s also a coast lady and an avid surfer. She’s tough, classy and loyal. Her excitement at my success as a writer is genuine, and I consider her a true friend.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast?
One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn as a novelist is that someone will always think that you suck. You have to satisfy yourself first in every aspect of life.