Tell us a little bit about yourself and your life growing up.
I grew up in a family of four – a brother – and a cat and a dog. I attended St Joseph Highschool and the Church of Scotland.
Can you share your journey and experience in obtaining a Master's Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Sydney and how it has influenced your writing career?
I gained a great deal of insight in learning how to accept constructive criticism, integrate into my writing and doing substantive research.
As an Australian author, how has your cultural background and surroundings influenced your writing style and the themes explored in your works?
I take my stories – The Madness Locker – from real life, in particular where a crime has been committed and it has not been solved. In that regard it gives me poetic license to fictionalise the outcome. Rue Rosco 13 is different in that it is a whimsical piece curated from an elderly person that I am acquainted with and a disproportionately humongous wooden cabinet.
Living just outside Sydney, how does your physical environment and the local culture impact the settings and atmospheres depicted in your novels?
I live in a beachside suburb wherein the environs are relaxing and conducing to my writing.
What motivated you to pursue both traditional publishing for your first novel, "The Madness Locker," and self-publishing for your novella on KDP Select?
Practicality. The Madness Locker which was published by Simon & Schuster is a traditional novel. Whereas Rue Rosco 13 which comes in just over 20,000 words falls outside the requirements of a traditional publisher. So I used an editor, book creator, artist to produce the book and then used an indie publisher – who does not have such a restriction - to post it onto Amazon KDP Select.
How has the experience of publishing your novella through KDP Select differed from your traditional publishing experience, and what challenges and advantages have you encountered in each approach?
I learnt to appreciate just how hard it is to put together a novella and get it published. Most, if not all authors, appreciate how labour intensive and costly it is.
Rue Rosco 13 is your second novel. Can you provide some insights into the inspiration behind the book and how it differs from or complements your debut novel, "The Madness Locker"?
It is a whimsical tale based on a elderly acquaintance and their oversized wooden cabinet. Not relation to anything real.
What strategies did you use to successfully market and promote your self-published novella on platforms like Amazon, and how do these efforts compare to promoting a traditionally published work?
Book editor, creator, illustrator and used an indie publisher.
With both of your novels available on Amazon, how do you navigate the online marketplace and connect with readers in the digital age?
I do not. I expect NetGalley and AllAuthor to do that footwork for me.
Could you share your writing routine and any specific habits that contribute to your productivity and creativity?
My cat wakes me up at 5:00am. I then write from 5am to 10:00am which I find is my most productive time.
"The Madness Locker" is your conventionally published novel. How did you secure a publishing deal, and what advice do you have for aspiring authors seeking traditional publishing opportunities?
Purely coincidental. Through an acquaintance.
How do your personal relationships, such as with your partner Louise and your cat Pema, influence your writing or provide inspiration for characters and relationships in your works?
Pema wakes me up to write. Louise, who is an EDU publisher, reads my drafts and provides constructive advice.
As a graduate of the University of Sydney with a Master's Degree in Creative Writing, how have you continued to evolve and refine your writing skills post-graduation?
I have decided to undertake a Bachelor in Animation Production degree. I believe visual creation is vital in the age of YouTube.
Looking ahead, what are your future aspirations and projects as an author, and how do you see your writing evolving in the coming years?
More novels. I am currently working on my fifth one.
