Good morning all those out there in computer land! It's time for another chat with Sarah. This time I had a talk with Greg Kater author of Skills of the Warramunga (among other books) which was book of the month for October 2019. We've already chatted about The Warramunga's War, book of the month in February 2019. To view that interview, click here.
To view the official review for Skills of the Warramunga, click here.
To view the book on Amazon, click here.
To view the book of the month discussion, click here.
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1. In our first interview, you stated you were Australian but that you had worked in the US. From what you've seen of it, how do the two countries compare?
Australia and the USA have a lot more similarities than differences. Rule of law, freedom of speech, shared technologies, large landmass, shared global interests. These are the important things. There are also trivial differences. In some American towns I found it difficult to find a meal that didn’t have a bun wrapped around it. I have many American friends.
2. When you are writing, what does your daily routine look like?
My daily routine differs depending on what is happening in the family around me. Extensive research is important when writing historical fiction. After completing the necessary research, I try to complete about 500 words or more a day. It gives me time to think and correct what I have written.
3. Who or what has been the biggest influence on you as a person? As a writer?
As a person, I would have to say my wife and family have the biggest influence on me. As a writer, definitely my own experiences during my career in the resources industries around the world.
4. Let's talk about your book, Skills of the Warramunga. This is the third book in the trilogy, and it's set in Malaya. For those that don't know, can you tell us about the country?
The Malay Peninsula (old Malaya) is part of what is now the nation of Malaysia. It is one of the major countries of South East Asia. Having previously been a British colony, its parliament operates as a democracy under the Westminster system. It has a strong rule of law and a friendly multicultural population. A large proportion of the population speak English as well as Malay.
5. Did you actually get a chance to visit Malaya? If not, how did you make sure that the places were accurate?
I visited and worked in Malaysia several times throughout my career and travelled to most parts of the country. Many of the characters in my book (the good guys) are based on my close Malaysian friends. I used to speak a little Malay but have forgotten most of it now.
6. @Cecilia_L, the reviewer for this book, states that the dialects were written authentically. How difficult was it to make sure that the reader could hear these?
I am familiar with many dialects throughout South East Asia and amongst aboriginal groups in northern Australia. In my book, I have attempted to keep the written dialects as simple as possible so that readers can understand what is being said.
7. In our previous interview, you state that some of the characters are based on people you've known. Can you elaborate on that a bit?
In all my books, most of my characters are based on people I have befriended and/or have worked with over my long career in different parts of the world. This is part of the joy of writing, recalling all the interesting and funny things that occurred with colleagues during work in the field.
8. Being the third book in the series, was this book easier to write or harder to write than the other two? Why?
It was definitely easier to write than the first two books. I was more experienced in conducting research and in actual writing. All my books in this series take place in locations where I have visited or worked in. In the earlier books I had already established the principal characters and the period (1940’s).
9. Since we've last spoken, Conflict on the Yangtze should have been released. Surely that's not all from you, though?
No. I have, however, taken a break from the post-war adventures of Jamie Munro and Jack O’Brien and have started to write a book set in a completely different era. Around the 1840’s. It is based to a certain extent on the diaries of some of my own ancestors who migrated to Australia during that period. It is taking longer than my last couple of books as, apart from the diaries, I have had to start my historical research from scratch.
I may get back to my favourite 1940’s characters after the completion of this 5th novel.
10. @Kansas City Teacher would like to know: The bio on you indicates you were in the Australian mining business but does not say you have military experience. Your books are filled with details of the Philippines, and they are quite visual. How did you gather all that information on the culture?
I was born the day before the Second World War started so I was a bit young for that. My father fought in the Middle East and New Guinea during that war. My only military involvement has been in the Cadets and National Service.
In regard to the Philippines, I was Vice President and General Manager of a substantial mining company in the Philippines during the 1970’s. Throughout that time, I employed many Filipinos and visited almost every island in the Philippines (of which there are thousands). I was fluent in Tagalog and Cebuano, but I’m a bit rusty on those languages now. I have a lot of Filipino friends.
the very Good, speech...
