I’d always had difficulty writing a novel beyond 40,000 words because that was how long it typically took to get the idea out of my head and onto paper. Knowing that I had to write a story of at least 70,000 words to enter the Hachette Richell Prize competition, I decided I needed to combine a few stories to make the word count. This created a wonderful challenge as I pulled the stories together.

Writing Alone with the Tasman Tiger allowed me to combine three story ideas that were each compelling in their own right. First was my fascination with the Alone TV series showing on SBS in Australia, where competitors are dropped in the bush and have to build a shelter, find food and manage the inevitable loneliness that will come.

I had been particularly enthralled by the Australian edition of Alone set in Tasmania and by one of the winners, Gina Chick who had a strong affinity with the bush.

The second interest, driving Alone, was that of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

It’s a grueling offshore race that can take from 50 to 100 hours and where a crew has to work closely together as they battle the high winds and strong waves from Sydney Harbor to Constitution Dock. I was interested in knowing what that experience was like and read a number of sailing books prior to writing Alone.

And my third interest came from my love of thrillers like Stranded by Sarah Goodwin, Outback by Patricia Wolf and Furious: Sailing into Terror by Jeffrey James Higgins James. I’ve also enjoyed reading the James Bond stories by Ian Fleming although I think the leading character James Bond, is tired, misogynist and well past his use-by date. I’ve reinvented the concept with two feisty female sleuths; Galina Ivanov and Charlotte Harmon.

I’ve also been intrigued by all the chatter about microwave technologies used as a weapon and the resulting Havana Syndrome, an illness affecting diplomats, intelligence officers and military personnel around the world. So there’s a nod to this devastating technology and a need for our sleuths to outsmart the Russian spies.

I relish reading books that draw you in quickly, continue with the fast pace and have twists and reveals up until the last chapter. I’d love to know if readers thing I have achieve this in Alone.

Alone with a Tasman Tiger is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. I’ll let you know in September if I’m long-listed for the Hachette Richell prize.

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