CURRENT MISSION

See as much of the world as I can, and meet as many people as I can.

ABOUT ME

My next big plan is to organise a world trip based on the better David Attenborough documentaries.

I'm a professional writer, living most of the time in Melbourne, Australia. My father was a drover's cook and stockman, my mother was born in a mining town and most of our holiday time was spent on cattle stations. So I had a fairly cliched Australian upbringing.

Now I write urban fantasy novels for Random House in New York, and Penguin Books in Australia. I travel as much as I can, and nothing makes me feel more alive than touching down in a new place.

I've worked as an actor, a motion-capture model for videogames, and in the Crime Management Unit of the Queensland Police Service. I've worked in police property rooms, I've cut up chicken beneath kebab joints, and I almost wound up trapped working for the Yakuza in an all-gay bowling alley in Kyoto back in the early Nineties. I live in Australia's most European city, and most of my family now lives in the jungle.

I remain grateful for every chance I get to see a new place, and meet new people.

PHILOSOPHY

My personal philosophy is that there's good in most people, and that most people can be understood once you see the world through their eyes. Which means I have a lot of time for people - but that doesn't mean I allow myself to be taken advantage of. Just because I understand a person doesn't give them the keys to the kingdom.

While I also believe there's a time to play things safe, I often ask myself what I'm more likely to remember on my death-bed: having played it safe, or the outcome of having taken a risk?

Life is short. So I respect mine, and I respect others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment my contribution consists of being the best possible guest I can. If I can leave a host with more than they had when I arrived (be it with a full belly or a good story or a new joke or a souvenir and/or a new friend) then I think it was a successful stay.

I hope to be in a position to host surfers in the future, but currently live in a sharehouse in Melbourne which is packed with people.

Interests

My interests include: theatre, out of the way places, urban decay, follies, literature, film, travel (obviously), meeting new people, comedy, ideas, desire, love, adventure, differing points-of-view, differing philosophies, music, the unexpected, the paranormal... the list goes on.

• writing
• books
• literature
• singing
• documentaries
• acting
• cooking
• modeling
• traveling
• music
• bowling
• emergency services

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've sung a torch song to a crowd of 1000 people on a thin catwalk 30 feet above a stage with a spotlight in my eyes, and got riotous applause for it. That was a while ago. (It also took 3 months of rehearsal - otherwise my singing voice scares buzzards.)

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm very skilled with English, and very skilled with the shaping and telling of a story. I can talk about these things at length (especially the latter.) I've been told I should give classes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Finland, Germany, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia

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