Veronica Strachan

Veronica Strachan was born to working class parents in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The birth of her second daughter who had a severe brain injury changed the direction of Veronica's life forever. The lessons she learnt from Jacqueline Bree's life and death are now her touchstone for living a whole, vibrant and remarkable life.

From her early career as a nurse and midwife, through evolutions as a project and change manager, CEO and consultant, Veronica now divides her time between writing and coaching remarkable women leaders who want to make a powerful and compassionate impact on the world.

“Breathing While Drowning: One Woman’s Quest for Wholeness” was her first book. One hundred percent of the sale profits from the book are contributed to Very Special Kids, which operates a hospice for terminally-ill children in Victoria.

Now Veronica and her daughter Cassi have teamed up for a new series “The Adventures of Chickabella”. Book 1 is “Chickabella and the Rainbow Magic”, which is dedicated to the memory of Veronica’s sister, Mary who told the best stories. Book 2 is “Chickabella Counts to Ten”, and Book 3 is “Chickabella Shapes Up".

Under the pen name V. E. Patton, Veronica is writing The Opal Dreaming Chronicles. Book 1 "Ochre Dragon" is out in the world and she is currently completing “Soul Staff: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 2”, which is due for release in late 2026.

Veronica lives in central Victoria, Australia with her ever-patient husband and a menagerie of animals.

She is the co-founder of Australian Book Lovers and a co-presenter of their popular podcast of the same name.

You can follow her on social media: Threads and Instagram @writer_ron