Interviewed by Matthew Summers
Alan Baxter is a British-Australian author who writes dark fantasy, horror and sci-fi, rides a motorcycle and loves his dog. He also teaches Kung Fu. He lives among dairy paddocks on the beautiful south coast of NSW, Australia, with his wife, son, dog and cat. He’s the award-winning author of several novels and over sixty short stories and novellas. So far. Read extracts from his novels, a novella and short stories at his website – www.warriorscribe.com – or find him on Twitter @AlanBaxter and Facebook, and feel free to tell him what you think. About anything.
Alan Baxter, welcome to Snapshop 2016! Tell me what you’re working on right now. Anything exciting?
Always exciting, for me at least! I’m currently in rewrites on a new standalone horror novel that’s based on my Shadows Award-winning story “Shadows of the Lonely Dead”. The protagonist from that story is one of the main characters in the new novel. London noir, crime, mystery, horror and magic. Won’t be ready for a while yet, though.
You recently celebrated the paperback release of your Alex Caine trilogy. How does it feel to finally see the books together in print form?
It feels fantastic! The new covers are just brilliant and seeing the whole set finally together on book store shelves is really one of those “living the dream” moments. Now I just hope they sell huge amounts!
What ideas have you currently got simmering away in your mind for exploration in the future?
So many things. Other than the rewrites above I’m working on a kind of American noir ghost story that may be a novella or a novel. Not sure which yet. Also more stuff in the Alex Caine universe, and lots of short fiction ideas swilling in my brain stew.
What Australian work have you loved recently?
We’re so spoiled for choice here, it’s hard to name just one. So I’ll name two! Trent Jamieson’s novel Day Boy is stunning. And I got to beta read Angela Slatter’s new novel Vigil, and that will be out by the time this goes live, so people should check that too. It’s brilliant and unique and very Australian. (And I’m really looking forward to Gary Kemble’s second novel, Bad Blood.)
Which author (living or dead) would you most like to sit next to on a long plane trip? Why?
Clive Barker. Because I’m an utter fan boy and no one has been a bigger influence on my own work than he has. I’ve never met him, but would love to.
Australian SF Snapshot Project 