Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Open for Submissions
Exclusive Interview with
Graham Wilson
When did you start writing?
I started writing with the death of my mother in 2000. I had a desire to record the story of her and our family who had lived amazing lives in the remotest parts of Australia's Northern Territory, an aboriginal community in Arnhem Land. The death of my father in 2007 gave me added impetus to complete this. Finally I published this memoir titled "Kaleidoscope"
What makes writing your passion?
I got stuck for an extended period trying to complete my memoir, and in a writing course, to help deal with writers block we were each asked to imagine the novel we did not know we would write. We had found a hidden photo of an 8 year old girl in our house from 100 years ago and I imagined a story of her life. This became my first novel, "The Old Balmain House" As I began this story it became a living thing in my mind which captivated me . I worked almost non stop for a week until I had a first draft. I loved the experience of living inside a story as I created this novel. I still get the same pleasure with each new book as words begin to flow.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing now for 15 years and most years I publish another book - now 12 novels in addition to the memoir. I particularly love writing series where I can continue to develop a story in new and originally unimagined ways/
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
When people on the other side of the world began to buy it as an ebook I was amazed at their interest and then even more amazed when they wrote glowing reviews
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
My real life experience of growing up and working in remote Australia gave me the pictures in my head of the places and the types of characters which inhabit my Crocodile Dreaming Series - a combination of beautiful and terrifying. We lived in the house in which we found the picture an 8 year old girl which inspired the Old Balmain House Series. It is a house in a locality rich in the history of early Sydney and a mix of true and imagined history became the foundations for this work
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
It is very hard to earn a living as a writer, however as I have a well paid job that pays the bills it is a minor annoyance, but I do feel for those trying to support themselves in this way.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I start work on something else, sometimes a new chapter, sometimes a new book. At odd times when stuck on how to complete a scene I go out for a walk or a swim in Sydney Horbour and I often find part way through my exercise that the idea for the missing bit pops into my head.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
I write for the love of creating stories, and the pleasure I get as a new story is running through my head. The positive responses of readers who have read and enjoyed one of my books is also a big motivator. For new writers I say, "Persevere and do it for the love of writing"
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Never pretend you know more than you do and be open to learning new things.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I read all my book reviews both good and bad. I find the bad ones particularly useful as it helps me see things about my writing that have not worked for a reader. I try and use this insight for future improvement.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
I feel amazingly gratified that someone else has invested many hours reading something I have written and come away with a highly pleasurable experience.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
My memoir tells of my own survival of a crocodile attach along with many hours of flying and an emergency landing a helicopter. I use these experiences in my Crocodile Dreaming Series as key parts of the book and its characters
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I am the narrator of the first book of my Old Balmain House Series which begins with the key event of discovery of a real photo in our house. In the Crocodile Dreaming Series I base small bits on my own character but much more on the characters of other people I knew when I worked across remote Australia
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
The cover is what decides a person to focus on a particular book. It is important for Print books to encourage people to pick a book off the shelf and look at it. It is doubly important for online books as it must capture the instant attention amongst all the other online books for the person to click on the link and look further
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I include my email address in the back of my book and encourage readers to contact me directly if they want to. I also use Facebook and other author platforms to engage with readers, but don't do much wider social media. I try to respond promptly to all reader contacts. I am happy to hear from readers but really my writing is its own story.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Public recognition is appreciated but secondary to reader appreciation. I think it is a trap to base one's self worth or importance on public recognition.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Too many to name - I love imagined stories with an element of magic like Lord of the Rings but also vast historical saga's like War and Peace. I love mystery and adventure stories all eras, Wilkie Collins, Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie were early favourites. I also love books with an unexpected twist where you think you see where the story is going but find it is really quite different. Gone Girl is a good example
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
No dream - we each need to be as big as we are and as good as can be. But mostly we want to satisfy our readers by taking them on an imagined, fascinating and pleasurable journey.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
I continually re-write my books. As a self published author of ebooks this is easy to do. My concept is a story is never perfect and can be improved. So as readers give me new ideas I make adjustments to improve a story, and do a more substantial revision about every 5 years.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
I politely say 'Thank you for your feedback' on the first occasion. If they come back with more negative things I ignore, delete or block them to stop further non productive engagement
What would you say to your readers?
THANK YOU FOR INVESTING YOUR TIME!!
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I live in central Sydney in one of its oldest houses. I am married with 3 children, all now grown up and dispersed across the world. My wife is Irish and Ireland is a magic place to visit. I also love the diaspora of both our cultures found all over the world
What is your day job if you have one?
I am a veterinarian who used to work on cattle stations in remote Australia. I tell this story in my memoir. I particularly love wild animals and conservation which are now parts of my job.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
A little bit of gardening and old house restoration. Travel when I get the chance both across Australia and the rest of the world. Most of my free time in invested in reading and writing - two sides of the same coin
Did you have a happy childhood?
I had a wonderful childhood growing up in an aboriginal community in the middle of Arnhem Land. I tell this story in my memoir.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
The unexpected death of my mother gave me a burning desire to tell her and my father's story
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
I am currently working on 2 books - one is a sequel to my novel Mysteries, The other is a collection of true stories of outback Australia as told by some of its amazing characters.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
In the western world including Australia I think our education is actually very good, but we don't value our teachers enough. This is a small bit about what we pay them but mostly about their social standing - in countries like Finland and Ireland teachers are one of the most valued professions. Would that it was so here!
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
Health and happiness for my extended family
Humility from our leaders
Being fair and kind to those with less.
What is your favorite music?
Beautiful classical pieces - Mozart, Handel, Verdi and other great composers
Share a secret with us 🙂
It would not be a secret anymore if I told you - so no.