I've been a professional wordsmith for more than 20 years, ghostwriting titles including the myth-busting Australian history book Black Snake: The Real Ned Kelly Story and the ‘ISIS bride’ saga A Father’s Plea.
As a journalist, I was for many years an online news juggler for the digital production team at The Age. I helped run the main news website, which involved feeding the insatiable online beast – preparing and packaging stories of all shapes and sizes, crafting compelling headlines and using analytics software to see what worked and what didn't.
Operating in tight spaces and under pressure doesn't bother me – I was regularly in charge of social media for The Age, which requires a steady head and hand, as well as a strong sense of timing and tone. As the newsroom's go-to guy on house style, I also worked closely with writers and designers to get the vital details and overall feel just right.
Before all that I did a five-year stint as contributing editor for The Big Issue Australia, working to make the organisation what it is today – a print-media success story with a social conscience. For seven years I also had the honour of dreaming up my own Big Issue column alongside the one and only Helen Razer.
It may be a contradiction in terms, but I consider myself a creative pedant. As a published author and illustrator, I have a strong visual sense, a natural affinity with artists, and am happy working alone or collaboratively.
Oh, and did I mention coffee?