An Interview With Brian Robertson

Hi all!

As mentioned on my Facebook page I will, over the coming weeks and months, be regularly conducting interviews with some talented local Authors and Creative People. Today’s interview is with the gifted and charming Brian Robertson!

I have had the good fortune of meeting Brian and have found him to be a kind and witty gentleman and a wonderful writer.

Here is Brian’s interview.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you.

I was born and lived in NE Scotland. Been a Soldier with the Gordon Highlanders; Farmer; Science Teacher; Curriculum Developer in Scotland; Southern Africa; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; Australia Northern Territory; and in brief consultancies in Queensland. I started writing after retiring to Brisbane in 1998. Find out more at https://booksbybrian.com.au/about-brian or here https://agordonforme.com

When did you discover your penchant for writing?

I’ve been writing curriculum for most of my career but real books only since retiring. I was persuaded to write my first book by a Pearson Education Australia salesman. It was Organising School Agriculture, just as I retired.

What do you like to write about and why?

Most enjoyment comes from writing comedy I think, but it is very difficult. I wrote Riotous Retirement which is funny in places–I think! I also enjoy researching and writing military history. Memoir I also enjoy.

Where do you derive your inspiration from?

I don’t know. I just enjoy it and I am always well behind in achieving what I know I will write next. If anything it is probably years that I’m short of not inspiration.

How does writing make you feel?

Satisfied when I get each little bit kinda complete.

Who is your favourite Author and why?

I enjoy just about anything and I research a great deal so it is a long time since I read a book. If I have to name one or let’s say two authors then let them be Tom Sharpe and Bill Bryson. They can both write some funny stuff.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t worry about trying to stick to the one genre—just enjoy what you write.

Do you have any other artistic/creative interests/talents?

I used to be a bit of a handy man but I’m too old for ladders, chisels and even screw drivers now!

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Military history is what I research these days. I start writing as soon as I start the research and then re-write and re-write and re-write again and again

What is your favourite piece of writing that you have written?

Usually it is just what I have written. If it’s not then I try to find out what’s wrong with it and re-write it.

Website:. I have the following sites all under http://www.booksbybrian.com.au

http://warstory.com.au

http://pngschoolbooks.com

http://riotousretirement.com and http://agordonforme.com

Thank you Brian!