Name: Mike Carter
Date of birth: 12 September 1936
Place of birth: Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Now living in: Onewhero, near Tuakau, South Auckland
- Do you have a nickname and if so what is it?
- Only known as Mike.
- What was your most embarrassing moment?
- I was taking some kids sailing. I stopped the yacht, jumped overboard to fasten a surf-board to a dinghy and the yacht sailed off leaving me alone on the surfboard. Fortunately the kids kept their heads.
- How do you relax?
- Take the dog for a walk.
- Who inspired you when you were little?
- My aunt influenced me to become a teacher. Also my parents were extremely supportive.
- What were you like at school?
- A goody goody worked hard, played sports.
- What was your favourite/most hated subject at school?
- My favourite was History. I disliked Science (hated too strong a term).
- What was the book you most loved as a child?
- Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School, by Frank Richards.
- Which person from the past would you most like to meet?
- My great great great great great grandmother/father. Would be wonderful to make contact with some of my genes from the past.
- Who is your favourite author/children’s author?
- Children’s A. A. Milne
Adult Bernard Cornwell, Lee Childs, Janet Evanovich. But I guess I’ll always return to Charles Dickens. - Why did you want to be a writer?
- To prove to myself that I could express my ideas on paper so others could enjoy them. The thought of writing a best-seller and becoming mega-rich is always lurking in the background!
- Do you have a special place where you write your books?
- Yes by the fridge in the kitchen. On a computer, overlooking the garden.
- What’s the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?
- Best thing is receiving a letter saying someone’s accepted your story. Worst thing is suddenly realising the story’s lost itself somewhere and you’re wasting time on it.
- If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to be?
- I write as a hobby I’ve heaps of hobbies play music, fly a powered parachute, take photographs, dramatics. I only write when I suddenly get an idea.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?- Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
I’ve only had about one in ten of my stories/books published. That’s a heap of effort. But seeing your story in print that’s a real buzz.
Don’t be disappointed. Be challenged.