Interview with Big River
Published 2014-11-02.
Who are your favorite authors?
William Faulkner - for his ability to navigate the strange and twisted roads of a character's mind.
Tim Winton - reading a sentence he's written is akin to catching a wave.
Helen Garner - honest, raw and always evocative.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
God.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
With my wife and children. Making a living. All the usual things.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I read the comments. But, usually, I am drawn in by the synopsis.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Detective Work Adventure. Still have the MS. A pastiche of Indiana Jones, A-Team and Beverly Hills Cop. Not good.
What is your writing process?
1. I see the end before the beginning
2. I dream about the characters
3. I write first draft by hand and take notes in separate book
4. I type first draft out on laptop
5. I leave for a few weeks
6. I read through with notebook by my side
7. I start the editing process in sprints - chapter by chapter
8. I draw out plot and development on sketch board
9. I edit
10. I edit some more
11. I give to several people to read (and pay them)
12. I edit
13. I publish
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first book I remember reading for myself was the Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. The theme of love and sacrifice made a significant impact on me, as it showed me that love, acceptance, forgiveness and death were and remain the great themes of this life. It was the first story that brought tears to my eyes.
How do you approach cover design?
Keep it simple. Let the image be minimal, if needed at all. Let the title evoke the image.
What do you read for pleasure?
The Bible
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have a Sony E Reader and a Kindle
Describe your desk
My desk can be my satchel on the train or a plane, the rumpus room, the study, the kitchen table or the local café. I have a lovely study, but rarely use it.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia. It was a sleepy coastal village back then. People in the community were more representative, more of a microcosm of the world: the rich, the poor, the town drunk, the average Joe, the religious, the non-religious, the beautiful ones, the eccentrics, the geeks, the bogans, the surfers, the fisherman - all of us were one people, rather than the chain of enclaves of like-mindedness you tend to get in the suburbs. This influenced my writing in that I am interested in all types of world views in terms of character development; although, I am fascinated by the enclaves of like-mindedness, as I suspect that despite town planning and development, the only things these suburbs have in common is typically a socio-economic factor and, perhaps, a political leaning. There is a darkness in these communities that is usually expressed through domestic disputes, fast cars and other violent behaviours.
When did you first start writing?
I first tried to write at 8 years old.
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