ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

I discovered the writing of Tristan Michael Savage recently when I read his SF fantasy novel Rift Breaker for Indigenous Literature Week 2014.  (See my review).  My dear old mother discovered his writing when on my recent visit I left the book lying about, and she loved it!

So it is with pleasure that I would like to introduce you to the author, who has kindly agreed to participate in Meet an Aussie Author. 

Tristan was born in Maryborough and grew up in Townsville.   At James Cook University he took a Bachelor of Creative Arts with a major in Theatre and also a Bachelor of Theatre (Honours).   In just a few short years since graduating in 2010, Tristan has had some remarkable achievements:

In 2011 he won first place in Deadly Funny, a national stand-up comedy competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and in 2012 he toured his one-person theatrical comedy show Australian Ghost to audiences across the country.   The following year in 2013 Tristan was awarded a Black&Write! Fellowship with the State Library of Queensland for Rift Breaker, which was published by Magabala Books in 2014 and took out the Kris Hembury Encouragement Award for emerging artists as part of the Aurealis Awards.

Tristan took time out from his busy schedule to show us his writing space and to answer my questions –  and here they are:

1. I was born at the Lady Musgrave Hospital in Maryborough QLD on the 2nd of December 1985.

2. When I was a child I wrote stuff for school mostly. Then I graduated and started writing whatever I wanted. I began a sci-fi story. Ten years later it was published.

3. The person who encouraged/inspired/mentored me to write is/was one of my high school teachers. She told me I had some talent. I’ll never forget that moment – even though I’ve since forgotten her name.

4. I write in my flat, at my desk, with the curtains drawn, in the dark, growing a beard, obsessing over commas and quotes. I’ve no time for coffee shops.

5. I write when my thoughts are clear, in the morning and in the evening.

6. Research is a word used to describe anything I do when I’m not writing: eating, sleeping, watching movies, motorcycle maintenance… it’s all life experience and therefore “research”.

7. I keep my published work/s on my bookshelf next to all my other books on how to write good.

8. On the day my first book was published, I slept in. It was great!

9. At the moment, I’m writing a sitcom, a novel, and a stand-up comedy show.

10. When I’m stuck for an idea/word/phrase, I do “research” – then look in my thesaurus.

I know exactly what Tristan means about writing in coffee shops: I can read amid any kind of hustle and bustle, but when it comes to writing I need a quiet space and no interruptions.  My friends know not to drop in unannounced!

Wouldn’t it be nice if Tristan’s teacher stumbled on his handsome face here at Meet an Aussie Author and recognised him as that youth with the talent she noticed! What a thrill it would be to learn that a brief comment in a busy day had had such a remarkable effect and inspired a writing career!!

(I moved around a lot over three continents as a child and though I can remember some faces, I can’t remember the names of any of my teachers, not until my last school here in Australia and some of them are a blur too.  I’d love it if one of them popped up here with a comment and introduced him/herself.  (I’ve still got the same name).

You can buy Tristan’s books at Fishpond (Rift Breaker) or direct from Magabala Books or any good bookshop.