Beth Montgomery - Author Interview Series

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

Mum always read A.A. Milne’s poetry to me as a child. I read E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web eleven times, Lloyd Alexander’s The Book of Three and The Black Clauldron countless times and Dodie Smith’s A Hundred and One Dalmatians eight times. Nancy Drew mysteries and abridged Greek legends were my other favourites. But I was usually immersed in How and Why Wonder Books. I was a non-fiction nerd. As a teen I read every Agatha Christie I could find and Dr Who books. I first discovered that books were like gold when I was given a wildlife book for my birthday in grade one. I took it to school and lost it. I was devastated.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I first started writing in High school. I wrote chunks of an awful Sci Fi for years every time we had a creative writing session. As for now, I hope my readers manage to be transported to another place when they read my books and that they enjoy the characters and stories. Nothing mind-blowing here.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I’ve always had a critical eye so I can’t remember ever reading anything without picking it apart. For me, it’s rare to find a book which scores well in every aspect.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

When I write YA fiction I try to read more nonfiction or adult titles. I avoid reading too many YA books in a row anyhow. There’s something irritating about the generic teen voice that a lot of mediocre books have. However writers who do a cracking good teen voice must be avoided when I’m doing a first draft or I find a few of their words/phrases popping onto my screen uninvited.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

I’m an eclectic reader and I find so much of what I read is influential, either positively or negatively. A lot of my favourites are international authors. Nigerian Ben Okri and Kiwis Alan Duff and Witi Ihimaera are definitely my top three. I guess Scot Gardener and Markus Zusak are my favourite Aussie authors. Why are they all men?

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

When I travel I don’t have much time to read because there’s so much to do, observe and record. A big book of short stories would be the best option here.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

The best book is one that has a distinct voice, developed characters and pace.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Shallow characters who have boring voices and don’t do much will make me close the book for good. I do this quite a lot. Life is too short and there are millions of books out there that are still on my reading list.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

This is hard to answer as there are so many authors I admire. I suppose Ben Okri is my favourite. I love his everyday characters who battle to find enough money for food and rent. I love the smells and sounds and colours of Africa which come alive in his writing.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Top Ten Reads (fiction):

The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Mr Pip - Lloyd Jones
The Famished Road - Ben Okri
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margret Attwood
Those Who Save Us - Jenna Blum
Dangerous Love - Ben Okri
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Once Were Warriors - Alan Duff

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

I try to read a minimum of 50 books a year. 2010’s best book for me was The Crossing by Mandy Hager. It’s YA speculative fiction set in the Pacific, which ticks a lot of my boxes but her writing is so tactile that I could feel and taste and smell the atoll and the ship and the toddy... Just read it. It’s brilliant.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

There’s something great about the smell of books and the weight of a book in your hands that I fear an ebook will never replicate. That being said, I suppose it’s the way of the future. I’m in wait-and-see mode on this one.

Beth Montgomery lives in regional Victoria and writes Young Adult Fiction. She grew up in the Dandenong Ranges and worked as a teacher in the Pacific for seven years. Her first novel The Birthmark was short listed for the inaugural Gold Inky, the State Library of Victoria’s Teenage Choice Award, in 2007. Her second novel Murderer’s Thumb was a White Raven exhibit at The Bologna Book Fair in 2009. Beth is currently writing more novels, a few short stories and contributes regularly to her blog, Island Stories. http://aelanstori.blogspot.com/

Dee White - Author Interview series

Dee White is the award-winning author of Letters to Leonardo, Hope for Hanna, A Duel of Words and Harry’s Goldfield Adventure.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

My father used to censor what I borrowed from the library. He didn't approve of what he considered 'frivolous' reading so I guess I grew up reading fairly 'heavy books' by authors like DH Lawrence, Somerset Maugham and Charles Dickens. At the time it didn't bother me because I have loved books for as long as I can remember so I thought that any book was a good book. (I went back and read books like Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna when I was in my twenties). I always loved reading books about people and I liked really thick books because they last longer. Even today, I hate finishing a good book. When I wake up next day I feel kind of sad that I don't still have that book to read.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

When I was seven I wrote a poem and read it out at school assembly. Everyone seemed to really like it and it was the first time I experienced the feeling that my writing could mean something. That's when I decided I was going to be a writer. I think I had written at least twenty novels by the time I left primary school (but none of them were finished). As a writer, I want my books to move people and perhaps encourage them to think about some aspect of the world in a different way. I guess like every other author I want my books to be life changing.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

To be honest, I don't have trouble turning off my 'writer' microscope when I'm reading for pleasure. I get dozens of books sent to me for review every month and I try to read every book by Australian authors and illustrators. So I really have to set time aside to read for pleasure - and when I do have that time I savour it. I just immerse myself in the book and enjoy the experience.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

No I don't avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing my own - quite the opposite. If I am having trouble getting a character's voice right, I find that it can be helpful to read other books and look at what has worked for other authors. I also find it hard to write endings of books and can spend days reading endings of other books to work out what techniques others have used and what might work for my book.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

DH Lawrence, Somerset Maugham, John Marsden, Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

This is an impossible question:) I'd have to say I would take my own book, Letters to Leonardo because it reminds me of why I am a writer and that truth is important in art and literature no matter how hard it can be to tell it.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

When you get so engrossed in the life of the main character that you can't wait to find out what happens next - you feel almost as if the events of the story are happening to you. To me, this is a sign of a really well developed character.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

When I can't engage with the main character so I don't care what happens to them. I think this is usually when plot and setting have taken over and that distances me from the character.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

Sorry, I can't narrow it down to one, but I think there are some great Australian YA authors around at the moment, including Bill Condon, Sue Lawson, Maureen McCarthy, Karen Tayleur, Alyssa Brugman, Melina Marchetta, Penni Russon, Mo Johnson, Michael Gerard Bauer, Belinda Jeffrey and the list goes on. I don't tend to read much fantasy as you can probably guess from the authors I've listed. I'd have to say the things that draw me to these authors are authentic characters, believable voices and stories that make me think about them long after I've finished reading.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Not allowing me to include the classics is totally unfair seeing as this is pretty much all I was allowed to read as a child:) So, I'll have to go with my modern ones.

They are in no particular order, So Much to Tell You (John Marsden), Hand Me Down, Peeling The Onion (Wendy Orr), When Dad Killed Mom (Julius Lester), Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson), Impulse (Ellen Hopkins), Letters From The Inside, Perfume (Patrick Suskind), The Last Time I Saw Mother (Arlene J Chai) and The Dressmaker (Rosalie Ham)

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

I read something like one hundred and fifty books last year so narrowing it down to one is impossible. But my most memorable are Girl Saves Boy (Steph Bowe) for its authentic voice, Jaguar Warrior (Sandy Fussell) for the way it has woven fact into fiction, 6 (Karen Taleur) for the intrigue and Beautiful Malice (Rebecca James) for its complex characters.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

When it comes to publishing, I think we have to move with the times. I think that new technology will encourage some people to read more and I can see the benefits of taking an e-reader on holidays rather than a suitcase full of books. I still think there is a future for print books as some people enjoy the tactile experience of reading and a print book is easier to share with a group. People said that radio would die out when television came in, but it hasn't. I think that print books will survive and thrive in the same way.

Dee is passionate about encouraging new writers, and her blog http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/ has career and writing tips.

Find out more about Dee at http://www.deescribe.com.au/

Christopher Currie - Author Interview Series

So did you hear about the author who proposed to his girlfriend in the acknowledgements page of his debut novel? You did? Well you should enjoy this interview...

Brisbane writer and bookseller Christopher Currie's debut novel The Ottoman Motel by TEXT Publishing is available now!

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I was fortunate to grow up in a book-loving household, so I couldn't actually tell you when I first discovered books; they were always there. Whenever I go back to my parents' house, there is a shelf of my favourite books as a child. Enid Blyton was an early favourite (my collection of hardback Noddy books is still formidable). Roald Dahl was my favourite author next (I even went to school dressed as Mr Twit for Book Week), and then I moved on to C.S. Lewis, becoming deeply obsessed with the Narnia series for a long time. As well, I probably read more British mystery stories than a young person should, as my parents were both big readers of people like Ruth Rendell and PD James (and they are not the type of people who throw out books). By the time I had a library card, the list had become too long and diverse to mention!

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

My journey to being "a writer" is a bit of an upside-down one. I had always enjoyed writing stories is school, first as a bunch of sentences put together as an excuse to draw pictures above them (grades 1-3), then the starts of many epic planned fantasy trilogies copied into exercise books (grades 4-7), then surreal Douglas Adams-inspired musings on a typewriter (grades 8-10), but had never really considered it anything more than fun. I took a lot of science subjects through high school, with a vague plan of becoming someone who travelled to remote islands off South America to tag albatross colonies (I was a little obsessed with nature documentaries), but as I progressed through my studies, it made me realise that a scientific life wasn't for me. I changed tack at the last minute, enrolled in a creative writing course, and it was the best decision of my life.

As to what I want readers to "take away" from my book, I'm not quite sure. While it's true that any writer who tells you they don't write for an audience is seriously misguided (if you don't expect to be read, then what are you writing for?), I just want people to enjoy reading what I've written. I want them to feel the mood I'm trying to evoke, take pleasure in something I've explained or obscured, but most importantly engage their own imagination.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I think the only types of books that come under my writerly microscope are the truly bad ones. That is why I'll never be a good editor. Working as a bookseller, I read a lot, good and bad, but can safely say that if I'm reading a really good book I'm not thinking "How did they do that?" because far apart from being a writer, I am a reader who really appreciates the act of reading. By the same token, I know a lot of writers say that one of the best exercises you can do is find a passage of writing you love and copy it out, to see how the author did it. Maybe I'll try that one day!

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

When I was in the middle of my first (virtually complete) rewrite of The Ottoman Motel last year, I certainly did have to avoid reading. I have a short attention span at the best of times, but having to control the lives and trajectories of my major characters while letting in more who weren't involved in the narrative I was building was too much to ask. More than that, I guess, I do tend to be influenced stylistically by other authors. As I mentioned about the types of writing I did during school, you can really draw a direct line between what I was reading and what I was writing. And while you'd hope that by the time your first novel came out, you had your "writing voice" down pat, this is far from the case. Some of my favourite authors (George Saunders, David Foster Wallace, Cormac McCarthy) are heavily stylists, and I definitely have to avoid them when I'm writing, as I start to (consciously or unconsciously) ape their styles and themes.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - Roald Dahl (showed me how short stories could be just as good as novels).
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families - Philip Gourevitch (let me realise just how powerful and important writing can be).
Brighton Rock - Graham Greene (taught me how to write dialogue)
Of A Boy - Sonya Hartnett (inspired me to write The Ottoman Motel)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Peter Hedges (the book that has meant the most to me)

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

There are only two books I re-read regularly: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and The Secret History by Donna Tartt, so probably one of those. Running a close third would be the best book I've ever read while travelling: The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

If I knew that, I'd already be on a royalty-funded yacht sipping champagne with Dan Brown, J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer. It's one of those true intangibles that I don't think anyone is truly able to explain. Even the words "too good" to put down may be misleading, thinking about those names I just mentioned (zing!). From my experience, books that I couldn't put down can mean anything from sublime poetic prose (Michael Ondaatje's Coming Through Slaughter), to that "just one more page and then I'll go to bed" syndrome (Dan Chaon's Await Your Reply) to "if I finish this in one sitting I won't have to leave the world I'm in" (Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone).

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Describing the character's appearance in detail on the first page. Needing to use a new verb every time you attribute dialogue. Showing off. Sterotyping. Being unoriginal. Not thinking about the importance of every sentence. Underestimating your reader.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

I've probably mentioned a lot of my favourite authors already. But favourite as in someone who I read everything and anything they write: Graham Greene, Ian McEwan, Donna Tartt, David Mitchell, George Saunders. And many more.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

Don't ask a bookseller that! I can hardly remember the book I'm reading at the moment! I can remember that the last book I read in 2010, just before Christmas, was Lev Grossman's incredibly clever and addictive fantasy novel The Magicians. I also read In Cold Blood for the first time in 2010. Wow.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

As in the debate between "Literature" and "Popular Fiction", I think pitting non-traditional and traditional publishing against each other is not only wrong but detrimental to both. Whatever way you can find that lets people enjoy books and reading is fine by me. Even as the popularity and take-up of ebooks increases, there will always be a market for print books. The book industry (authors, publishers, agents and booksellers) will just have to find the best way to adjust their practices to adapt to the new idea of what a book is. Let's face it, as long as we're talking about books, they're still relevant.

Chris's 'novel' proposal has gotten worldwide attention. See the CBS News interview here.

Chris Morphew - Author Interview Series

The Phoenix Files: Underground, the fourth title in Chris Morphew's popular series, is due out in May.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

My parents read to me long before I could read to myself, and had excellent taste in kids’ books (A.A. Milne, Beatrix Potter, Alison Lester...) When I first started reading on my own, I developed a bit of a non-fiction obsession (six-year-old Chris was often seen lugging children’s encyclopaedias to school for silent reading time). Then came Roald Dahl, Colin Dann’s The Animals of Farthing Wood series – and then Animorphs, my great introduction to the world of sci-fi and serialised storytelling.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I’ve written stories for as long as I can remember, but I was always hesitant to label myself a “writer” until I was actually doing it with some kind of consistency. I still do a bit of a double-take whenever I walk into a bookstore and see something I wrote sitting on a shelf among all the real books.

One of the incredible privileges you have as a storyteller is getting to hold up a mirror to the real world and let others see it in a new light. The world of The Phoenix Files is a dark and broken place, but it’s a place where the darkness and the brokenness do not have the last word. I’d love for readers to come away with some sense – or some hope, even – that that could be true of our world as well.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I certainly read differently now that I’m a writer. I’m quicker to notice clunky storytelling and dodgy prose – but I’m also slower to criticise these things, because I know how hard they are to get right! Sometimes all of that falls away, though. I think the sign that I’m really enjoying a book is when I stop analysing it and just enjoy the story.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

Usually I work the other way – I will quite often read within the genre I’m writing, just to see what else is out there, and to make sure I’m not inadvertently doing something that’s already been done.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

J.K. Rowling has probably taught me more about plot and character than any other writer I’ve read. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more invested in the fates of fictional characters than I was when I read the Harry Potter series for the first time.

C.S. Lewis has an incredible ability to infuse his stories with a kind of awe and wonder that makes the universe seem more beautiful and profound to me than it did before I started reading. I don’t know if I’m capable of writing like that, but I’m more than willing to give it a shot!

K.A. Applegate/Michael Grant, the authors of the Animorphs series, kept me completely engrossed in a book-a-month series for about four years in high school. I can’t pretend the books were high-brow literary fiction, but I’m sure they’ve influenced my own writing more than I even realise.

Don Miller is one of my favourite non-fiction authors. He’s written quite a bit about the connections between story and life, which has really helped to crystallise some of my ideas about the way I approach my writing.

I have a love/hate relationship with Stephen King’s writing. The journey is always so compelling, but I’m often frustrated by the destination.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

The Bible, because it’s the only genuinely life-changing book I’ve ever read. Or, if I was restricted to fiction, probably The Stand by Stephen King, because it’s a massive brick and I keep meaning to read it but haven’t got around to it yet.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

Characters I can care about, a plot that feels like it’s headed somewhere, an ending I don’t see coming, and something to make me think, without telling me what to think.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Usually some combination of the opposites of a too-good-to-put-down book.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

It’s a toss-up between J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis, for the reasons I talked about above.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate
Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
The Red Tree by Shaun Tan
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

This is a pretty eclectic mix – everything from theology to picture books to trashy science fiction novels. It’s probably not a strictly accurate top ten, but it’s as close as I could get, and it does encapsulate something of the scope of what I like to read.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

My favourite novel of 2010 was probably Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness. Pulling off a really satisfying ending to a trilogy or series is a huge challenge (one that I’ll be staring down the barrel of myself in the coming months), and I think Ness managed to tie everything together brilliantly.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

We’ve already seen how the internet has democratised the distribution of music and video through services like iTunes and YouTube, and I think we’re going to see something similar happen in the book industry. There will still be a place for print books and traditional publishing, but where these have generally been the only viable (or at least the most viable) means of distributing books, I think they’ll be increasingly seen as just one of a broader and more accessible range of options for people looking to get their content out there. Whatever happens, writers will keep writing, readers will keep reading... and I’m happy to just wait and see about the rest.

Born in 1985, Chris Morphew spent his childhood writing stories about dinosaurs and time machines. More recently he has written 12 titles for the best-selling Zac Power series, and is now working on The Phoenix Files, his first series for young adults. Chris lives in Sydney, where he balances his time between writing and casual teaching. He thinks talking about himself in the third person makes him sound like a tool.

To find out more visit Chris's Blog at http://chrismorphew.com/

Sean Williams - Author Interview Series

Sean Williams' latest book is Troubletwisters, which he co-wrote with Garth Nix. The book is due out in May, published by Allen & Unwin.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I discovered a voracious love for books when I was very young. I would literally read anything that was lying around --trashy old pulps, my mother’s Agatha Christie Novels, even Alex Haley’s Roots (which I remember reading when I was about nine or ten). I also loved Doctor Who, so it wasn’t long before I was reading the novelizations of the show, and I still have my collection after all these years. I even read one of them recently. Other books I still read from those early days are the Le Guin Earthsea trilogy, Alan Garner’s Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising sequence, and John Christopher’s Tripods novels. My family moved to Darwin when I was 11 or so, and the local library had a terrific collection of Golden Age SF, so it was then that I discovered my great love of the genre. And then, when I was 12, someone gave me The Lord of the Rings. After that point, there was no going back.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I started telling stories when I was about nine years old, as my Creative Writing exercise books from that time reveal. They’re not very good, but the desire is there--to take a lead from the stuff I’d been reading and create my own plots, characters, settings, etc. I guess the desire was in me from that moment, to be a writer, and I wrote a bunch of novels in my teens, driven by that desire. But I didn’t decide that I would give it a concerted effort until I was 22 or thereabouts, when I dropped out of uni, got a bunch of part-time jobs, and really went for it. The plan was to sell a novel within ten years, or I’d have to give it up. Such was my desperation not to give up, it took me only five.

I hope that my readers will find my books impossible to put down, and that they will be left with something that changes them--be that an idea they’ve never encountered before, a glimpse into a character who challenges them, or even just an emotional aftertaste--hopefully a positive one.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I’m very critical. Books have to grab me on the first page or I don’t read any further. When books do grab me, I’m a very willing reader, and I love nothing better than to be swept away. Sometimes both the reader and the writer in me gasp in awe, and books that do that are the holy grail. If only there were more of them.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I’m definitely influenced by the books I read--on every level, from word choice to theme--so I’m careful only to read books that contribute to the work I’m trying to produce. It’s not always a direct match--YA novels while writing YA, or SF while writing SF, or whatever. When I wrote The Force Unleashed a few years back, for instance, I was reading nineteenth century Gothic novels. I can’t put my finger on what I was getting out of them, but whatever it was, it was working.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

Larry Niven--for pacing, style, balancing characters against hard SF.
Tim Powers--for magic systems, process, voice.
Patrick O’Brian--for proving that as long as you’re being entertaining and effective, every rule can be broken.
Kevin J Anderson--for early (and ongoing) advice on how to be a professional writer.
Anne McCaffery--for romance, non-fantasy dragons, and graciousness at all times.

I could go on for pages.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

I had to come up with a Top Ten recently, and that was hard. Just one is impossible! *reaches for ten-sided dice* A Wizard of Earthsea. I read that book every year. Pure genius.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

Everything: characters, plot, setting, theme, structure, voice, etc. When it’s all working together, all chugging along in perfect sync, it becomes better than the real world. Literally. The real world doesn’t have an author or editor making sure that everything fits; it’s just random, messy, disappointing. Who wouldn’t take a good book over that?

There’s only one thing better than a book that’s too good to put down and that’s a book too good to finish. I’m halfway through O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin sequence, and have been for a while because I just don’t want it to end.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

It can be bad science in a book purporting to be take itself seriously. It can be the wrong tone when dealing with a subject I hold dear. It can be overt and uncritical religiosity. It can be graphic sex that feels like it was written by a 12-year old. It can be a grammatical error, or even just a quirk that gets on my nerves. It can be anything, basically, that lifts me out of the book and puts me back into the real world--because that’s not the contract I entered into. I read a book to be transported elsewhere, not to be reminded of myself holding a book that isn’t gripping me.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

For a long time, my favourite author was Robert Anton Wilson, because he juggled more or less successfully a whole bunch of things that are very difficult to do individually, let alone all at once--including humour, sex, memorable characters, concision, non-linear narratives, outrageous allegories, scientific rigour, and mind-blowing ideas. His Schrödinger’s Cat books got me through adolescence, and to a large degree made me who I am today. I couldn’t say that he influenced me as a writer--I don’t think I’m brave enough to write the way he did--but without his books I don’t think I would have become a writer in the first place. He taught me that a little craziness is a good thing, and what could be crazier than dropping out of uni to become a writer?

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Another hard question. And I guess it depends on what you define as a classic, since the very presence of a book on my list would qualify it as a classic, at least to me. :-) I’d have to go back to my Top Ten Desert Island novels, which are, in order by author:

Soul of a Robot by Barrington J Bailey
A Maze of Death by Philip K Dick
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
The Water-Method Man by John Irving
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin
Ringworld by Larry Niven
The Satanic Mill by Ottfried Preussler
The Schrödinger’s Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson
The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

To make it onto this list, I had to have read each book more than once. That I keep coming back to these books, over and over again, makes them timeless for me.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

I’d probably put Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith in that spot. It wasn’t published in 2010, but that was when I encountered it. It’s a wonderful modern Gothic exploit, with a beautiful romantic arc as well. Everything’s on fire in this novel. I couldn’t fault a single word.

The other novels I really loved were the two released this year by Lee Child, 61 Hours and Worth Dying For. Jack Reacher is possibly the best male action character ever written. I just devour his books.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I’ve been waiting for e-books for fifteen years, and I’m so glad they’re finally booming. It seems to me that book sales have to go up, now that books are easier to obtain and store, cheaper to buy, and completely portable. That doesn’t mean it’ll be good news all across the publishing sector, of course. The mass-market paperback seems to be a dead format, and I wouldn’t want to be running a big chain of bookstores right now, but I do think printed books will survive, and so will bookstores. There are markets in which digital isn’t likely to make huge inroads, like books for kids, cookbooks, and of course pop-up books, of which I am a big fan.

Sean Williams writes prolifically across the field of science fiction and fantasy, for adults, young adults and children, and enjoys the odd franchise, too, such as Star Wars and Doctor Who. His work has won awards, debuted at #1 on the New York Times hardback bestseller list, and been translated into numerous languages. He even writes the odd poem. Born in the dry, flat lands of South Australia, he still lives there with his wife and family, and DJs in his spare time.

Find out more about Sean at www.seanwilliams.com

Michael Pryor - Author Interview Series

Michael Pryor is the best-selling author of the Laws of Magic series. Hour of Need, the sixth and final book of the series, is due for release in May.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

As a child, I was a hungry reader - and I still am. I read everything I could get my hands on, but I was particularly excited by fantasy books. CS Lewis was an important early find, and Tolkien's The Hobbit, but also books of folk tales from around the world, myths and legends, King Arthur and Robin Hood stories. I also loved Pooh, The Wind in the Willows and the great Enid Blyton.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

While I was at school I always thought I could write, and tell a story (they don't always go together) but I didn't really think about writing seriously until I was older, after I'd been teaching myself for ten years or so. After I had my first few short stories published I still didn't think of myself as a real writer, but when I had my first novel in my hands, that's when I thought that I was a true and proper author person. I hope people will enjoy reading my books - and want to read another one of mine. That might sound simple but I prize the quality of engagement in books. If a book doesn't engage it can't do anything else. It can't entertain, it can't amuse, it can't change someone's life if it has been put aside because it didn't engage.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your 'writer' microscope?

I can, and do, still read for pleasure but I find myself at times examining sentence structure, or word choice, or dialogue, either in admiration or with a shake of the head. I think about my writing deeply and I can't help but do that for other people's writing.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I can't read anything that's too close to what I'm writing. Currently, I'm writing in the steampunk mode, which means I can't read Scott Westerfeld's newest work, or Richard Harlan's. This is a pity because they both sound just like the sort of thing I like to read. When I'm writing historical or historical fantasy, however, I do a great deal of deliberate background reading to help me develop a style which is suitable to my current project. For instance, I read the complete Sherlock Homes stories before embarking on writing the first of The Laws of Magic series to help embed a sense of vocabulary and the rhythm of dialogue. Other reading is more deliberate research, but this osmotic method - where the language seeps in - is an important part of my writing method.

Name five authors of books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

Tolkien/Lord of the Rings - for showing me that made up stories could be grand, adventurous and moving. CS Lewis/Narnia - for showing me how our world and a fantasy world could be linked. Tim Powers/The Anubis Gates - for introducing me to Steampunk. Terry Pratchett/Discworld - for showing me that funny stories could still be serious. Robert Heinlein/his early stuff - for showing me the importance of story.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

The Complete Works of Shakespeare. So much in one volume - romance, tragedy, comedy, with some of the greatest language ever to be spoken.

What makes a book 'too good to put down'?

Story. A book can have interesting characters and an intriguing location but if nothing happens then that book is all too easy to put down. A story must have a narrative drive, a compelling beat that makes the reader desperate to know what's going to happen next. Naturally, good characterisation and a strong sense of location are impotant and will help keep a reader interested, but the vital third leg of a good book is that narrative impulse.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

If it's boring. Life is too short for a boring book. Having said that, I find it's much easier to read a fat interesting book than a skinny boring book. I get impatient with pretentious writing where the author postures about, drawing attention to themselves, where characters moon about, contemplating things and where interior monologues masquerade as characterisation. I'd much rather lear about characters by what they do rather than by their thinking about what they'd like to do.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

At the moment (and this changes the more I read) it's a toss up between Neal Stephenson and Tim Powers. I'll buy their next book, whatever it is they publish. Both of these writers are astoundingly inventive, astonishingly erudite and language craftsmen, but they never let any of this get in the way of telling a rattling good yarn.

If you had to list them, what would be your 'top ten' reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien

The Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson

The Baroque Cycle - Neal Stephenson

The Anubis Gates - Tim Powers

Declare - Tim Powers

Lord of Light Roger Zelazny

The Last Call - Tim Powers

Hyperion - Dan Simmons

Longitude - Dava Sobel

The Dying Earth - Jack Vance

All of these are in the basket that I call 'Literature of the Imagination'. They all have great and grand ideas. None of them are limited by the here and now. They all grapple with ideas that are timeless and of great consequence. They are thick with characters who are complex and fascinating, who face great moral, ethical and personal dilemmas. And they all have a sweeping, relentless narrative drive that hooks the reader early on, straps them in and takes them on one hell of a ride.

What was your 2010 best read? What was it that made it number one?

Anathem by Neal Stephenson. An epic story (900 odd pages) which brought together higher mathematics, philosophy, the fate of the human race, the ethics of engineering and the role of self-determination. A mind-expanding book.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods - eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there's a future for print books?

I think print books and ebooks will exist side by side for the forseeable future. Ultimately though, the medium isn't important - the Story is.

Michael has published over twenty popular and critically acclaimed novels and more than forty short stories, and has over one million words in print. Along the way his work has been six times shortlisted for the Aurealis Award, shortlisted for the WAYBR Award, longlisted for an Inky Award and been five times listed as Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Books.

Find out more about Michael at http://www.michaelpryor.com.au/

Gabrielle Wang - Authour Interview Series

Gabrielle Wang is an award-winning author and illustrator born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. Her latest book is Meet Poppy, the first in a series of junior novels about a girl growing up during the Victoran gold rush.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I read a lot of dog and horse books when I was young. I was crazy about them – White Fang, Call of the Wild, Green Grass of Wyoming, My Friend Flicka, Lassie Come Home, to name just a few. Of course I loved Enid Blyton, especially the Secret Seven and Famous Five series. My mother instilled in me a love of books. When we were small she would read to us every night. We had a library of good adult books in our house that I read as a teenager – DH Lawrence, Gunther Grass, Raymond Chandler, Ray Bradbury, John Wyndham, Herman Hesse…. But the one book that I will always remember with love and affection is The Magic Faraway Tree. And I still have my original copy.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I didn’t discover that I loved to write until I was in my thirties. I was never good at writing at school. In fact I failed Year 12 English so I had to repeat the year again in order to get into Graphic Design at RMIT. All my life I wanted to be an artist. It wasn’t until later that I became interested in writing and illustrating picture books. I sent a few manuscripts off to publishers but was unsuccessful and gave it away. But the dream was always there. I hope my words transport, inform, provoke and evoke. I hope my reader catches a glimpse into another culture and sees the world through the eyes of someone who may be different.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I always read for pleasure unless it is for research. I don’t particularly like researching but a book can’t survive without it. I’ve read too many novels where the author has failed in this area. If a book doesn’t grab me from the start, I won’t persevere with it. There are too many good books out there that I want to spend my time with. But as a writer, part of me is still on the job. I might be enjoying the characters and the plot, but ideas for my own stories are always snapping in my brain.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I tend not to read a book that has the same subject matter as the one I’m working on. For example, when I was writing The Hidden Monastery about a boy and a mythical Chinese creature, I steered away from books about dragons like Carole Wilkinson’s Dragonkeeper.
As I mentioned above, sometimes a paragraph or page in the book I’m reading will spark off a completely new idea that I might be able to use in my WIP.*

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I love the way this book is set in the real world but travels into other dimensions. Most of my books do the same and I owe it all to Enid. The Chuangzi by Chuangzi and Tao de Jing by Laozi. I often use the way of the Tao in my writing. Any book by Ray Bradbury and Raold Dahl for their inventiveness, boundless imagination and twists.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

Ursula Le Guinn’s wonderful adaptation of the Tao De Jing by Laozi. I like the way Le Guinn has interpreted this incredible book.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

Unique voice, great characters, exciting plot, beautiful lyrical prose, descriptions, philosophical ideas.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Boring, unoriginal, no layering, one dimensional characters, poorly researched, endless rambling instead of keeping to the story.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

I have too many to mention. I have just finished reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and really really enjoyed it. I loved the voice, the ideas and the story. I do like Paul Auster and Haruki Murakami.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

I would like to rephrase this question to ‘If you had to list them, what are some of your favourite books?

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The World of Nasruddin by Idries Shah
The Windup Girl Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Cloud Street by Tim Winton
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castenada
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Kahlila and Dimna – Tales of Friendship and Betrayal

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. This is a children’s book. I loved Appelt’s beautiful lyrical writing and the ancient feel of this story and the steamy setting of the everglades.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I always have an audio book on the go. This way I can read several books at once. I tend to zoom through an audio book because I can listen to it while walking the dog or cooking the dinner. And it’s easy on the eyes. The book beside my bed is always a slow read no matter what it is. I have an ipad and have downloaded a few books onto that. But for me it will never replace the simple elegance and feel of a ‘real’ book. On the plus side - More people might read because young people are used to interacting with screens, ebooks are cheaper and have less impact on the environment. I think print books will eventually die out but it will take a while and thankfully not be in my lifetime.

In her twenties Gabrielle went in search of her roots living in both China and Taiwan where she studied Chinese language and painting. Her stories are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy. She has twice won the Aurealis Award for Best Children’s fiction, and her books have been named Notable Books in the Children’s Book of the Year Awards, and shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards. She is published internationally in the UK, US, South America, Korea and China. Her books include The Garden of Empress Cassia, The Lion Drummer, A Ghost in My Suitcase and Little Paradise.

You can read more about Gabrielle at http://www.gabriellewang.com/

(* work in progress)

Kerry Greenwood - Author Interview Series

Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series began in 1989 with Cocaine Blues. Kerry has written sixteen books in this series with no sign yet of Miss Fisher hanging up her pearl-handled pistol. Kerry says that as long as people want to read them, she can keep writing them.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I learned to read when I was three beause I had a favourite book, Katie the Kitten - a golden book - and my mother read it to me so many times that I coud recite it and associated the words spoken with the ones on the page. "Katie the Kitten a small tiger cat is asleep in a hall in a ball in a hat..." Then I read EVERYTHING including the backs of cornflakes packets. My favourites were Milne, Lewis Carroll, Kipling, C S Lewis, Doctor Doolittle, Elizabeth Goudge... and everyone else.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. I just love writing books. I hope to amuse my readers, to take them away to another place, where there will always be a happy ending.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your 'writer' microscope?

To a certain extent, particularly detective stories. But I am very pleased when a writer convinces me and seduces me into a false solution. I enjoy the artistry and the journey.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

Yes, I never read detective stories while I am writing one, due to the possibilites of cross-contamination. I stick to other genres while I am writing. I haven't had any bad experiences in this way, because I avoid the possibility.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

Dorothy Sayers, my hero. Wrote the best detective stories in my genre.
J R R Tolkein, who wrote the definitive fantasy, the definitive second creation, to which I can only aspire.
P G Wodehouse, for his skilled, ingenious and very funny use of language.
Leslie Charteris, who wrote The Saint and perfected the caper novel.
Joan Aiken, who invented alternate histories.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein. Or if it has to be non fiction, The Histories by Herodotus.

What makes a book 'too good to put down'?

Pace, ingenuity, clarity of character.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Unimaginative characters, boring exposition, too much description, (Walter Scott, I see you!) and predictable plot.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

Tolkien again. It's the most perfect sub-creation. You believe that there are hobbits, or have been hobbits. I like to believe that, too.

If you had to list them, what would be your 'top ten' reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Can't exclude classics, sorry.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens - the book which changed the law, complex, fascinating, passionate.
The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein - for reasons already cited.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken - another perfect sub creation and a romping good read.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - the original psychedelic fantasy.
The Beast Master by Andre Norton - clever, deeply felt YA adventures in space-time.
A Morbid taste for Bones by Ellis Peters - another perfect re-creation of another time.
Nova by Samuel Delaney - epic in future form, redolent with other myths.
When Things Fall Apart by Ron Goulart - who can be funny about dystopias.
Goblin Reservation by Clifford Simak - I love his dry, constrained style.
The Christening Quest by Ann Scarborough - witty, ingenious, intelligent fantasy.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods - eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there's a future for print books?

Yes, as a niche, and because people will always like to have a book or two around the house (they do not need batteries). Also it is not a good idea to read ebooks in the bath. I suspect that printed books will become art objects and plain everyday novels will be something you download. Fine with me.

When Kerry is not writing, she works as a locum solicitor for the Victorian Legal Aid. She is also the unpaid curator of seven thousand books, three cats (Attila, Belladonna and Ashe) and a computer called Apple (which squeaks). She can detect second-hand bookshops from blocks away and is often found within them. For fun Kerry reads science fiction/fantasy and detective stories.

You can find out more about Kerry here.

Kate Forsyth - Author Interview Series

Kate Forsyth's latest book is The Wildkin’s Curse, a tale of high adventure and true love for readers aged 12+. It is the sequel to her award-winning novel The Starthorn Tree.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I could read before I went to school, and was already devouring books as fast as I could get my greedy little hands on them. I remember loving my first day of school because - as all the other kids began to be taught the alphabet - I got to curl up on a beanbag and read my way through the class library. They had to bring in another box for me, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh I love school! I get to read all day.’ Books have always been a source of enchantment and wonder to me. I spent a lot of time in hospital as a child, and books were my only escape from the pain and fever and loneliness. By the time I left primary school I had read every book in the library, and my local council library had issued me with special permission to read the books in the adult section as I’d read everything in the children’s!

When did you first realise you were a writer?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a desperate longing to be a writer. It was my one ambition, all of my life, and at every crossroads I’ve always taken the road that would lead me towards that dream. It’s not always been easy, particularly when I was young and poor, but I feel justly rewarded now that I’m an established writer with a body of award-winning and internationally published work. I feel I’m living the life I always dreamed of, and that’s a joy all in itself.

What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I have such high ambitions of every book I write! I want my readers to be totally absorbed in the world I’ve created, as if they have stepped through a magical door into another land. I want them to laugh and gasp and cry and shiver. I want them to finish reading my book with that sting of tears in their eyes, that lump in the throat, that means they have been truly moved. I want them to look up from the book and see our own world with a clearer, brighter gaze, with a new sense of astonishment and awe. I want them to feel as if the boundaries of the known universe have been pushed out, and their own sense of the possible enlarged. I want them to think about my book in the days and weeks and years that follow, and go back to it and read it again with the feeling of meeting an old and trusted friend. I want them to push a copy into the hands of everyone they meet and say, ‘you must read this! It’s wonderful!’ I want them to treasure my book, and give it to their own children and grandchildren, and forever after list it as one of their all-time favourite books. I want them to divide the world into people who love it, and so are clearly kindred spirits, and people who don’t, who are obviously lacking some kind of magic in their soul. Sigh! Wouldn’t all that be heavenly?

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

No, I read for pleasure all the time. It’s one of the great sources of joy in my life. I do find that my reading is shaped and affected by what I’m writing – for example, when I was working on The Gypsy Crown I was utterly obsessed with the English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell and the history and culture of the Romanys, and so I found it very hard to read anything outside that area of interest. As soon as I finish writing a book, I start catching up on all the books I wasn’t able to read during the writing process. I’ll have books stockpiled, sometimes for years, waiting for me to read without any underlying purpose. I always read with a critical eye – a sign of a good book to me is one that works so beautifully that I relax into it and just enjoy it.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I always read a lot, but the books I choose to read are always determined by what I’m writing. For example, I’m working on a historical novel now which entwines the fairytale of Rapunzel with the true life story of one of its earliest tellers, the French writer Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force. So I’m reading a lot of fairytale retellings, and a lot of books set in, or about, 17th century France, and a lot of novels that parallel two different historical periods, or two different narratives. My reading is ranging from popular biographies, like Antonia Fraser’s book on Louis the Fourteenth and the women in his life; to serious scholarship, books with titles like The Devotees: Women and Church in Seventeenth Century France; to The Empress of Icecream by Anthony Capella, a recent novel about a confectioner at the court of Louis XIV who falls in love with Louise de Keroualle, who was sent to England to try and seduce Charles II, while spying for the French king. I’ll also read a lot of murder mysteries and romances and memoirs set in France; anything that helps me imagine a place and a time and a culture. I also belong to two Book Clubs and so need to read books for those – I do find it hard, though, if I’m in the midst of an obsession about 17th century France and have to read a book set in contemporary Australia!

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

Only five? There are so many wonderful writers! A few favourites from different stages of my reading life:

C.S. Lewis and the Narnia books – these books were among the first I ever read all on my own and the very word ‘Narnia’ has the power to make me shiver with delight.
Enid Blyton and the Famous Five – how I longed for adventure when I was a child! I still wish I lived in a house with a secret passage, that led somewhere mysterious and exciting.
The Bronte sisters - I loved the whole story of the girls sitting and scribbling by candlelight and creating these astonishing books and poems. I like to re-read their books every few years.
Tad Williams and his fantasy series Memory, Sorrow & Thorn – I had not read any fantasy since I was a child and these books led me back to tales of magic and adventure and danger, which encouraged me to write my own fantasy, Dragonclaw, which was my first published book. Tracey Chevalier – she is one of my absolute favourite writers. I love the perfect balance of plot, character and place, and I love the way she brings history to life.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

I could never do that! I’m so afraid of being stuck in an airport or a foreign hotel without a book to read that I always take about 5 or 6. And I then read them all in the first few days and have to go & buy a whole pile of new ones. And since I can never get rid of a book I’ve loved, I post them all home to myself, spending hundreds on postage. Plus I get very sore shoulders from heaving them all around with me. I’m travelling to France and Italy next year to research the book I’m writing at the moment, and I plan to buy an e-book reader and download a hundred books on to it before I go!

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

A fascinating plot full of suspense and surprise, compelling writing, characters that you really care about, a world that has been so beautifully crafted it feels real. Easy!

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

A boring plot, bland writing, flat characters, a beige setting.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them? If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

I have so many favourite writers! I actually have a list of them on my website at http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/favouritewriters.htm. Here are my ABSOLUTE top ten favourite contemporary writers – Geraldine Brooks, Tracey Chevalier, Sarah Dunant, Joanne Harris, Kim Wilkins, Kate Morton, Susan Vreeland, Lian Hearn, Cornelia Funke, and Eva Ibbotson. The reason why they are my favourites is because they have never let me down – each and every book they write is wonderful, surprising, and compelling. I will rush to the bookshop to buy one of their books and then I will curl up with it with an immense sense of anticipation and I will read every word with pleasure. Joanne Harris is the only one that this is not completely true about – her last two books have not made my heart sing – but she deserves her place in my list because of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange which I just adore. Their books have everything I want in a book – history, art, suspense, mystery, magic, romance, heartbreak.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

The best book of 2010 for me was The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It was absolutely stupendous. The only reason he’s not on my list of Top 10 favourite Writers of all time is that I haven’t yet read any of his other books yet. I’ve bought them and I plan to read them just as soon as I can. Other stand-outs for me, in adult fiction, were The Distant Hours by Kate Morton and The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon. Best crime novel was Heartstone by C.J. Sansom, and The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley. Best children’s book was absolutely Dark Angels by Katherine Langrish, though I also enjoyed A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elisabeth C. Bunce.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I think e-books are a wonderful innovation that will open up reading to many people who might otherwise find books heavy, inconvenient, expensive, or just too daunting. There’s no doubt it will change the way many people read – but so too did the printing press. I think books published in the traditional way will become collector’s items, sought out because of their beauty and rarity. I think signed books will become a lot more valuable, and that publishers will begin to do limited editions of certain books remarkable for their packaging and presentation. In other words, start collecting first edition, signed copies of books now!

Kate Forsyth is the internationally bestselling author of more than twenty books for children and adults, including The Puzzle Ring, The Gypsy Crown, The Starthorn Tree, and the bestselling fantasy series ‘The Witches of Eileanan’ and ‘Rhiannon’s Ride’. Since her first novel was named a Best First Novel of 1998 by Locus Magazine, she has been shortlisted for numerous awards, including a CYBIL Award in the US and the Surrey Book of the Year award in Canada. In 2007, Kate became the first author to win five Aurealis awards in a single year when Books 2-6 in the Chain of Charms series were jointly awarded the 2007 Aurealis Award for Children’s Fiction. Book 5: The Lightning Bolt was also named a Notable Book for 2007 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Her books have been published in 13 countries around the world.

You can read more about her at http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/

Shirley Marr - Author Interview Series

"Shirley Marr is an accountant by day and a masked writer by night. That's when she becomes her true self — Writer Woman, with her trusty sidekick, BetaGirl." Fury (Black Dog Books) is her first novel.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

When I first arrived in Australia at the age of six, I couldn’t write or read a word of English. I could only understand a rudimentary amount of spoken English. I remember the very first time I sat down with my classmates in front of our teacher and she read to us Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. Although I could only understand some of it, I remember that moment being so magical that it cemented my determination to learn how to read. So hence began my love affair with books, I slowly devoured every single book by Enid Blyton. The Secret Seven being my favourite series.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

At first, I thought I was a drawer. But as my English improved, and I shifted my form of communication from visuals to word, I realised I was actually a better writer! I realised this is primary school. My novel is called Fury and I hope my readers are left with the feeling of what that emotion really means after having read the story. I hope it lingers in their memory.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

Yes, it is true - everything comes under my microscope! But I know when I find a perfect read - my mind stops trying to pick everything apart and I just go for the ride!

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

Surprisingly, I don’t avoid anything while I write – I write every single day, so I believe in living my life! I read what I want to read at any point in time. I believe life in general has an effect on what I write and of course books do as well. Anyway, when you think of it, every book written is derivative of what came before, so I don’t try and shy away from it. In fact, I believe in acknowledging and reflecting in my work the books I like – I’m very fond of pop culture referencing!

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way?

Jane Austen, William Faulkner, John Marsden, Margaret Mahey and Sue Lawson.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

I’d probably take a Lonely Planet suitable for where I was going… um, is that a cheat’s answer?

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

Compelling characters, storyline and narrator’s voice. Makes it sound easy to write a book doesn’t it?

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Sometimes (and it’s not a fault of the book itself) I just can’t “get into” a book. It’s usually because I can’t relate to the book at all and when I read I’m looking for that intrinsic human connection from the author – which is what I believe writing should be about.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

I love William Faulkner above anyone else. I love his writing because it’s more than just telling a story, he really makes you feel complex emotions and he makes words - what is supposed to be a quiet medium - beautiful, furious and loud.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

I can’t make this list unfortunately – most of my top reads are classics! But I will mention Letters From the Inside and So Much to Tell You both by John Marsden, which are in my list.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

My ‘best read’ is Dare You by Sue Lawson. The prose is beautiful and almost lyrical, it’s woven together almost like a Japanese pillow book, It’s so different to anything I’ve read this year in YA, it’s totally underrated and it’s one of those books that get better with each subsequent read. Oh and it made me cry.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I own a Kindle, I’m supportive of technology. If it makes books cheaper and more portable, then I am happy if that encourages more people to read. Especially if they commute and are put off by the bulkiness of traditional media, but with a media reader they end up reading a few books every year. I’d rather someone read, no matter the format, than not read at all.

Despite being blasted for writing an avant-garde short story completely in dialogue in Year Eight, and being fired from the Yearbook committee in Year Twelve for being disruptive, she still loves to write things her way. This type of behaviour led her to be the only person she knows who has ever been kicked out of a bookstore. You can learn even more about Shirley here.