Troy Henderson is a fiction writer from Brisbane, Australia, where he has lived his whole life aside from a two-year stint in London.
His first book, Head Grenade, was shortlisted in the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize and the Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable and Publishable Programs, respectively. Head Grenade was published in October 2023.
Troy’s short stories have longlisted in the Australian Writers’ Centre Furious Fiction competition, and placed in the GenreCon Short Story competition, and FLEUR Flash Fiction Contest. In 2024, he was commissioned to contribute to the anthology Is ThisWorking? and also appeared at the 2024 Brisbane Writers Festival.
He is currently working on his second novel, River City.
What inspired you to be a writer?
I always loved reading, and ploughed through books consistently ever since I was a kid. I was so focussed on a career as a musician in my adult years, that aside from lyrics, I just couldn’t give writing time. As I got older and ceased my music career, I had the time, and began to take it seriously. I don’t want to do anything else now and this is the perfect creative outlet to continue for the rest of my life.
What prompted you to write Head Grenade?
I always took notes and diary entries of all the strange events I experienced working at a hospital and various other menial jobs. Then I decided I wanted to climb the mountain and finish my first novel. The words and ideas flowed and I was compelled to write it, now I can’t stop.
Do you have any more books in the pipeline?
Yes, my second novel, River City, a dark humour crime thriller is nearly complete, and my third novel, Rocket Surgery, an urban Brisbane-based drama is also in the works. There’s also a fourth novel on the cards, but I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m not lacking in inspiration, just time.
What is your professional background?
I’ve been a copywriter for years, working for a range of not-for-profit, private and public sector clients, most I’m not allowed to talk about. It provides me with an opportunity to write every day, and when I’m forced to write for my job, it makes writing fiction easier.
Any advice you’d like to give aspiring writers?
Just do it for you, not anyone else. The audience comes later. Consistency is the single most important element for me. Writing every day, or almost every day, one word at a time and not worrying about the outcome. The only difference between you and someone who doesn’t make it is that they gave up.
Also, reading a lot. Like Stephen King says in On Writing, ‘If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.
Finally, engage a professional editor, as it’s one of the best ways to receive feedback and tighten your writing.
Who/what inspires you?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. There’s the obvious book, TV, movie inspiration, but music plays a huge part in my writing too. Ideas can come from anywhere at any time, so I try to observe life through a writer’s prism as much as possible, where any small idea can grow and become something.
What are your hobbies, interests and favourite books?
I love reading, watching films, listening to music and building a sizeable record collection.
Hanging out with my wife and going on adventures, having beers with my mates and solving the world’s problems.
Naming my favourite books is impossible, but my favourite authors are Stephen King, Haruki Murakami, Chuck Palahniuk, Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, Michael Crichton, Roald Dahl, and I’m going to have to stop now because there are too many.
How can readers contact you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troyhendersonauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/troyhendersonauthor
Website: https://www.troyhendersonauthor.com/
Contact via: Hawkeye Contact Page
