Indie Spotlight – Steve Malins

Today I am welcoming Steve Malins into the Indie Spotlight!

Steve was born in the UK, and lives in Melbourne with his wife, and 3 teenagers (whom he chauffeurs around at no charge.)

He works in an office (for his many sins) but served as a Country Fire Authority firefighter and loves getting out in the High Country and on skis in the Australian Alps.

Contact: smalins@hotmail.com

Welcome to the Indie Spotlight, Steve!

What made you decide to publish your books independently? What was your path to publication? 

I arrived in Australia 20 years ago, for a sabbatical year and actually put pen to paper towards the end of my time there when I realised I had done enough for a book. I figured if Bill Bryson could sell books without actually doing much on his travels, maybe I could, having tried farming and flying. I also got a job as a driller in the hot desert in 40 degree heat.  During COVID, I loaded it up to Amazon (as we all did!) to see what would happen. I then realised there was more involved and relaunched in 2022. I’ve hit the No 1 ‘Best Seller’ in Australia Travel a few times, but I can assure you I can’t give up the day job!

What made you decide to write in your specific genre rather than other genres? Have you ever written in other genres?

A travelogue fell into ‘travel memoir’, even ‘Adventure Travel’, as I came to realise. I like to think I entertain, and inform, and follow the path the classic travelogue authors took, but add a new refreshing dimension. I was influenced by the great adventure writing of Sir Ranulph Fiennes of the 80-90s. I am planning to write thriller fiction.

Do you only read the genre that you write? 

I read widely! Current affairs, history and military as well as travel.

What are you currently reading? Watching on TV? Is there a type of music you listen to for inspiration?

I like period dramas – eg The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit. I listen to all sorts of music including classical.

I sing as a Tenor with a large professional symphonic orchestra (not many people know that). I’ve learnt to access those higher notes this last few years.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? 

Get an editor for development (lots of people will offer to proof.) Consider your cover. Whether you like it or not, people read in fairly narrow genres even if they don’t realise it. It’s not just blindly following ‘show don’t tell’. It’s having a ‘voice’: tone, rhythm, pace, colour and writing in ‘ideas’ – maybe even tropes. I do pick up on writing where people follow ‘rules’, but that’s just me.

What are you working on right now and what can we look forward to seeing from you next? 

I am writing Book Two, ‘A Year On Land and Sea’ which actually occurs before ‘Rah Rah and Roos’, so it will be Book ‘One’! It’s about a sailing trip across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. It’s also a memoir about a young man who has to graduate from university, keep up with military training and maintain a relationship all in a year. 

It’s a love story and ‘coming of age’ book too, although that didn’t occur to me until the beta readers had got hold of it! The girls seem to love it!

Thank you for joining me on my blog today, Steve! I wish you every success with your books!

Rah-Rah and Roos

Is it time you ditched the office and headed to the outback of Australia for the adventure of a lifetime? In 2002, a young Englishman did just that.

One year, 2,000 sheep: 4,000 km travelled. He uncovered real life far from the hustle and bustle of the beaches and coffee shops of the East coast. He learned to fly and worked on sheep and cattle stations, passed a truck test by the skin of his teeth – and toiled out in the gold fields in 40 degree heat. All whilst watching and playing rugby on the hard tracks down under.

A must-read for anyone following in the finest traditions of traveling ‘Down Under’

Amazon | goodreads

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Coming Soon…A Year on Land and Sea

Have you ever danced with the devil and parachuted in the moonlight? Juggled work with play? Tried to keep a romance alive? In 1995, Steve was trying to figure out how to take a degree in London, keep up with his military training, and learn to sail. A trip across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and island cruising was just the ticket. He had little ability on the water despite once infiltrating an English seaside village at night wearing a drysuit. Will he learn to sail, pass his exam, keep his girlfriend happy and get a job? A timeless coming of age story. 

Amazon | goodreads

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