A. Bad reviews (genuine criticisms not just vitriolic attacks) are as important as good ones. Not everyone will get your message, not everyone will like what you write, but taking on-board criticism, as long as it is constructive, will always help you become a better writer.

A. Very happy, especially when it comes out of the blue. I was in a local store the other day and the woman serving me asked if I was “The Author” when I said I was, she replied that her husband loved my books and asked when the next one would be available. This always makes you feel good, as if you have succeeded.

A. Sometimes. I have a number of manuscripts that are cross genre and I sometimes think these should be under a different Author name.

A. What I have published, to date, all have a common history, others still to be published are stand alone or part of different series.

A. I try to write/edit each day. The amount of time depends on many things but for writing I aim for 3000 words per day, but editing/reviewing can be much slower as this I look at as a fine tuning.

A. Not much, as a complete base for a character base. I use certain experiences and character traits and have tried to build one or more characters on these variables.

A. I am married and we have five grown children and five grandchildren. We have three cats including one Siamese who has featured in some of my books. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of Australia, on the shores of Port Stevens.

A. I suppose I could classify as a full-time writer, being retired from work?

A. I have a wide range in musical taste, from heavy rock to classics. I listen to different music depending on how I feel when I start writing, sometimes I listen to none, it depends on many things.

A. Organized chaos.

A. I have an advance team who I send my manuscripts to for initial evaluation. They always help and not always in ways I like. As an example, one manuscript I have almost ready for publication was evaluated by the team and one member said I should drop the last three chapters, as they did nothing to enhance this particular story and I should use them as the start for a sequel. After much deliberation and soul searching, I realised she was right and the final edit is much better because of that advice.

A. I usually have a basic outline, a very loose road map if you like. I allow the characters and plot develop as the story progresses. There are supposedly two types of writers Plotter and Pantser. I tend to favor the latter but always have my “road-map” to fall back on.

A. I have mainly self-published. I did one book with a so called “hybrid publisher” but found out the hard way this is only a cover for the old Vanity Press con. I had to withdraw the book, re-design it and re-publish it, in all a rather expensive lesson.

A. Cooking is something I am passionate about, and baking bread. I find that this basic function of life has a cathartic effect and helps keep me grounded.

A. The main thing lacking is any actual education; it appears that schools have become political indoctrination centers with many blatant lies now being thrust upon our children as fact.

A. They usually come to me during the writing phase.

A. They are my main critics. My eldest son and wife usually read my books in the draft stage and make suggestions, and again in the edit stage. So far, they enjoy my writing even though my wife is not a Sci Fi fan.

A. As my books come from my imagination, originality is the main concept.

A. Many, initially the FAW branch I was a member of had other authors who gave so generously of their time and expertise. Without their encouragement and guidance I don’t think I’d still be doing it.

A. Definitely, mainly because you retain control. I have tried the new “Hybrid” type of publishing which means the author pays for the publishing service, but the publisher controls the product. In y case it was an unmitigated disaster as I ended up with a product so wrong I had to withdraw from them and re-publish myself, very expensive. Would I try this again? Only if I could guarantee that the publisher had some ethics and my best interest at heart, not just their bottom line; remember in this scenario you, the author pay for a service that you just make sure you receive.

A. Mainly sex! The first time I wrote a sex scene, my wife read it and made her, now famous (in our house anyway) typical male. She then sat with me and gave me some instruction on how to write it in a way that still included the perspective and passion I was trying to convey, but in a way that was more effective with women – and it worked. Lesson learned.

A. Profanity is a normal part of our lives, in fact the most commonly used word in the English language is the “F” word. As I try to keep my books and characters real, I use profanity but it is as part of everyday vocabulary, not thrown in for effect.

A. All my characters are imaginary BUT, I use characteristics from people I have met in my life, so they could be called “real” As an example I have two ship engineers in the 12^th Realm trilogy who I based on two engineers I worked with for a number of years. Like their real-life counterparts, my characters have a philosophy “nothing is impossible, it just might take some time”.

A. I was forced to retire (medically) about eight years ago and, as I had a great deal of time on my hands and was used to working long hours, my wife sat me down and told me that as I kept telling her I had all these “stories” in my head I should start writing. So, I did.

A. Chronicle of the 12^th Realm is a trilogy (at the moment) based in the 30^th century. The Abraham family is the central character group and family dynamics feature throughout. It starts with a possible reunion (name of book 1) between Aaron and Jeff two brothers who had an argument over 30 years previously, but there is now a possibility of them repairing the damage. While Aaron is on his way to Earth there is an incident and he, and his first officer Petra Mannix, are thrust into an interdimensional conspiracy to enslave all of the 12^th Realm, their fight is not only to save their own lives, but those of every human in existence. This forms the basis for a number of adventures that are told through the trilogy.

I sum it up with the words: “ADVENTURE, ROMANCE, INTRIGUE ACROSS THE GALAXY”

A. Cat videos!!

A. I think it’s more like they choose me. I start with an idea for the story, I make a very basic plan for it and let things sort themselves out as I go. I have the main characters fleshed out, but others come and go as required during the process.

A. I still have heaps of ideas in my head that deserve fleshing out.

A. I drink lots of coffee and listen to music.

A. I based one character loosely on myself in one of the books, but my life experiences and politics will always influence my characters. Sometimes this is in a devil’s advocacy role, others in a more direct way.