Ms Hadfield said she had always thought somebody should write a biography of her father, Rod Hadfield, and his life and work.

“It was a few years ago that I finally put two and two together that I should be the one to write it,” she said.

Her family moved to the region when she was three weeks old and opened a modified car business.

“My parents moved here because of the car scene in Castlemaine. 

“Castlemaine is known as the hot rod centre of Australia. There are more hot rods and modified cars per capita than anywhere else in the world,” she said.

“I grew up amongst the cars. Something was always being built and our family holidays were all to car shows and that sort of thing.”

Ms Hadfield said she had worked in libraries and bookshops for 20 years, which had a bearing on her wanting to write her own book. 

Her father grew up on a dairy farm in Stanhope, which he was expected to take over, while her mother grew up in Maryborough. 

“My parents left a lot behind in order to come here and pursue the dream,” she said.

Rod Hadfield started building his first car when he was 16 years old. Throughout his life, he has built and significantly modified 32 cars, including a hearse.

Mr Hadfield said he was “pretty honoured and shocked” to have had his biography written.

He said he was “very proud” of his daughter for writing it.

“I still do a little bit (of car modifying), pottering along and selling a few bits and pieces that we make.” 

He said he cannot pick a favourite car.

“They’re all different. They’re all from different eras of time- some are from the 70’s, right until today. They all represent that particular time in history when something was in favour, like a particular colour.”

“I’ve built them all from the ground up. They were nothing when I bought them. One took me 26 years to build.”

He said he enjoyed building cars as he was able to express himself, his individuality and think outside the square.

Ms Hadfield will speak about her novel during this year’s Words in Winter Festival.