In what way do you think your life growing up in Australia has impacted your writing in a way that growing up in America wouldn't have? How did you chance upon writing?
Wow, a hard question right out of the gate. Australians typically have a lay back attitude when it comes to Life, and a healthy disrespect for authority. I guess if you were to try to find one word to sum up Aussies it could be "larrikin." As far as growing up in Australia impacting my writing is concerned, it's given me more awareness of the 'greater world', geography and an enthusiastic thirst for knowledge of other countries and people's history. I've lived in America since 1999 and I'm still astounded when I meet Americans who have a sad lacking of world geography. My interest in writing was born in primary school when we were tasked with regular homework that included 'composition' - writing several pages of our perspective on any given topic set by our English teacher. I always gained 10/10 for my writing and that carried all through my schooling. I liked having my imagination challenged.
Where did you get your degree for Graphic Design? Were you happy at this job or did you always have a longing to write inside of you?
Thanks funny. Despite my having 30+ years working as a graphic designer in the printing and publishing industries I never had the time to pursue a degree. Back in the day I was fortunate to be able to learn on the job which I valued more than a piece of paper declaring my competence in graphic design. Back in those days in Australia, a kid was allowed to leave half way through high school to pursue an apprenticeship or career in any given field. I (or rather my parents) chose for me to graduate high school, that in the end worked against my efforts to break into 'commercial art' as I was considered too old to be employed as a junior staffer. Thankfully I was able to find an opening with a printing company as their one-man art department .... the rest is history. At that point in my life I was more concerned with commercial art (now graphic design) as a career and my writing only manifested itself in a series of poems I wrote during lunch breaks.
Name your all time favourite- 1) book 2) movie 3)TV series
My all time favorite book is extremely hard to choose, but I'll say SARUM, a first novel by Edward Rutherfurd - a sweeping saga of the area surrounding Stonehenge and Salisbury, England, covers 10,000 years and includes many generations of five families. I enjoyed it so much that on my first solo visit to England I made it a point to visit both those locations. Choosing my favorite movie is just as hard, but I will say LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Phew! Favorite TV series, another hard choice but right now I'd have to say SHADES OF BLUE and BLUE BLOODS and GAME OF THRONES run neck to neck.
What brought about your decision about moving to America? What do you miss most about Australia?
The Internet was responsible for my moving to America. Way before it was popular I joined the online site FriendFinder that pioneered and continues to innovate some of the most popular and widely-used dating and entertainment websites in the world. I had 3-4 women around the world as pen friends when I decided to discontinue my membership. A few months after doing so I was suddenly contacted by a woman from North Idaho who was able to access my supposedly deleted profile and she without paying for the privilege. Over 18 months we exchanged a myriad of emails, then phone calls, then I decided it was time for a face-to-face meeting. I flew to America, caught her between jobs and we were able to share 3 weeks of her playing guide, showing me around North Idaho and into Canada, and our relationship grew out of that time. We both recall my saying at one stage that I felt I was home. A week after I returned to Australia I proposed to her. After our wedding in Sydney, Australia in 1999 (that's another story) I moved to America with Trish but we've been fortunate to have been able to visit my family and friends in Australia several times since. My sister is attempting to emigrate to America, a process that's approaching 14 years! What do I miss about Australia? My family, daughter, grandkids ... and gum trees (eucalyptus trees).
What brought about the idea for your story "The Pits", a gut-wrenching tale of man and dog? Do you sometimes envision that character and his dog as you and your Border Collie?
The idea for THE PITS storyline came to me after reading an article on the ASPCA web site about the blood sport of dog fighting, and the organization's continual battle to end it. My stepson is (now) a major in the USMC and he was the basis for my main character, Captain Kramer. The name Shadow, given to the pup he rescues off the streets in Afghanistan, comes from and is a tribute to our 18 year old Shadow, a Border Collie/Australian shepherd mix, that passed just before we retired and hit the road. I never envisioned myself as Kramer, but whenever he comes to mind it always conjures up images of my stepson, Jason.
What is your number one regret in life (if you have any)?
The number one regret in my life (hmmm, that's a hard one) .... I suppose it would be not having the drive to pursue more education or studies in the digital art field. Even had I done so some 10 years ago I probably would be in a far better position to take advantage of the upsurge in designer jobs available in the computer gaming industry.
As an avid reader of mystery books, what do you think of the famous "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation of the detective, Sherlock Holmes, was simply ingenious. Doyle used Holmes to pioneer the field of forensics by gifting his ageless character with impeccable deductive powers. A writer may not realize it at the time, but whenever she or he creates a protagonist to hunt down a villain they are drawing on the talents of Holmes to equip their hero or heroine with the abilities to carry out the task. Sherlock Holmes is the foundation, the basis of all subsequent detectives, both fictional and real, who have evolved throughout the ages. The methods applied by Holmes, when modern-day forensics was but a mere seedling, are still valid today albeit greatly enhanced by science and technology. These modern tools are still driven by the human mind with its powers of deduction.
How do you balance between writing your honest thoughts and feelings with what you know the readers want?
I must confess that when writing I mainly concentrate on trying my best to convey my own thoughts and feelings through my words. The expectations of my readers only influences my writing when it comes to the story's pace. The last thing I want to do is bore my readers. Even the lifespan of my characters is inconsequential; proved by the wrath I incurred from my wife when I killed off certain of her favorite people in one story. The balance between my own perspective of the story and that by my readers is maintained intuitively; by some part of my mind that looks over my shoulder while I write and only tweaks the story's direction when there's a danger of it coming off the rails.
How many hours in a day do you write? Have you ever pulled an all-nighter writing?
Now that my wife and I are retired, living and traveling in our 35ft 5th wheel, my writing schedule is rather fluid. We're sightseeing as much as possible, choosing locations where we can stay for a month or more at a time in order to explore the surrounding area. My task is to balance my writing with our sightseeing. I have to give full credit to my wife for her understanding, support and patience for those times she schedules tours, etc around my desire to write. At those times I have been able to commit almost entire days at a time to my writing. To date, however, I have yet to pull an all-nighter. I've come close, though.
What do you do to relax, besides reading and writing?
When I call for a break, we try as much as possible to kayak if the location allows, otherwise we take our 16 year old Border Collie on walks and hikes.
What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
Hmmm, the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? That carried out by supposed legitimate publishing houses that rip-off unsuspecting writers with promises of promoting their work across wide-ranging networks for exorbitant fees. I make it a practice to carry out background checks on such businesses as much as possible; searching for reviews and comments by others who have had previous dealings with these crooks before I commit myself to any promotional plans and packages. I've discovered that the old adage of "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is" stands true. We writers devote too much of ourselves and our valuable time to become carrion to these vultures. I welcome the day when a legit business will step forward, with a REAL concern for writers, their needs and financial limitations, and offers us promotional opportunities that leave writers to concentrate on writing and the promotional work to others at a fare price.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Every writer I've come into contact with has a weakness. For some it's falling victim to outside distractions, while others it might be mental blocks. The list of Kryptonite flaws is numerous. But for me I have to admit to being susceptible to outside distractions. Imagine trying to write when all you have for a workspace is the small dining table in a 5th wheel that is your home. There are no doors to close against sounds, etc and I am not one of those writers gifted with the ability to either "switch off" mentally from their environment or to be able to write while donning headphones. So I struggle on with my weakness while patiently waiting for a 2-3 year nomadic lifestyle to run its course.
What are some common traps for aspiring writers? Any advice on how to avoid them?
I think one of the main traps waiting for novice writers is falling for the well-intended and loving supportive comments from loved ones and friends who tell them that their efforts at writing are fantastic and "that could be made into a film one day." The same applies to those who are led to believe they are great singers, musicians, painters, etc. All the praise is well-meaning, I know, but unless the recipient is wise enough to have professionals assess their work their aspirations could be doomed from the very start with potential catastrophic affects on the person's psyche. My advice to aspiring writers is to undertake several writing courses where their work will be critiqued constructively in order for it to improve. This is invaluable for the beginner. Then, once that stage has been achieved, the novice writer needs to continue the learning process by turning to her or his peers for honest critique. That being said, it will soon become apparent that writers must quickly grow a thick skin.
Have you ever thought about collaborating and writing a book with another author? Who would you want to collaborate with?
Part of my growing process was to sign up for an online course conducted by James Patterson. He is definitely one of my favorite authors. At the end of the course the opportunity to collaborate with him on a book is offered to all course students. Needless to say I stood in line for the chance but sadly was not chosen. He still stands close to the top of my collaboration wish list.
Any thoughts on social network marketing? Has AllAuthor been helpful in this area and would you recommend it to your author friends?
Writers only want to write. The necessity to put that aside while attending to the need to market one's own work is mind-numbingly frustrating. I speak only for myself when I say that, while I work at social network marketing across a growing list of forums, platforms, groups, etc, all I can hear is the infernal sound of time ticking by. I struggle with this aspect of writing, hence my wish that some day a business may come forward with integrity enough to carry it out at reasonable cost to writers whose passion exists on a limited budget. AllAuthor has proven itself to be a fine advocate for struggling writers. This interview, for instance, is only one aspect of their endeavors to assist writers wherever possible in promoting their work and opening up the extent of their contact to new readers and followers. I applaud AllAuthor for its professionalism in devoting its efforts to exposing a writer to an ever-expanding audience and relieving us of some of the promotional weight and responsibilities. They will win the day when they take into consideration writers who are seniors existing on limited income and offer appropriately priced promotion packages.
