I've wanted to be a writer since the age of 11 and was always a voracious reader. However, there was no one to tell me what I should read so I have to admit I read a lot of rubbish. Since we didn't have access to many children's books, my sisters and I read mostly adult books. We loved Dennis Wheatley (the nearest thing to Stephen King in those days) but I've no idea what I'd think of his books today. One thing I do remember about children's books (Enid Blyton included) is wondering why I had to read two-thirds (sometimes three-quarters) of the book before something exciting happened. This memory definitely influences my work now. Another major influence on my work was probably the trouble I had in the mid-eighties trying to find books for a fantasy-mad 11-year-old boy. Matthew WANTED wizards and magic. I could find only two series in those days. He'd already been through the Narnia books, the only fantasy consistently in print at the time. 

Silvranja of the Silver Forest from my Lazaronia series was shortlisted in the TOM FITZGIBBON MEMORIAL AWARD 1998.
This award is for a novel by a previously unpublished New Zealand children's writer. The prize is $1,500 and publication by Scholastic New Zealand

My second attempt at short story writing, The Little Dragon Without Fire, won the Turangi Ripping Good Read SF/Fantasy award in 1997. This is now under contract with DiskUs Publishing

My first Internet-published story, A Country Appointment (a romance) landed up at No. 33 in the Preditors and Editors voting poll in 1999 and also put me at No. 40 on the authors list. Yes, I know, bottom of the list; but it was my first time in the P&E poll. In 2000 I reached No. 31 and my book The Obsidian Quest also reached No. 31, while my short story Old Grumpy was at No. 19.

The Obsidian Quest reached the finals in the YA category of the Dream Realm Awards, 2001.