Q&A with Michael Robotham

How did you become a thriller writer?

I wanted to be a writer from the age of 12, but growing up in country towns like Gundagai, I felt that I had nothing to write about. I like to think I became a journalist to gather material, but I fell in love with newspapers. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I wrote [debut novel] The Suspect. That triggered a bidding war and every dream I ever had of being a writer came true.

Where do you begin with a novel?

I start with an idea – a ‘what if’ – and then I create a character. From that moment, the story unfolds organically, without plotting or planning. I figure if I don’t see the twists coming, neither will the reader.

How do you get into the head of your female protagonists?

Writing from a female first-person perspective is one of the greatest challenges for a male writer, particularly a balding, middle-aged bloke like me. But I’m surrounded by women. I have a wife of 35 years, and three grown-up daughters. I draw a lot of inspiration from them, and there are sections of dialogue that are lifted directly from the dinner table. My wife is my first designated reader. Two of my daughters are also readers, but my middle child refuses to read anything that might make her frightened or (heaven forbid) feature a sex scene written by her father!