Anthony Eaton

My latest book is Nathan Nuttboard: Family Matters. Due out in May.

It’s about  … it’s a tragic tale based loosely on my experiences sitting next to a somewhat insane Scottish grandfather during a 12 hour intercontinental flight.

The best thing about being a writer is working my own hours. For myself. And being able to go to the shops in the middle of the day. The travel can be fun, too, but being away from home and loved ones soon takes a lot of the shine off it…

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be bored. Or possibly surfing.

My first published work was bad English. A homework assignment written in eight minutes for one of my little brother’s friends during his final year of high school, which went on to receive an A and get published in the school annual. Other than that, The Darkness published by UQP in 2000

Morning person or night-owl? As a general rule, I’m a morning person. Seven years of getting up at 0430, summer and winter, to go and row an unstable boat up and down the Swan river kinda got me used to being up early. I do my best writing before midday, too, though nowadays I’m not averse to getting up and writing in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. (though technically, it’s really early morning, so I guess it’s a moot point…)

My first job was as a sales assistant in a gift shop for the three weeks before Christmas. I was eventually fired because my wrapping skills weren’t up to scratch.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be the life and collected works of Anthony Eaton.

My last holiday was … Hmmm… probably my honeymoon a year ago. Though my annual PhD report was due the following week, so I spent a good chunk of it sitting at a computer. I got to travel to Antarctica last Christmas, but I was working, so technically, that wasn’t a holiday. No, really…

My perfect Saturday is generally between Friday and Sunday, though this isn’t a hard and fast rule.

The last CD I bought was Eric Bibb: Spirit and the Blues. Some very laid-back gospel rhythms from the south. Also bought Eminem’s Encore at the same time, but it’s not on nearly as high rotation.

I’m currently reading … Just finished Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (A present from Markus Zusak) and now re-reading Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card for about the fiftieth time. Also on my bedside table at the moment in various stages of digestion are Patternmaster by Octavia Butler (may she rest in peace) and The Butterfly Man by Heather Rose. Yes – I’m a reader of multiple books simultaneously. (and, I should add, slowly…)

Big Brother or Australian Idol? I’m told they’re both reality TV shows on Channel 10 on Sunday evenings. I’m not prepared to admit any more than that publicly, though…

Favourite film/tv show is Firefly; Joss Whedon’s brilliant space western, sadly undermined by Fox studios.

My favourite book is probably Ian McEwen’s Atonement, but in all honesty it’s a long list, and changes regularly depending on my mood. (See: also Ender’s Game answer above…) the list in question would also include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Catch-22, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Book Thief, The Northern Lights Trilogy, most of Asimov, Shaw, Wilde and a lot of others…

The book character I would most like to meet is ... Uhm… Don’t really have one. Lack of imagination on my part, I guess. If pushed, I’d have to say Zaphod Beeblebrox would be up there, along with Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes. I loved the character of Death in Markus’ The Book Thief, but will quite happily wait as long as possible before that particular meeting.

The book character I would least like to meet is anyone from any of the Lord of the Rings books. (oh, I can feel the indignation building already…)

The worst thing I’ve ever written is probably, in many people’s opinions, my answer to the previous question.

When I was growing up I wanted to be taller.

My heroes are Roald Dahl, Harper Lee, Lance Armstrong, Nelson Mandela. Also quote fond of whoever invented coffee…