Is there anything specifically Australian about your book? 

The story--like a lot of Steampunk stories--is set in Victorian London. To give it a more Australian feel, one of the main characters, Gladys, was made to be Australian. I think part of the fun of the story comes from the difference between her attitudes and those of her aristocratic friend, Charlie.

Who was your favorite character to write? 

Charlie's father, Lord Decharles, an aging technophobic admiral. Originally, he just had a walk-on part, berating his son. But I liked him so much, I brought him back to set up a plot point and little by little he took over a large part of the book. I just love the fellow, an ancient creaking relic who refuses to accept that he can't be an action hero.

Are you a plotter or a pantser or something inbetween? 

I've tried both styles. Champagne Charlie and the Amazing Gladys was written pantser style, but then I had to go back and trim away about a third of the original length because it went in too many different directions. But I've also got an unpublished MS that I carefully planned and when i finished writing it it was barely 50 000 words so i had to go back and de-simplify the plot. I'm trying to find a happy medium.

How much research is involved in your writing? 

Quite a lot. Obviously, Steampunk isn't serious historical fiction, but I still like to keep it grounded in the realities of nineteenth century life. The main plot is based on a Victorian era newspaper hoax, while the technology runs on actual obsolete scientific theories.

What's your favorite writing drink? 

Coffee. Next question?

What's the most useful writing advice you've been given?

Writing isn't all about sitting at the computer. Sometimes it's about reading, sometimes it's about talking, sometimes it's about staring out the window and letting your mind wander. Don't beat yourself up about word counts or minutes working.