Victor Kelleher

My latest book is The Magic Violin

It’s about a boy who hates having to learn to play the violin, and plays it really badly. Pretty soon, even the violin can’t stand the horrible noise he’s making, so it takes over and does the playing for him!

The best thing about being a writer is I can get up as late as I want in the mornings.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a Blues singer.

My first published work was an adult novel called Voices from the River. (My first YA novel was Forbidden Paths of Thual.)

Morning person or night-owl? To-whit-to-whoo!

My first job was working on the copper mines in central Africa.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be: the sad truth is, I don’t know enough about ANYTHING to do well on a quiz show. So I suppose my special subject would have to be: All-the-possible-reasons-why-I-should-never-appear-on-quiz-shows.

My last holiday was spent hiking in the Warrumbungle National Park in NSW – a magical place.

My perfect Saturday is spent trying to chase the bandicoots off my property. (That’s all I EVER seem to do on Saturdays. I love the little devils, but they’re digging up my garden!)

The last CD I bought was: I bought two together: 1) The Sermon, by the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama; and 2) Just as I am, by Guy Sebastion. (I don’t much like many of the songs on this, but I love his style of singing.)

I’m currently reading The Orchid Thief, by Susan Orlean. (It’s teaching me amazing things about orchids!)

Big Brother or Australian Idol? – I find Big Brother really boring, and nod off if I try to watch it; but I’m quite a fan of Australian Idol – I really enjoy the drama of watching gifted young singers having to perform under pressure. 

Favourite film/tv show is: Favourite film, Blade Runner; currently, my favourite TV show is probably Spicks and Specks.

My favourite book is Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. (Favourite kids’ book is probably Russell Hoban’s The Mouse and his Child, followed closely by Alan Garner’s The Owl Service.)

The book character I would most like to meet is Mr Boffin in Charles Dickens’ novel,Our Mutual Friend. (Mr Boffin is a lot like my granddad, and it would be great talking to him again.)

The book character I would least like to meet is Dracula. Especially on a dark and stormy night!

The worst thing I’ve ever written is a love letter to a girlfriend when I was fifteen. (I made the mistake of writing it late at night, something you should NEVER do with love letters. They always sound awful in the cold light of day.)

When I was growing up I wanted to be a Canadian lumberjack. (I can’t imagine why. I hate cold climates.)

My heroes are currently, my heroes include Socrates, John Stuart Mill, and Mahatma Ghandi. But when I was a kid, I absolutely adored a gorilla in London Zoo called Guy. For years he was my all-time hero. I’d have made him Prime Minister if I could. (Come to think of it, that’s not such a bad idea!)