Writers on Wednesday: Brian Kavanagh

Welcome back to Writers on Wednesday. This week I am chatting with Australian author, Brian Kavanagh ...



Tell me a bit about yourself …

I’m what is known as ‘retired’ but in fact, seem to be busier than ever. I was a film maker, that being sometimes one of the following; producer, director, editor, writer and dogsbody. This was all in the Australian film industry, which up until the 1970’s had been moribund. A group of local filmmakers agitated for the Government to be supportive of the industry; our request was acknowledged and finally there was recognition for local films. So my background has been story telling in a visual form. About ten years ago work began to dry up and to fill in time until the telephone rang – it didn’t – I began to write and decided that mystery books were among my favourites, so it seemed natural to begin to write them.

Tell us about your most recently published book?

A WICKED DESIGN follows the central character in my mystery series, Belinda Lawrence, back from Europe to her home town of Melbourne, Australia. Naturally, in the tradition of mystery series, she stumbles across a crime, which in turn leads to an adventure involving unscrupulous historical facts about political life in Melbourne, and the current atmosphere surrounding the debate on Republicism verses Monarchy.

Tell us about the first time you were published?

As I said, I started writing while waiting for work. It was through the foresight of Meredith Whitford at the then Jacobite Books in Adelaide, that the first two books in my series were published. Meredith could see the potential, which others didn’t, and so I am grateful to her for offering to publish. 

As writer, what has been your proudest achievement so far?

I would have to say, when after publishing the first book CAPABLE OF MURDER over ten years ago, to see it reach #1 Best Selling Women Sleuths on Amazon Australia Kindle. It stayed in that position for about six weeks and in fact, at one point, four of my books were in the top 8 Best Sellers (July 2014) including A CANTERBURY CRIME, BLOODY HAM, A WICKED DESIGN.

What books or writing projects are you currently working on, if anything?

I’m currently writing the sixth book in my Belinda Lawrence mystery series. With the working title of MURDER ON THE ISLAND it takes Belinda back to Europe and centres around an historical event. Historical happenings or items of historical importance are at the core of each mystery, but they are in contemporary settings and locations. I have another book in development THE PASSING BELL, which is not a mystery but a story of isolation and misunderstanding between siblings.

Which do you prefer? eBooks or Paper Books? Why?

Both have their place and value. I tend to read contemporary fiction as eBooks and prefer Paper for classics and non-fiction.

Indie Publishing, or Traditional Publishing?

As I had no success with traditional publishers, Indie was a successful outlet for my books. I believe there is a shortage of entrepreneurs these days in publishing (and in the film industry) whereby publishers are driven by their own tastes rather than assessing the value of a book, realising the market for it and acting upon it. That of course is their loss, but it means that many writers are forced into Indie publishing, sometimes to their advantage.

Aside from your own books, of course, what is one book that you feel everybody should read?

Difficult call. I think Watcher On A Cast Iron Balcony by Hal Porter (indeed all of his books) is a book Australians (and others) should seek out.

Finally … is there anything you would like to say to your readers in Adelaide, Australia?

I have fond memories of my time in Adelaide when the South Australian Film Corporation was set up by Don Dunstan. I spent a year there as Script editor, and Producer of pilot episodes for children’s TV series. I know we have a tendency to be mock critical of each other’s capital cities, but each city has its own personality and as Australians we should celebrate those differences.

Links


Paperback and eBooks;
AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/k2bkpzs
AMAZON AU: http://tinyurl.com/ktb53tp
AMAZON UK: http://tinyurl.com/lb3m7n3
Book Depository:  http://tinyurl.com/pjlaacp
http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/capableofmurder/
You don't need to own a Kindle device to enjoy my Kindle books. Download one of the #‎free‬ Kindle apps to start reading Kindle books on all your devices. Click here to download your free Kindle reading app: http://amzn.to/19P96Gn

AUTHOR SITE: http:beekayvic.tripod.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/brian.kavanagh.71

CV: http://filmmaker2.webs.com/

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