Frequently Asked Questions

When did you decide you could write a book?

I was working at the ABC producing a childrens' show called 'Swap Shop'. We dramatised short stories, so I had a go at writing some. People seemed to like my stories, so in complete ignorance, I decided I could go further and write a book. I guess that's an important point I'd like to make, I was completely ignorant of how to construct a book, how to get one published ... in fact, ignorant about everything to do with publishing.

 

 

How did you feel when your fist book was published?

In my imagination I'd always thought that I'd feel elated when my first novel was published, but it didn't work out that way. Instead I had a strong feeling that this was only the beginning, and that I was in for the 'long haul'. I could see a big string of novels in my future, so my first novel felt like exactly that, the first step towards establishing myself in the Australian childrens' publishing scene.

 

Have you ever had a manuscript rejected?

You bet! I have FIVE novel-length manuscripts that were all rejected many times, and will never see the light of day. They were my practise runs, in a way, and when I look back on them I can see how they each grew a little bit closer to being publishable, but in the end they weren't good enough. If a manuscript isn't being accepted, then maybe it needs lots of work, or maybe you should have another go. There are exceptions, such as JK Rowling with 'Harry Potter', but let's not forget that they are exceptions. Too often we read about overnight successes, and people think that getting published will happen as soon as they've written a book. Most authors I know struggled and worked hard and sat at their typewriter or computer for many long hours before a publishable manuscript emerged. Anyone who is successful at what they do - footballer, writer, artists, whatever - has worked hard to get where they are.

 

How long does it take to write a book?

That depends on the book. A long novel like The Song of an Innocent Bystander can take me up to two years, but I’m not working on it ALL the time. I write TV scripts and do other books in between. A shorter novel, or picture book, might take me one to three months.

 

Do you earn a lot of money from writing books?

Not as much as an AFL footballer earns from kicking a ball! Authors get about 7.5% – 10% of the retail price for each book of theirs that’s sold.

 

What motivates you to write a good book?

The same thing that motivates someone to make a good table, or build a good house - pride. When a book goes on the shelves, the reader has no idea what went into making that book, and neither they should. So if you were having a bad month, your cat was sick, your car wasn't working, and that meant you couldn't put in a 150% effort in writing the book, the reader isn't going to know that. Can you imagine picking up a book in a book-shop that had a disclaimer: "The author would like to apologise for this book, he wasn't feeling well when he wrote it."? I don't think so. Every book I write, I put in my best effort to make it as good as I possibly can. Every book, because they all have MY name on them.

 

Did you read a lot when you were young?

I didn’t read all that much when I was in primary school. Mostly I watched TV, especially Bugs Bunny cartoons, but I made up for it when I was in High School. I discovered how cool books were, and I read lots and lots of them. Fantasy, comedy, even books for adults. Most of them went way over my head!

The most common insult given to me in High School was "What's the matter with you, Bone? Did ya swallow a dictionary or something?" As you can see, I hung out with some intellectual giants. It partly bothered me, but to tell you the truth, I secretly liked the fact that they recognised I knew a lot more about words and literature than them. And I was able to talk about footy so that got me by.

 

Were you sporty when you were young?

I was hopeless at playing sport. My greatest sporting achievement was being picked as 20th man for the Belmont U15 C football team! I think I played two games. However, I was a keen follower of football, and spent every home game in Geelong (where I grew up) following the Cats.

 

Do you write for a particular audience (ie girls or boys)?

No, I don't normally have a male or female readership in mind when I write. The only book of mine that is particularly skewed in that way is "Tin Soldiers", and that was a Young Adult book that dealt specifically with masculinity and violence. It was shortlisted for the 2001 NSW premier's Literary Awards in the Ethel Turner Prize section.

 

What writing tips do you have for up and coming young authors?

1. Think for a long time about your characters. What do they want? What is stopping them? What do they need to learn before they can get what they want? AND, what will they lose of they don't get what they want?

2. Now think about the style that best suits your story. Are you writing a comedy? A drama? An adventure story? An adventure with bits of comedy? Whatever the style is, stick to it from the first sentence to the very last. Don't change half way through.

3. Grab your reader early. Think about how to hook the reader's attention. It doesn't always have to be a dramatic opening, but it should be something that makes the reader want to read more.

4.  Make sense! I know this sounds flippant, but too many stories start out being about one thing, then change half way through into a totally different story. If your character is a normal kid, then he or she CANNOT FLY! If your character can fly, then make that part of ALL of your story. Whatever you set up, it has a logic that you MUST stick to.

5. Work at a good ending. Don't bring in a last minute character to save everyone. Don't use magical things to end the story if your story hasn't been magical. Think about what the characters have right there with them and how they can use that to finish what they need to finish. And also think about what they might need to learn about themselves before they can finish their journey.

6. read your work to someone, or get someone to read it for you. Ask for honest feedback, but make sure you ask someone who isn't going to say horrible things just for the sake of it.

 

 

What  makes a book successful?

Who Knows? It's a mystery. So many great books I've read haven't sold well at all. Others that I don't particularly like are best sellers. Unfortunately, there's no formula. The one thing I try to do is make my characters as interesting as I can, and to keep the story rolling along.

 

 

How many books have you had published to date? Which one are you working on at the moment?

I've had over thirty books published so far, with a few more coming out over the next twelve months. Right now I’m working on a book which will be released early 2006. It's a series of love stories.

 

Do you get your characters or ideas from real life?

Almost never! I don’t like using real people as a basis for my characters because it restricts me too much. I want to be able to make my characters do what I want them to do, not what a real person I know would do. And I want to do outrageous things to my characters. I might not be so bold if I was using a real person as my starting point. As for story ideas, I have so many imaginary scenarios playing out in my head that I don’t need to use real life stories. However, I might be inspired by something I’ve read or heard about in real life to get a story rolling. I then make up the rest.

 

Do your children like your stories?

They like reading my stories, and I get feedback that ranges from positive grunts to 'good book, Dad', but that's as far as it goes. I'm their Dad, what can I say?

 

 

Do you test your stories or ideas on your own children first?

No, I don't share my ideas with anyone until I've written most of it. Sometimes I might discuss an idea with another author, but mostly I like to keep them in that secret part of my brain where they can cook at their own pace.  I do read the finished story to my kids, but I always keep in mind that they are one reader (who will probably tend to be ‘kind’ to me) and just because they like it, doesn’t mean it’s a good book.