Do you have any favorite stories from your childhood of being born in a village in Malaysia?
I moved to Singapore when I was an infant but I do remember fishing in the big canals for little fish because back then we were so poor, it was food before the big meal at dinner. I remember the shower was used by the whole village and by shower I mean big stone tub of water, with a dipper 😊
Which “Star Wars” character is your favorite? Why?
It was always Han Solo, not merely because my seven year old saves deemed he was the man of my dreams (😃) but also because of his life. This was a guy that had his own space ship and could fly anywhere he wanted with his best friend and he was so cool.
What strike you as a first time visitor as special or unusual when you arrived in Sydney, Australia?
The food. First time I went to a dinner, I saw a steak the size of a dinner plate. Meat in Singapore was a premium. So these huge meals that people were having floored me and also I saw a burger that didn’t come from MacDonalds. I mean this thing made a big Mac look tiny. Also distance. In Singapore which is smaller than a postage stamp, the idea of travelling in a car for more than 30 minutes was unknown. I didn’t believe there could be so much space in the world.
How has been your experience of surviving in the wilderness by raising kangaroos?
LOL! Wonderful. I think after Singapore, I loved the space and the open country. It’s lovely to just sit outside and watch wildlife going about their business. I have horses in the next paddock, a flock of different types of birds that come for the feed my mum gives them every morning. I’ve seen bats, possums and lizards, outside my door and it reminds me that there is beauty in the simple things. It’s calming and a great environment to be inspired.
What motivated you to start writing seriously again in the year 2014?
I’d worked in 9 to 5 and I still do, environments. Business administration and such. I realise I did not want to this forever and wanted to explore my passion, to love something I was doing.
What inspired the plot of your book, The Patient?
Well back in the day when I was first starting out, I read a lot of fanfiction and one of those tropes having a character from a period fandom (i.e Lord of the Rings, etc) end up in the present. Almost all of it was terrible so I thought I’d try my hand at crafting something in that vein, but approaching it as a novel with all the research and world building it entailed.
Which is your favorite Mimosa Tales book?
Well the Faithful is my favourite, mostly because it was the most visceral thing I’ve ever written. There’s an idea of what westerns should be, I like to push the envelope a little so putting the characters in a horror setting and seeing the story work is quite satisfying.
Who inspired the character of Marshal Kris Jensen in "THE FAITHFUL"?
Well he’s inspired from a lot of characters, but mostly from the Magnificent Seven lead character, the man in black but also in part to Roland Deschain of the Dark Tower series.
Which book took the longest to write in the Mimosa Tales series?
It’s a story I’ve yet to release called Suitor, I worked on this one extra long because it’s romance and it’s a tough genre for me to handle. I struggle not to descend into melodrama and want to tell a compelling romance that could exist in the real world.
What is the one genre you feel you can never write? Why?
Pure, bodice ripping romance like Harlequin ones. I just can’t make it work. I like to stick action and adventure into it. The stakes have to be high and a lot of romance readers don’t want that.
What is the toughest criticism you've ever received as an author and how did you take it?
That I need better editing something which financially difficult. I’ve been told I could write a good story but editing was so bad that I shouldn’t have bothered. I’ve learned to take the criticism and strived to treat my books better since then 😊
How do your two cats named Newt and Humphrey support you in life?
Well they are my constant companions, who sit on my lap or by my computer, giving me unconditional love (for two meals a day 😊 ) but also provide me with the smiles and distraction I need when things get tough.
What is your favorite Michael Fassbender role and why?
The first role I saw him in which was Magneto in X-Men. He gave real depth to a villainous character and allowed you to see just how much pain he’s trying to expunge through his anger.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
I have a story idea called Demons for Mimosa Tales, its about two of my favourite characters Winn Turner and Alex Styles, and how their biracial relationship is going to be affected when the Klan comes to town.
What do you think of AllAuthor? Has this website been helpful to you?
Absolutely, the artwork and tweets has been amazing. I really am glad I stumbled onto this. I have used the Magic tool to create some great banners for myself and the professional look of the tweets is just great.
