Silver Dagger Tour Questions
Tell me something unique/interesting about you.
I’ve never seen a ghost—but I have heard one! It’s a long story that’s best saved for another day.
I’ve seen a UFO. In fact, I’ve seen more than one, and on two completely different occasions. I use the term UFO, not Flying Saucer or Spaceship, because to this day I have no idea what I actually saw. They were definitely flying, and definitely unidentified. The first was when I was about 13, and involved lights that ‘buzzed’ our family car on a deserted outback road for an hour or more. It was between Winton and Longreach in central Queensland, Australia. At one stage, we stopped the car and my Dad and I got out to see what they’d do. The lights appeared stationary, and only about a hundred yards from us; one in front and one in back of our vehicle. There was no sound. When we got back in and drove off, they continued to shadow us. Later, when we reached Longreach, my Dad—excited and a little agitated—started to tell the folks at the roadhouse about what we’d seen. An old truckie sat at a table just smiled and told us not to worry. “We see them all the time around here,” he said. “They’re called Min-Min lights.” Apparently the aboriginals have been seeing them for as long as anybody can remember. Min-Min is their word for the strange lights that follow people around at night. Nobody has been able to come up with a rational explanation for them.
The second time I saw a UFO was in Port Hedland in around 2013. I was sitting in a camp chair having my first (I swear) drink of the night when I looked up and saw what looked like a flying vehicle of some sort cruising about a hundred feet or so above me. I knew it was fairly low, because the harbour lights reflected off the shiny under-surface. Again, there was no sound. It was not a ‘plane as there were no lights. All aircraft have to have navigation lights. As it moved out of sight I followed what I thought would be its path and saw a bright star momentarily blink as the UFO? passed in front of it.
Now that you’re pretty sure I’m some sort of nutcase, I’ll tell you something else about me: I’ve studied Astrology and Numerology. I can’t predict the future, I leave that to other folk. I can, however, given your name; and your time, location, and place of birth, do an uncannily accurate character breakdown of you. I don’t do it for money, though. It’s just something I enjoy freaking my friends out with.
Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Yorkshire, England. I don’t remember much about it though, as I was just 3 years old when our family emigrated to Australia. I’ve never considered myself anything but an Aussie.
I’ve lived and/or worked in every state of Australia at one time or another, and explored just about every sort of legal occupation there is. I’ve been a musician, and worked with many well-known artists. I’ve been a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. I’ve compiled crosswords, taught hobby ceramics, piloted heavy machinery all over the country, been in the RAAF, done factory work. (not all at once) There’s not much I haven’t tried. Now I’m a full-time author.
What would you do if you knew today was your last day on Earth?
First, I’d make sure all my affairs were in order. Next, I’d contact all my friends, enemies, and relatives (There’s a considerable overlap between them) and tell them exactly how I felt about them. You know, all the stuff we hold back from sharing just to keep the peace.
Then, I guess I’d spend the rest of my life eating, drinking, and doing all the crazy stuff I never do because it’s a) Illegal, b) Immoral, or c) Fattening.
What kind of World Ruler would you make?
Probably a pretty bad one. If the way my own life has panned out is any guide, woebetide the World that has me in charge! Besides, I’m way too soft. Too willing to see both sides of every situation. I think a World Leader would have to be more pragmatic.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve been a story-teller for as long as I remember. I recall one time our English teacher gave the class an assignment where she supplied the first sentence (it was something like “What is it?” John said) and we had to create a story from it.
I worked on mine for so long she got sick of asking about it and—I think—assumed I’d not bothered to write anything at all. I never handed it in. As I recall, it went on for page after page and I don’t think I completed it even then.
I enrolled in a comprehensive writing course late in life, and realised that was what I should have been doing all along. For one lesson, we were asked to write a synopsis for a novel. When mine was returned, the tutor said I should write that story. So I did.
Over the next three years I wrote my first novel, GOLD!—learning the craft as I went. There were so many rewrites and edits that the story as it is now bears little resemblance to the original, except for the ending. That was my original vision and what I was always working towards.
What inspired you to write your book?
I’d been working for six years as a pilot/escort driver, escorting all sorts of heavy mining equipment all over Australia, though mostly in Western Australia. As a subcontractor, and therefore my own boss, I often had time on my hands while waiting for a load/backload etc and got to know many people in the mining and transport industries. When it came time to plot my first book, I already had a good supply of anecdotes and situations to fall back on.
After my time spent in earlier years in the music industry I might have written about a rock band. (Actually, I did start one in that vein years earlier, but it never came to fruition. Maybe one for later?)
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m already working on Book 2 of The Kincaid Saga. It will be about Malcolm’s father and his early life, and how he influenced Malcolm to become the person he was. For those who haven’t read GOLD! yet, I’m not going to give away any spoilers here.
I’m also planning a spin-off story about another character and her experiences during WW2.
Will there be a BOOK 3? Probably, though I’m not sure yet what it will cover. Possibly the next generation of Kincaids. I’m tossing a few ideas around at the moment. The main characters will likely be Iain Kincaid and James Kincaid Jr. I’m thinking there might be rivalry between them, that I can build a tale around.
I do also have a secret project, that I had planned to write first, set in 19th century Australia. I still have to do a lot of research on that one.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
The first ‘working title’ was “A Life Lived Large.” This was Malcolm’s father’s catch-cry. I changed it to The Kincaid Saga after a while, then to GOLD! as I thought that sounded more dramatic.
When a couple of my beta readers suggested I turn it into a series, I decided to use The Kincaid Saga as the series name.
Who designed the cover?
The cover design was done by Ross MacLennan, of bookcoversaustralia.com. I found him with the help of Mr Google. I made an enquiry on his website and he phoned me within minutes. I told him what I had in mind—he told me what was wrong with my ideas— and when he sent me his first version of the cover I knew he had nailed it. We’d never met, of course, even though he lives close to where I had lived in Western Australia for some time. I love the cover he’s designed, and he charged me less than half of what many had quoted.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Probably. There were so many changes and rewrites as it grew that it’s almost unrecognisable from the original. I guess there’s always changes we’d like to make to our work, and I’m sure every author would say the same. We have to stop somewhere though, and say “That’s it.”
I’ve started on Book 2, and already I’ve decided I don’t like the way it’s going, so I’m going to start over. It might sound strange, but a writer knows when a story is working when the characters take on their own personality and sometimes do things we didn’t want them to do. In the case of Book 2, (I don’t even have a working title yet) the main character is turning out too nice. I have to go back and make him tougher, edgier, even nastier. Villains are the most interesting characters, both to read and to write.
Did you learn anything while writing this book?
Absolutely! I learned a lot about gold mining, for a start. I also learned a lot about how entrepreneurs manipulate the system for their own ends. The first thing I did was buy and read two books on the life of Alan Bond. For those who don’t know, he was real estate, mining, and business magnate in Western Australia in the ‘80s and ’90s. He even gets a cameo in GOLD! though he doesn’t get any dialogue.
Are the characters based on real people?
Only slightly. Some of the minor players are influenced by people I’ve known or worked with. I don’t think there’s ever been a real-life Malcolm Kincaid, though. It’s probably just as well!
In my office, or ‘writing room’ there’s a sign that reads “Warning! Author at Work. Any Bystanders May be Written Into the Story.” And it’s true.
Do your characters seem to hijack your stories? Do you sometimes feel that you struggle to keep hold of the reins?
Definitely! That’s how I know whether I’ve nailed the character or not. If I find myself writing a scene where the character says or does something I hadn’t planned, I go with it to see where it leads. Occasionally, I have to edit it out but most times it can turn into some of the best, most convincing scenes. The one character who caught me off-guard the most was Bronte. There are one or two scenes where I had to sit back and think “What are you doing, girl?” You’ll probably pick these scenes when you read the book.
What did you edit out of the book?
There were a few scenes and even a couple of characters that didn’t make the final cut. Most noticeable, is a complete chapter that I liked, but that didn’t fit with the overall ‘feel’ of the book. I’ve rewritten it as a short story that I’ll be sending out for free to anyone who signs up for my mailing list. You can do that, by the way, by visiting thomasgreenbank.com/join-the-tribe. (Commercial break over)
Who is you favorite author—the one you’d most like to meet?
The first serious, adult book I ever read was written by Ion Idriess. He was a well-known Australian author who wrote over 50 books between 1927 and 1969. He averaged one every 10 months and once wrote three in one year. That book, Outlaws of the Leopolds, inspired me. I found a copy in a second-hand bookstore recently and just had to have it.
These days, I read all genres. My fave author is probably Dean Koontz.
What do you think about the current publishing market?
It’s probably never been harder to get a traditional publishing deal. On the flip side, it’s never been easier to self-publish. I fact, there’s a truism I (think I) invented:
The best thing about self-publishing is that anyone can write and publish a book.
The worst thing about self-publishing is that anyone can write and publish a book.
Self-publishing opens many doors for indies like myself. Unfortunately, because there are no ‘gatekeepers’ a lot of books get published that should never see the light of day. The result is, that the overall standard is lowered and readers are skeptical of self-published works. The big problem is that it’s very expensive to have our work professionally edited. Think $2,000 or more. Sometimes lots more. (Remember that when you shy away from paying $3.99 for an ebook) Writers just wing it and take the ‘publish and be damned’ approach. This is one reason why I like Amazon. They have a Look Inside feature where we can read the first few pages before deciding to buy.
Do you prefer to write in silence, or with background noise (music, etc)?
I’m deaf in one ear, as the result of a hunting accident when I was young. Noise only half-bothers me, therefore.
Actually, I have the ability to shut out extraneous noise, so it really doesn’t make much difference either way. I tried writing to music once, but found myself singing along and losing the plot, literally.
Do you work on one book at a time—or do you write several at once?
I honestly don’t know how writers can do that, write several books at once. When I’m writing, I become totally absorbed in the story and characters. I may be planning more that one at a time (I am now, actually) but once I make a start, the current work becomes my main focus. Ask my wife. She often looks at me and says something like “What’s Malcolm up to now?” when she sees that far-away look on my face.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
1. Write, write, and write some more. It doesn’t matter if it’s good enough or not. Everything can be improved, once it’s on the page. While it’s still in your head, not so much.
2. Take as many writing courses as you can. Every writer out there has something they can teach you. Just beware of shysters who try to sell you high-priced courses (think hundreds of dollars) Most of what you need to know you can learn for free or cheaply if you have the aptitude. If you don’t, you’ll soon know.
3. Have your work read by as many other writers as possible. Don’t rely on friends or family. They will either tell you it’s good when it’s not just to please you, or they, in some cases, will do the opposite out of jealousy or spite. I’ve seen it happen. Join a writers’ group or two.
4. Read lots, and analyse what you’ve read. If you find a book that resonates with you, read it again pretending you are an editor. Find out what it was that ‘hooked’ you in the first place.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could walk up to myself at any stage of my younger life, I’d say “Why don’t you become a writer?” Nobody ever said that to me. I once told a family member I wanted to be a writer and was told to forget about it. “Don’t be so stupid. What makes you think you could do that? Get a real job.” That sort of thing. We all need to be encouraged to follow our dreams, however unrealistic they may seem.
If I’d put in as much effort to learning to write as I did to learning the guitar, I’d probably have written several best sellers years ago. Well, that’s what I like to think, anyway.
I’m reminded of the stand-up comic who said: “Everyone said I’d never be a comedian. Well here I am. Nobody’s laughing now, are they?”
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Actually, no. I believe that it’s sometimes difficult to get started on a book or a scene, but being totally blocked for days? Well, it hasn’t happened to me anyway.
If I feel unmotivated, I’ll just do something else for a while. Go fishing, take a long walk. Usually, before I know it, my subconscious mind has chipped in and the ideas start to trickle through. Then, I can’t get back home quickly enough!
Other than that, my advice is to just start writing anyway. I use a laptop computer, so the delete key is always there if it turns out to be crap. (I use it A LOT)
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