Author Bio:
I have been a broadcaster/journalist for over 30 years, mainly in radio but I have dabbled in TV and newspapers over the years. I adore radio though, it’s more personal and flexible and connects with the audience in ways that other media cannot. That’s why I have also become a podcaster. With astronomer Fred Watson we present Space Nuts every week and are seeing incredible growth on the platform.
So, there’s some background but what about writing? That came very late, inspired by some research I did into my grandfather who fought in WW1 and resulted in the audio book All I See Is Mud which has since been released in paperback and eBook formats.
From there I wrote about golf with a tongue in cheek book about not losing your temper on the golf course. It was more of a test case in self publishing and took me only 90 minutes to write.
Then came my first sci-fi novel Parallax, which is my favourite writing genre and I have another almost ready for print, title yet to be confirmed.
What inspires you to write?
I just get ideas that I think will make good stories and add them to my list. It’s that simple. I hope I can get them all down on paper one day but the list keeps on growing.
Tell us about your writing process.
I pretty much keep it all in my brain. If I can formulate a start and a finish to a story, that’s all I need. I generally make the rest up and it goes. My latest novel is a case in point. I knew how to start it and how it would end, everything else just came out as I wrote the story. I don’t develop stories is a tactile way, it’s all from my head. One thing I like though, is to have my characters do a lot of the story telling, so there’s more dialogue in my books.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t do either, I relate to them, try to think what I might do or not do under the situations that arise. I think I draw on elements of myself in some respects but takes those things to extremes for the sake of the stories I write. I picture the people in my mind I guess but I don’t converse with them in any way.
Who are your favorite authors?
I love John Birmingham. He writes in a way that makes me laugh, a matter of fact style. I hate too much word play. I like it when an author just tells the story. I don’t care how taking a step causes the crisp sound of a snapping twig or the crunch of the snow….who cares. I just want the story. He does that and so do I.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
The first time was an accident. I wrote All I See Is Mud and didn’t know what to do next. And, as I was working for the ABC at the time I recorded it as an audio book which I offered to the network. It ended up being broadcast nationally as a 56 part series. Then people wanted to buy it so we packaged it as an audio book. I then had people wanting the paperback, so that happened next. Very cart before the horse I guess, like making a movie then writing the book.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it will keep moving down a paperless path. eBooks and audio books will become huge (if they aren’t already) but I don’t think paper will die entirely. As an author, there’s more to gain in the paperless world simply because it eliminates print costs which erode huge margins from your sales.
What genres do you write?
History, sports psychology, Science Fiction
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Andrew Dunkley Home Page Link
Follow Andrew Dunkley On Amazon
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
