On being a novelist as well as an economist
“Economics shows how societies function. Writing fiction gives them meaning.” I find it fun living in parallel universes -- the...
I couldn’t stop the weekly outbursts of violence next door. Today I'd speak up.
‘Working-class domestic violence is a common theme in modern literature, as anyone who reads fiction will know, but there is very little...
Are Book Sales Growing Around the World?
Are you interested in learning which countries are experiencing a growth in book sales? If so, this blog is for you, and you may get a...
Comparing book prices
Ever noticed the huge variation in book prices across bookstores and across countries? Wondered if you might do better with your book...
Why Empathy Matters and How Reading Can Develop It
Empathy helps us enjoy the arts and form strong friendships. We are often told that reading fiction and watching drama – be it film or...
Flashbacks in Fiction
Ask any writer or publisher of fiction for their opinion on flashbacks in novels and you'll get a variety of responses. There will be a...
Australian Fiction and the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War is sometimes termed a forgotten war. Neglected by Australian literature until relatively recently, it seems it was the...
What’s in a name? On choosing the title of a book
Does the title of your book matter? Yes, it most certainly does. But is the author the person best qualified to choose it? Not in my...
Striking a Pose: Or What to Consider When Presenting your Public Face
Have you ever had to find a photo of yourself, maybe to put on your work webpage or to go on the cover of a newsletter or a book? Here’s...
Reviewing Books
Not long after I became an academic, more years ago than I care to remember, I was invited for the first time to review a book in my...
