I joined a small theatre group named Tait Theatre in Carlton and at nights and on weekends I took lessons in acting and public speaking. And I loved it. This led to getting a few jobs in commercials on T.V. which led to my leaving engineering and trying to make a living as an actor. I got by, just, by earning some extra money driving taxis and picking potatoes.

I finally obtained some good parts on T.V. including the roles of the original Philip Martin in "Neighbours" and Ben Mazzini in "Water Under The Bridge". A chance meeting with Ian Smith ("Harold" of Neighbours), who was the story editor of a T.V. serial named "Prisoner", led to my writing for that show and eventually for "Neighbours."

After my two sons, Peter and Robert, were born, I found myself reading bed-time stories to them almost every night. I soon ran out of books to read so I decided to make up some stories myself. I quickly discovered that if I told Pete and Rob about very good boys and girls doing good things all the time, they were bored stupid. As soon as I told them about naughty kids doing pooey, rotten, disgusting things they would scream for more...."We want more of those naughty stories!" "O.K.," I would reply, "But only if you've been good." And so the title was born.

I eventually wrote the stories down and sent them to sixteen publishers, all of whom said, "No." I was going to give up but Pete and Rob said I should show some "guts" and have a go at publishing them myself. I am so glad they did because "Naughty Stories" has now sold 350,000 copies around the world and the original black book (Number one) recently won THE YOUNG AUSTRALIANS BEST BOOK AWARD.

The reason for the very plain covers on the books is that I just couldn't afford to do anything else. Luckily for me, however, that made them stand out on the shelves and that is why I have kept the style the same over the whole thirteen volumes. I was also fortunate enough to be interviewed lots of times on television so I thought it would make sense to make the covers instantly recognisable in the shops. I have also kept the style of the stories the same with most of them based on my sons and their friends from little Nayook Primary School in Gippsland. My most recent book is The Complete Book of Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls, which combines all thirteen of the individual volumes. They can bought, personally signed, through this site. Just click on "How To Order".

There are four rules of writing I always try to stick to:-

1. Always know the ending before you start.
2 Try to say something good or positive or hopeful about life
3 Try to engage the reader's emotions - bring feelings into your stories even if they are sad feelings
4. Make the beginning grab the reader's attention.