The journey

I will be forever grateful for the irresponsibility that saw me spend a number of years skindiving in the clear waters off Cape Town and drinking beer with my friends while watching the sun set over Clifton Beach. As a result, instead of graduating to building things of concrete, I have spent my life in the world of words.

I have worked as a photographer, sports reporter, news journalist, news editor, magazine editor, publications manager and in public relations – and in my spare time experience the joy and agony of writing fiction.

Highlights include working for anti-apartheid newspaper editor Donald Woods at the height of South Africa’s apartheid era and working as Publications Manager for Amnesty International Australia and editing their former flagship publication The Human Rights Defender magazine

The Pawn grew out of the years living under apartheid but only reached maturity in 1989 when it won third prize in Australia’s most lucrative fiction competition and was published by Random House. The tax-man took half of the $5 k prize money but it was still an all-time high.

Shadow by my Side followed after I decided working full time in management really sucked. It was published by Zeus in 2008.

The idea for Gavel was sparked by events which took place in Australia in the ‘90s – but which I realised make compelling fiction for today’s world.

With The Seventh Vial I moved to a world stage and the terrifying prospect of genetic terrorism. With bird flu spreading again, the plot is as topical today as it was when I wrote about it.

Harris features a new Australian anti-hero Harris – an Afghan vet who lives down a mine in Lightning Ridge, struggles with PTSD and anger management, but can’t resist helping others in trouble.

In Not Guilty, Harris returns to hunt an international killer and find the truth about the action in Afghanistan which ended his military career.

Ian Wynne