PAUL V. WALTERS
- Guest Author -
G'day folks,
Welcome to an interview conducted with another lucky author who lives in Bali.
Welcome, Paul ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT
YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
I have technically
been a writer for all of my working life. I found out early that I had an
ability to write clever headlines and body copy for ads. Thus I spent most of
my life writing copy and being a creative director.
2.
WERE YOU A GOOD READER
AS A KID?
I devoured books….
still do
3.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU
BECOME A TRAVEL WRITER? WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
After I had sold my
advertising agency I de- camped to Bali in Indonesia to write a book. That done
I thought what now? A magazine in Jakarta approached me to write a piece and
suddenly things snowballed. I now contribute to a stable of about a dozen
international publications on all things travel and a bit of humorous vox pop
4.
WHAT PLACES HAVE YOU
WRITTEN ABOUT?
I have covered several
destinations in Africa, SE Asia, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand as well
as tons of stories from the more remote islands of Indonesia
5.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST
ABOUT BEING A JOURNALIST?
A bit like advertising,
every day is different and the subject matter changes like the wind.
Also I have the
luxury of being able to pick and choose my assignments for which I am blessed.
6.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST
THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Sometimes inspiration
disappears over the horizon and the words on the page often tear and strain to
rhyme. I hate it when I write a piece and think…that’s garbage, especially when
right up against deadline.
7.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A
PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
Oh nice leading
question!!! Gosh, …a king, a wandering minstrel, poet or perhaps a Roman
senator… however I was probably some downtrodden slave.
8.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
I guess writing the
first book (Final Diagnosis) then turning that book into a trilogy. After a
slow start, suddenly the books gained traction and now they sell well.
9.
HAVE YOU BROKEN ANY
BIG STORIES?
I have launched major
products but as to breaking a ‘news ‘ story. No
10. DO YOU ENJOY WRITING / REPORTING FOR
A MEDIA CORPORATION?
Again, a leading
question, these days, as the print media seem to be on its knees and downsizing
each day quality journalists and feature writers are let go then re- hired as
freelancers and paid a pittance to churn out 1000 – 2000 word pieces.
11. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE TOPICS /
PLACES TO COVER?
I Love writing about
Indonesia as for me its one of the most diverse cultures on the planet. However
having spent a lot of time in Africa, that continent provides material in
spades!
I really love doing
‘tongue in cheek’ pieces, which take a humorous slant on every day situations.
12. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN
WRITING?
Sometimes it simply
just ‘clicks’ There is nothing more pleasurable than reading a paragraph you
have written and saying something like,“ That’s a delicious sentence!”
13. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND
WHY?
That’s a hard one!
Gosh there are so many and I read right across the genre spectrum. Dickens
however is right up there along with a bunch of other ‘classic’ novelists.
14. DO YOU WORK AS PART OF A TEAM,
FREELANCE OR BOTH?
When writing books I
guess my editor becomes part of a two- man/ woman team. However on the whole I
work alone except when on assignment with a photographer when I will write
around the images that he/she provides.
15. WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU
EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
Couldn’t put it down!
16. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A
READER?
What a load of crap!
17. WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY
THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU BY THE STORIES YOU COVER?
Without
question! I travel extensively and keep
a daily journal scribbling down all I see and hear. I ‘steal’ people and have
become a master thief!!
18. HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?
I have won numerous
advertising awards in several countries.
19. WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Actually, I know it
sounds blasé, but not much after all it’s advertising is it not?
20. ANY OVERSEAS WORK? WHERE?
I have three projects
coming up. A motorcycle journey up and down Sumatra, an overland trip through
Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as a story on the Hornbill festival in
North East India.
21. OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU
LOVE?
Beer!!
I also love watching my two daughters forge
their careers in the tough industries they have chosen. I also have a wife who
continues to astound me with the work she does in her academic field. Oh and I
am a passionate rugby watcher.
22. IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
“BE NICE!”
23. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Well, I do live in
Bali, for which I am blessed. I live by the beach on an island that Nehru once
described as, “ the morning of the world.” So every day is pretty much perfect.
24. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS / ASPIRATIONS FOR
THE FUTURE?
I have broken away
from my usual genre and now am at the tail end of a book of short stories,
which I find hard. I aspire to write a book a year.
25. DO YOU THINK PRINT NEWSPAPERS ARE
SERIOUSLY CHALLENGED BY THE INTERNET? HOW?
The Internet
seriously challenges newspapers. We now live in 24-hour news cycle days and
there is no ways the print media can do that. However I do think quality journalism
is getting harder to find
26. WHO OR WHAT HAS INFLUENCED YOU IN
YOUR WORK?
My peers
27. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The planet
28. DO YOU TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS TOO?
I do. I often (when
not on assignment with a photographer) supply the pics to accompany the story.
I’m not the greatest of photographers however the quality of cameras today
certainly helps.
29. WHAT WOULD BE THE LAST SENTENCE
YOU’D WRITE?
“ IS THAT IT?”
30. ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE
HAVE COVERED OFF MOST THINGS HOWEVER; FEEL FREE TO READ MY BOOKS!!!!
Clancy's comment: Thank you. I'm very envious, Paul. Bali is a beautiful place,especially for a photographer. Hope to meet you there and enjoy some beer.
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