This week writing took a back seat due to a family holiday at Ayres Rock. It was refreshing not to use the computer whilst seeking inspiration from the surroundings. Ian Fleming said that he never wrote about a place that he hadn’t visited, and this familiarity adds a touch of veracity to otherwise implausible plots. Today writers can research most locations in detail without travelling there, at the risk of losing local knowledge.

The first Australians rely on oral history, so the only way to experience their unique culture and stories is by listening to them. Conflicting views on the pathway to reconciliation, the forthcoming ban on climbing Ayres Rock, and the impact of tourism are just some of the debates that may influence my fiction in the future.

If anyone is interested in reviewing Futuristic Canada, a speculative fiction anthology from Dark Helix Press, featuring my story “Her Last Walk”, please let me know.

Paul Williams is an author of fiction and non-fiction including Jack the Ripper Suspects: The Definitive Guide and Encyclopedia. During June and July, he will be donating royalties from copies sold in Australia to The Black Dog Institute.