The former secondary school teacher turned to writing full time 25 years ago and has put out a book every three years in that time.

Her latest novel - Gold Dust and Pebbles - is very loosely based on her life as a baby boomer between the years of 1950 and 1971.

"It covers all those incredible periods of rapid social change that was happening in the lives of young people then," Ms Stevens-Chambers said. "It also covers the stresses we didn't realise we had at the time.

"A lot of the action occurs in Bendigo but as it's a work of fiction I use the name Castleton, which was one of Bendigo's early names.

"Maiden Gully where I grew up is Mystic Gully. I find you can't write fiction if you're using names of places you know. I have to fictionalise it, which makes it easier."

Ms Stevens-Chambers said she has always been a writer.

"Even when I was teaching I was freelancing. I have written history for a number of years and a lot of short stories," she said.

"I have had stories and pieces in Melbourne papers and travel magazines including one two years ago after i was stalked by a lion while on holiday.

"If you really want to do it, you must obey the urge to write. If it is something you have always wanted to do, follow that.

"The urge to write (doesn't leave) people. So if you don't write, you might find yourself too old to write and really regret not telling your stories."

Ms Stevens-Chambers said she writes for two hours every morning without fail.

"They say there's a book in everyone but I think there's more than one," she said.

"I am always writing with purpose. There's stuff I have written that I have not done anything with but it doesn't matter. I simply like the process of writing."

As well as focusing on writing, Ms Stevens-Chambers has also set up her own publishing company.

While it makes it easier to see her books go to print, she admitted it is a lot of hard work.

"You've got to be smart about what you do," Ms Stevens-Chambers said. "You have to look at knowing your audience and know your outlets.

"Most of my books were histories and have had some success but you need to think about the market that is appropriate for you. It is a lot of work.

"(My publishing company) has been under my name for a long time and (in that time) people get to know you and look for your work."

Brenda Stevens-Chambers novel Gold Dust and Pebbles is out now and available at Dymocks and the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre.