Barry Jonsberg

My latest book is called Dreamrider

It’s about a boy who is bullied at school, but has an amazing power to move into a safe world where others can't harm him. But that power and that world come at a price...

The best thing about being a writer is creating worlds that anyone can visit. I'm always thrilled when someone tells me they've read a book of mine and really enjoyed it. It's a terrific buzz to know that I can touch total strangers.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a bit miserable, I suppose. I was an English teacher for many years, so if I wasn't writing, I'd be in a classroom somewhere talking about other people's books. I loved doing that, but I love writing my own even more.

My first published work was The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull. I was ecstatic when I knew it was going to be published. Now, it's been released in the USA, the UK and is coming out soon in France, Germany and Poland. Is that just fantastic, or what?

Morning person or night-owl? Definitely a morning person. Maybe it's got something to do with getting older, but I'm up before six most mornings. I see my wife Nita off to work [she deals with adolescents while I write about them!] and try to be writing by eight a.m. I get to bed early, though if Liverpool Soccer club is playing I feel duty-bound to stay up until three or four in the morning and cheer them on from a distance. Judging by their results recently, it seems to be working.

My first job was as a petrol pump attendant. This was in the days when you didn't have to put in your own petrol, but got a low paid idiot like me to do it for you. I think I earned about fifty cents an hour and blew it all on wine, women and macrame materials.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be the Ashes tour of 2005. I think I watched nearly every ball and aged about twenty years in the process. I can't really afford to do that.

My last holiday was in Tasmania. What a gorgeous place! Very very cold, though. Mind you, I live in Darwin so nearly everywhere is cold in comparison.

My perfect Saturday is taking the dogs for a walk on the beach with Nita, maybe having a full cooked breakfast overlooking the Timor Sea, reading the paper, opening a good bottle of wine, watching a DVD and reading a good book in bed.

The last CD I bought was... I can't remember! And it would probably be embarrassing to recall it, anyway. I only listen to music when I'm writing and even then I'm not aware what it is. It's just to block out the world while I focus on what's in my head. The last DVD I bought was The Green Mile, starring Tom Hanks and based on a Stephen King book. I like buying DVDs and I'm getting quite a collection.

I’m currently reading The King of Torts by John Grisham. Sometimes I'm really in the mood for a good thriller and Grisham knows how to dish up a page-turner. I read a lot, mainly fiction by many different writers and in many different genres.

Big Brother or Australian Idol? Oh, please! I'd sooner have my toenails ripped out with red-hot pliers than watch Big Brother. Australian Idol is good fun, though. I get caught up in it, despite my better judgement.

Favourite film/tv show is... Whew, this is tricky. I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, though there are so many good films out there. Same with tv shows. In the end, a good live English Premiership soccer game gives me the greatest pleasure. Just don't ask me for my favourite book!

My favourite book is... didn't I tell you not to ask me that? Okay, there are hundreds. But just to be accommodating, I'll say Titus Groan and Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake [you've got to read both]. I read them when I was about thirteen and they blew me away. I've probably read them ten times since.

The book character I would most like to meet is Hamlet. He wouldn't do a lot, but we could have some great conversations.

The book character I would least like to meet is Steerpike, from Titus Groan and Gormenghast. He is such an evil thing. Come to think of it, he'd probably be much more interesting than Hamlet.

The worst thing I’ve ever written is some shocking poetry when I was very young. I like writing poetry now, though, and even managed to sneak some into my last book, It's Not All About YOU, Calma! I hope I've got better.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a train driver. I had this notion it would be fascinating to sit in a chair and occasionally toot a horn. I'd still like to give it a go.

My heroes are people who do the unwanted jobs in society for little reward and no recognition.