Questions and Answers What are you currently working on? Several things at once. I'm collaborating with Sean McMullen on a story called 'Deathlight'. I'm also nearly finished writing A Wizard in Trouble. I'll be sending this to either the UK or the US. Not sure where yet -- perhaps among your readers there's a publisher who wants first look! LOL. I'm always working on editing or writing for the Quentaris series. That's work that pops up on a regular basis. With which of your works are you most/least satisfied and why? I'm really happy with The Earthborn. Maybe because that book has given me my best exposure by being published in the US. Out of all the worlds that you've created, where would you prefer to be living? I'm quite happy here in Clifton Hill, Australia, thanks. It's a lot safer! Is there a book or story you wish you had written? Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon. Is writing your full time occupation, if not what is? I never thought I'd say it, but yes it is! I also visit schools and libraries giving kids presentations/writing workshops. What was your first professional sale? How did it feel when you received the acceptance? That was a short story called 'The Test'. It appeared in Paul Ganley's Weirdbook in 1978. The initial 'rejection' letter was longer than the story itself, and I was rather shattered. But I took Ganley's suggestions on board, re-wrote the story, and he accepted it. Having finally sold something, I figured it was pretty hard work. Who is you favourite author? I normally read everything of Sean McMullen's. If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be? Persistence. Many of my novels haven't sold on the first submission, nor the second... When did you first decide that you wanted to be an author? I was seventeen when I wrote a western novel. I self-published it when I was about twenty-one. When did you first feel that you were an author? I don't think an exact time can be put on it. Some people might say "When I sold my first book", and yes, you can literally call yourself an author when you've sold a book, but are you an author at that precise moment? Seventy books down the road, I still call myself a writer, not an author. Are you for or against e-books? I can take 'em or leave 'em. I've had a few published and sold less than thirty copies. I can only congratulate people who sell bucket-loads. Are you a music fan? If so, what? Despite having owned a secondhand record store for some fifteen years, and working door security in pubs with live bands for a decade, I think I've had the music thrashed out of me. Listening to it seven days and some nights a week during that time sort of anaethetised me. Do you have a favourite place to write? I can only write in my study. I don't take a laptop with me when I leave the house. I figure if I'm away from home, it's a holiday, because I work seven days a week from home. As I say to the kids, when you work from home, you never leave work. Do you enjoy book signings/conventions? I always get stuck next to Australia's top authors at book signings. It's disheartening to watch a queue go out the door for the person next to you, and here you are, writing a short story for each book buyer in your queue, just to make sure the queue doesn't empty too fast. Why do you like SF/F/H? I have to have something different happening in my stories. I can't write 'real life' stuff to save myself. I find it boring to write, and boring to read. Is there anything more that can be done with Wizards, Elves and Dragons? As technology is only limited by our imagination, so is the answer to the above question. As a reader do you prefer Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror? Fantasy. Short story, single novel or novel series - which do you think is the best medium for Fantasy? Fantasy series seem to be loved by readers -- especially the doorstop variety. Unfortunately for me, I prefer shorter fiction. Do you use myths and ancient religions for inspiration? Never. If I'd studied history I might have, but most of my writing is strictly imagination. I just hate research. I feel as though I'm trying to prove something by adding facts. I like to write and see how it comes out, without forcefeeding it. What are your thoughts on writing for shared world series such as Dragonlance and Star Trek? Michael Pryor and I have our own shared world series called The Quentaris Chronicles. Everyone's having fun. We can also commission well known writers to write for the series -- we presently have Isobelle Carmody and Gary Crew, two of Australia's best known writers, writing Quentaris books. We find our 'bible', that is the rule book, expanding every time a new writer comes on board. What book are you reading at the moment? Tamora Pierce's Trickster's Choice, but I'm finding it slow going. Do you enjoy collaborating? Most of the time, but collaborations can go terribly wrong unless both parties are on the same wavelength, and there's a clear agreement on what is expected of the partner. Do You Always know a Story's Ending When You Begin Writing? Rarely ever. I like to partake of the journey myself and get surprised by the ending as much as the reader. What's the most memorable thing said in a review of your work? Donna Jones writing for SFcrowsnest.com said, "I insist that if you read only one science fiction book in your life read 'The Earthborn'." God bless her! Have you won any awards for your writing? Smallish Australian awards: The William Atheling, the Aurealis, and the inaugural Peter McNamara Award. Plug away - what do you have coming out? Next year I'll have Dragonlords of Quentaris from Lothian Books, and Dragonfang from Penguin. There are a few smaller chapter books from lesser known Australian publishers. I'm hoping for a sequel to The Earthborn, and there's a good prospect of a third Dragonlinks book for 2005. Michael Pryor and I also have a Quentaris picture book due in 2004. Many Thanks, Paul Relevant Links Paul Collins Main Bibliography Paul Collins's Website