Cameron Nunn

My latest book is Shadows in the Mirror

It’s about bullying but it’s also about standing up for what you know is right even if it costs you personally. It’s about being true to yourself.

The best thing about being a writer is having other people enjoy what you’ve written. Everyone writes for an audience (even if it’s just yourself). To know that you gave someone pleasure is a fantastic buzz.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a frustrated teacher who wanted to be a writer. Funny, that’s what I’ve been most of my life.

My first published work was Unreal Books for Real Kids which was a collection of book reviews for English teachers. It sounds about as exciting as it was.

Morning person or night-owl? So much the night owl. Nearly everything I write takes place between 10pm and 1 am.

My first real job was working in a bank and it was the worst job I have ever done. I couldn’t wait to leave and I suspect the feeling might have been mutual.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be ‘Boys and reading’. I wasn’t a reader at school and didn’t really even begin to like books until the very end of school. We didn’t have many books in the house, so like most guys, I just never got round to reading anything, including the stuff we were supposed to read at school. It was only when I started reading books for my HSC that I suddenly realised how much I enjoyed reading. From that, I went on to become an English teacher and do a Masters Degree in understanding boys and literacy.

My last holiday was at the beach at Port Macquarie. Like most Australians we have our favourite place and do the pilgrimage thing every Christmas. I love travelling to other countries but nothing beats just bumming around on the beach in Australia.

My perfect Saturday is sleeping in, reading the paper, finding out that my son has mown the lawn without being asked and just hanging out with my family (without arguments about homework).

The last CD I bought was too embarrassing to name but it involved a compilation of 1970’s music at a bargain price. My taste in music never got past my High School years. Sadly, I’ve trapped my son in the same musical time-warp.

I’m currently reading The Story of Tom Brennan and have a pile of other Young Adult fiction that is waiting for the first break. I try and keep in touch with the books that my students could be reading so that I can recommend and talk to them about books.

Big Brother or Australian Idol? Blah.

Favourite film/tv show is Dead Poet’s Society

My favourite book is A.S. Byatt’s Possession. If ever a modern text was to become a classic it is this book. Favourite kids book is Goodnight Mr Tom. At heart I’m a big sook.

The book character I would most like to meet is Aslan. I didn’t grow up as a reader, so I only discovered a lot of these books when I became a teacher and then a Dad. I began reading to my kids and fell in love with many of the characters in children’s literature.

The book character I would least like to meet is Smaug

The worst thing I’ve ever written is always the thing that seemed brilliant at 1am. It’s only when you read it the next day that you realise that a lack of sleep often corresponds with an equal lack of literary judgement.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a teacher. Teachers can have the most powerful effect on children; either good or bad. I wanted to share something of the passion for learning in the way that my best teachers had done with me. I don’t think I ever thought I’d be an English teacher until Year 12.

My heroes are people who stand up for what they believe in. As a Christian I am moved by those who see need in the world and do something about it. They’re not the high profile people who make the headlines. They’re just ordinary people with enormous compassion and a faith that empowers them to be willing to make a difference in the lives of others. In our church we have a young couple that regularly go over to China to run camps for abandoned children with physical and intellectual disabilities. They raise the money themselves so that these kids can know love and kindness. We have another couple of women who send 4000 Christmas presents to orphans in Sri Lanka and each present is chosen with an individual child and with an individual card. These are the people who are my heroes. These and thousands like them are the real heroes of this world.