Our Library recently caught up with local writer Gary Morris for a chat about his debut novel, A Line of Dogs, which will be launched at Mornington Library on Thursday 27 May. Gary spoke to us about the inspiration behind his fast-paced historical novel and the journey from concept to print.
Why were you compelled to write A Line of Dogs?
As a sixth generation Australian, I have always been interested in the colourful characters scattered throughout our country’s early years. Our school seemed to concentrate more on British and European history but the stories that my Grandmother told of the ‘old days’ fascinated me much more. She would often settle beside the open fire and I would squat beside her, wide-eyed, as her broad Australian accent evoked images of settlers carving through the bush with broad axes, brothers lost in the Great War, bush operations, or strong women who could fight like men.
Through the years, even though I was caught up in corporate life and raising a wonderful family, I would often use parts of ‘Nana’s’ tales in poetry or short stories that I wrote and these were invariably very popular. Then, on a business trip to Tasmania, I was shown a sheaf of original convict records by somebody who shared my interest. One in particular stood out, the record of a young Irish woman convicted in the Assizes for ‘being unlawfully in charge of a cow’. That line stuck in my mind. Why? How? Who was this woman?
Join local writer Gary Morris for the launch of his debut novel at Mornington Library on Thursday 27 May from 4pm. Free, but bookings essential: 5950 1820
The answers to those questions, and more, led me on a voyage of discovery that unearthed some amazing stories that screamed to be told. I knew that I had to be the conduit for these little known voices of the past and wouldn’t rest until I could bring their tales to the world.
Through the years, even though I was caught up in corporate life and raising a wonderful family, I would often use parts of ‘Nana’s’ tales in poetry or short stories that I wrote and these were invariably very popular. Then, on a business trip to Tasmania, I was shown a sheaf of original convict records by somebody who shared my interest. One in particular stood out, the record of a young Irish woman convicted in the Assizes for ‘being unlawfully in charge of a cow’. That line stuck in my mind. Why? How? Who was this woman?
The answers to those questions, and more, led me on a voyage of discovery that unearthed some amazing stories that screamed to be told. I knew that I had to be the conduit for these little known voices of the past and wouldn’t rest until I could bring their tales to the world.
How long did it take to write and research it?
From then on, whenever I had the chance I researched more records, wrote letters, scoured the internet and visited locations, even England and Ireland whilst there on business. Every stone I turned seemed to unearth another tale that I ‘just had’ to include in my manuscript; the Balingarry Riot in Ireland, prison life in Cork, rape and murder in London, convict treatment on board transport ships. Accounts of ‘keelhaulings’ and whippings made me angry and the story of the Aboriginal genocide in Tasmania filled me with sadness. After eight years I had filled a filing cabinet with notes and was ready to begin the book. It would take me two more years to create the manuscript and another two to have the novel ready to publish.
What kind of research did you undertake?
Much of my ‘desk’ research began with records from the courts, prisons, shipping lists and Churches. I was a regular visitor to the Tasmanian Government Convict records office. As I dug deeper, the Internet was my best friend, unearthing quotes, facts, maps and even photographs. Armed with copious notes I used my business travels to visit the sites of old prisons, churches and locations of bombings and riots. I strolled at night down lonely, foggy London streets and bridges over the Thames, crawled through old sailing ships in Portsmouth and stood on the site of the great Maori War battles. Near the Port Arthur Penal Colony I shivered at the huge Bull Mastiff statue guarding the historic Dog-Line (hence the name of my book) where savage dogs were chained to deter prisoners from escape attempts. So many lives. So many brave stories. So much inspiration.
'A Line of Dogs', the debut novel by Gary Morris, which will be launched at Mornington Library on Thursday 27 May
Where do you usually work?
Most of my actual writing is done in my office at home. When working on a book I try to get at least two pages typed each day, so I try to escape the phone and any other interruptions for four hours each morning. I take a notebook wherever I go, so often I will make hand-written notes whenever some idea comes to me, in a coffee shop, library or even at a dinner party (very boring of me). Most writers will tell you that when you are well into a story it obsesses you 24/7 and the plot and characters are in your head constantly.
There are some times when I feel that I can only write well about something from personal experience. For example, when writing the section about an escaped convict being lost in the bush I threw on my backpack and spent several days on the great Apollo Bay bushwalk, braving the snakes, leeches and the weird grunting sounds of the koalas in the treetops at night. Or the visit to the awe-inspiring secret places of Uluru, where the Aboriginal ancestors seem to whisper their secrets in ancient languages. I came back from that trip and wrote non-stop about ‘Wurrindi’, one of my characters who is the last remaining indigenous person from Tasmania. Where do writers work? Wherever they happen to be.
Which writers have inspired you?
The first books I can recall reading were westerns by Zane Grey. I would read them by lamplight in bed every night. Later I would read every single book in the William series by Richmal Crompton and, as I recall, these were the first books to inspire me to try my hand at writing. Thousands of books later I can point to a number of authors who have made an impression on my style; I can only wish that one day I will type even one sentence that deserves to stand amongst theirs. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird had a powerful and sustained influence, Frank Yerby and Wilbur Smith for their larger than life characters and definitely Stephen King, who introduced me to the device of italics to express the thoughts of his characters. (‘God, I hope that readers of this Blog get that’).
But I must confess that there is one other tiny morsel of writing that I have loved more than any other…. That is my wife’s signature on our wedding certificate.
Find out more about Gary Morris at:
http://www.gary@garymorris.com.au
