The Lion and the Mouse by Poppy Gee

Who are the authors who have inspired you in how you conduct yourself as a professional writer? This is not so much the creative/writerly side of them (but could be) but how they navigate their career, and the publishing industry in general. What do they do that you find inspiring or interesting?

Many writers have helped me in different ways, big and small, over the years. 

March 2014: As a newly published debut author, I was having a rough night at the welcome drinks for the Beaconsfield Festival of Golden Words. It was in the Beaconsfield Mine Museum, which was also an art gallery, and I wandered around the artwork and mining exhibits, trying to find someone standing alone who I could talk to. For the life of me, I could not find a way to squeeze my way into a conversation. Eventually, I gave in to the social anxiety and scurried out to the carpark.

I waited in the dark for the bus which would take all the writers back to our accommodation at Grindelwald Resort. A man approached me. He was older than me, polite, gentlemanly and reserved. He said he was getting some air as he found it too intense inside. I joked and said, did you also not get the instructions on how to schmooze at an author event? We talked for a while, and when the bus came, we sat together. His name was Alex Miller, one of Australia’s most respected and successful writers. The next day, he attended my panel (he was coming anyway to hear Rohan Wilson speak about his debut The Roving Party). Afterward, Alex bought my book and asked me to sign it. The next day, he made the effort to find me to say that he had enjoyed the first few chapters. He described what he liked about (he’d definitely read it!) I’ve never forgotten his kindness. It’s something I always try to pay forward.

There are many other authors who have gone out of their way for me, reading my work, including me in their events, helping me with industry advice.

In 2020 I attended Back Room Authors online event as a reader. Hank Phillippi Ryan’s curiosity about everyone who attends led to me being invited back to be a featured author. Being on that panel alongside Stephen Mack-Jones, May Cobb and Jacquelyn Mitchard was a career highlight. Hank is a class act, she’s inclusive and genuinely excited for other authors. I also admire Karen Dionne. I like how she insists that we should write for the joy of it. When someone who has achieved as much as she has, says that, it’s validating. I especially liked meeting Stephen Mack Jones – as a professional author he conducts himself with humour, sincerity and elegance.

Eric Beetner is a person whose generous approach I admire. He invited me on his Writer Types podcast. This was really fun and another career highlight for me. Through social media, I observed Eric organising Noir and the Bar and it inspired me to do something similar here in Brisbane. Consequently, we held our sixth Crime Fiction Literary Dinner on Wednesday night. I copied Eric’s sentiment, which is to support crime fiction writers and provide a fun way for writers to catch up with each other. And that fact I writing this blog, is a testament to Eric's kindness - he invited me to join the all-star team!

 

Closer to home, I have the best group of writerly friends. Crime fiction writers who have gone out of their way to help me include Allie Reynolds, Joanna Jenkins, Dinuka McKenzie, Ben Hobson, Kylie Kaden, Michael Burge and more. From the elusive world of literary fiction my most helpful friends include Steve MinOn, Jo Skinner, Rohan Wilson, Nicole Melanson and Eleanor Limprecht.

I’ll always be grateful to the incredible writers who blurbed me – Lisa Unger, David Joy, Kali White, Jenny Milchman, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Meg Cabot. One day, maybe like how the mouse helps the lion escape the trap in the famous fable, I hope to pay them all back! If not, I'll pay it forward.

Lately, I am finding myself blurbing writers’ books, it’s an honour I never dreamed of!