Which is your favorite childhood memory from growing up in rural Tasmania, with the wild outdoors, a budding imagination, and four siblings for company?
There are too many to choose from but if I had to, I'd say the day I visited the Australian Radio Astronomy Observatory. I was around ten at the time and they had an exhibit of the Solar System. That's when I fell in love with the stars and wanted to learn more about the universe.
What problems do you face while moving around a lot with two children and a dog?
My kids and I have a rare mitochondrial disorder and there is no cure, so we travel across states to see specialists. My eldest is confined to a wheelchair so it makes travel difficult at times.
How did watching the first Star Wars movie at the drive in theater develop your passion for science fiction?
Many kids growing up in that era felt the same because we didn't have much else. Our play time included climbing trees and making forts out of cardboard boxes and TV was a luxury. We did watch Star Trek at home on the weekends, the original series, as my dad is way into scifi. I have very fond memories of that time.
What inspired you to become a nature photographer and freelance writer?
I've always been fascinated with nature and the outdoors. Often, I'd spend hours as a child studying wild orchids, native fauna and geological formations. My family traveled around Australia, camping out under the stars and cooking over the campfire every night so my passion grew until I decided, at the grand age twelve, that I wanted to become a freelance writer and photographer. So I did.
How did writing for a four wheel drive and camping magazine for eight years help you shape into an author?
Actually the only thing writing for the magazine taught me, was how to write to deadlines. Fiction and non-fiction are worlds apart so there is no comparison.
What are some of the best tips and tricks about photography that you learned while studying photography and Graphic Arts at the WA School of Art and Design?
Not sure about tips or tricks but I was drawn to the dark room side of the course. Back then, we used film cameras and processed our own images. There was nothing quite like seeing your pictures reveal themselves like magic on paper.
Being a serious space geek, what is the most interesting fact you have discovered about astronomy?
When researching for Velocity Rising, I learnt about Blackbody Radiation. This is something that I find quiet interesting. Of course, this is the basis of how we receive signals and interpret the stars through radio astronomy. Aside from that, I recall the first time I looked through my new telescope and focused in on Omega Centauri, a globular cluster. The fact that I was looking at billions of stars through my tiny telescope was mind blowing.
What inspired the plot of "Velocity Rising?" How did you come up with the book title?
The book titles across the series all begin with Velocity because I initially had a virtual environment in mind for the overall theme. So each title name begins with VR. I've since altered the parameters of the structure so the theme has changed.
The plot revealed itself to me as I wrote. I had a rough outline of where I wanted to the story to go but the characters kind of took over and added in all the details and interactions with each other.
How did you get started with the Velocity Resonance Series? Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?
I think the first book is always going to be the hardest. This is where all the learning comes into play. You find out what works and what doesn't. I scrapped almost fifty-thousand words to refine the story just for that one book. I am working on book two and book three is almost complete; easier for sure but the science and tech side is still challenging and time consuming. The science within the series is all based in real-world science so I signed up for many courses on astrophysics, space propulsion and genetics just to learn the terminology.
If you had to describe character Aiden Lomax in three words, what would those three words be?
Stubborn, courageous and loyal.
Who inspired the relationship between the two sisters, Claire and Tayla? How do you come up with character names?
Tayla and Claire's relationship was easy for me because I have two older sisters so their interactions are realistic. The characters both had many names before I settled on Tayla and Claire.
Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
Don't be like me and decide to write a book in a month! My biggest tip though would be to write consistently at the same time each day and set a timer. Do fifteen minute writing sprints then the story and characters will reveal themselves.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I try not to read reviews but I did in the beginning. Just like all other reviews across the arts, they are subjective and not everyone will like my work.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
Yes, book two is coming along nicely and I've had many people ask when it's out. I'm also working on another short story, within the same world to give away for free. My last short story, Velocity Resist received very positive feedback and I do like to give my subscribers free stuff.
How do you manage all your social media accounts and write promotions? Have you had pleasant experience with AllAuthor so far and is this a platform you might recommend to others?
I don't have a lot of time for social media as I care for my sick children full-time but I do have a readers group and author page. I do giveaways and updates in my readers group every few weeks.
Sure have, and I've already been recommending AllAuthor to other authors.
