Troy Henderson

Troy Henderson

Q&A with Author Troy Henderson

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 third novel Rocket Surgery, an urban Brisbane-based drama is also in the works, so I hope to see that arrive in the next couple of years. There’s also a fourth novel on the cards, about a woman who wakes up with no memory and joins a group of people trying to survive after a mass power outage but I’m getting ahead of myself. I hope to eventually release a short story collection and get started on my fifth novel. I’m not lacking in inspiration, just time.

What is your professional background?

I’ve had a colourful work history, including working at the cinema, hauling dead bodies in hospitals, pouring countless beers in London, performing music across the globe, driving Uber passengers to emergency departments, serving coffee to zombies, and building space-age electronic geriatric beds. I currently work as a Principal Communication Officer for the state government.

Where did the idea for River City come from?

River City started as a short-film script. A mate wanted to shoot a short film with a guy getting tortured in a warehouse, so I wrote that idea and I held on for my life as it grew legs, stole a gun and went on a rampage across Brisbane.

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.

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