FAQ's
Why did you write BBG?
I wrote this novel because I was inspired by a group of young people – my students at Miles SHS. During 2006, in preparation for a Rock Eisteddfod Challenge production The Love Letter from Z Beach, I came across a soldier on the AWM website, Pte Thomas Bush, a soldier previously unknown to locals. The production ended up being a tribute to his Gurulmundi enlistment and ultimate sacrifice.
During the 2006 production, I found out that young Australians, if given the opportunity, easily embrace the ANZAC spirit with passion and gusto. I saw it first hand. It was amazing. This gave me a burning desire to promote learning about our military history, especially in regards to our ‘foundation myth’, Gallipoli. I did this by way of a story. I would recommend delving deeply into the websites I used if you have relatives who served. It’s extremely rewarding.
Do you have anyone you’d like to thank?
I tapped the actual keys to write this novel, but there were many who assisted from May 07 through to January 08. Thanks…Gina for being my very first editor, for helping with research, for 10 years of bliss and constant encouragement, Fletch, for being my little helper and giggling at the funny cursor, Mum and Dad for remaining excited, proofreading and providing information about WWII and the shearing game, inlaws Ken and Judy for regular encouragement and assistance with proofreading and formatting. Family members for love and support. All at Watson Ferguson & Co for professional guidance from Day 1. Roma author, John Gilfoyle for advice on the world of self-publishing. Sarah Christoffel for proofreading and advice. Zoe Worth for proofreading and ‘that idea’. Harry Paterson for proofreading, especially military passages. Dr Geoff Findlay for medical advice. Ian Grambower for advice on the Bulldog’s song. Warren and Jacki Coffin for providing editing-friendly New Zealand coffee.
I would also like to thank…Sarah Davis for permission to use the Converse shoe photo. Veronica Allwood and Ryan McGrath for permission to use the photo of them. Front cover, top right cover photo by WinkiPoP Media www.winkipopmedia.com.au. Carly Walker Graphic Design for the novel’s cover design…and tolerating such fuss from your bossy former Art teacher. Doc Bell for setting up and designing my website www.wesleyirwin.com and for permission to use the concept of Terminal Earth.
A big thank you to Nick, Rebecca, Gail, Deborah, Tim, Alexandra, Simmone, JC, Ursula, Cormac, Kurt, Steven, Andrew, Kate, Peter, Ian and Khaled for nightly inspiration. Special thanks to Rebecca Sparrow for early words of encouragement.
Also, thanks to the many people across the shires of the Western Downs for offering encouraging words during the writing process.
Are any of the characters in your novel based on people you know?
I have often read that a person’s first novel is their most auto-biographical and I’d suggest this could be the case. Some might believe that there is a little bit of my Mum and Dad in Clarrie and Phyllis. They’d be right to an extent…but only snippets. Eg. My Dad loves a good yarn and my Mum has such a gentle soul, just like the characters in the book. Characters like Alf, Oll, JD, Clover and Randall – all in Year 10 with Buster – have definitely been inspired by friends and acquaintances I knew during my teenage years. When you teach teenagers for over a decade, you take an awful lot of mental notes…I can assure you! BBG was my chance to blend and retell the stories that have been a big part of my life.
And what about the plot…anything taken from your life…and slotted straight into the novel?
There are an awful lot of scenes / happenings in BBG that I have either seen, heard about or experienced. Examples: the recollection of Tooj and Moth, parts of the cricket game, the anthem, the MelonFest, the dingo drive, shearing time, road trips, Diddles the doll, going to Sandy Bend and of course, finding a soldier’s life and sacrifice on the Internet.
What are your plans for the next few years, in terms of writing?
I have many ideas. I would like to write a sequel to BBG…I have the basic premise and title in my head. I found the process of writing exhilarating. Also, the research phases were most rewarding. It is quite bizarre to place yourself – almost 100% - into another world. Whilst writing the football game sequence…I received a phonecall from a mate. I found it very hard to come back to reality…it took about a minute to snap out of the world of the story of BBG. Also, one day, I’d like to go to Gallipoli, be Mayor of the newly formed Chinchilla Shire and be the captain of the Australian cricket team.
Favourite authors? Novels?
Before and during the writing process, I read A LOT of novels and texts about writing. For the latter, the best was Story by Robert McKee – brilliant!
I enjoyed reading Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow early on, then Simmone Howell and JC Burke. Recently, I’ve been reading some well-awarded adult fiction including The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. My favourite books have been Monica Bloom by Nick Earls, Careless by Deborah Robertson, Dreams of Speaking by Gail Jones, The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Dirt Music by Tim Winton.
Why did you self-publish BBG?
I wanted BBG to have a life in my region first. It’s a local story that is supposed to strike a chord with rural people. Hopefully, down the track, a wider readership will take on BBG…and realise that not all rural people listen to Slim, wear Akubras 24/7, drink Bundy rum and XXXX and have baked dinners every meal.
Any other reasons why you wrote BBG?
I really don’t think there are that many great novels out there for boys. As a teacher, I noticed boys really only responded to The Outsiders and John Marsden’s Tomorrow series. Hopefully, BBG will resonate with boys – it features war, cricket, footy, chicks, utes…what’s not to like? The idea is that many boys will be able to see windows to themselves in the male characters in the book. Too many times in popular culture, the stories of rural people are told by city writers. I think rural Australians have so many stories to tell. I think every Aussie has a rural soul deep down there somewhere, a connection like an affinity for space or the language of the battler etc.