Five minutes with author Jack Heath

Posted on 21 March, 2019

Jack Heath has lived more lives in his (just over) three decades than most people. 

The author of almost 30 books, Jack began writing action thrillers while he was a student at Lyneham High School to spice up his required reading and, well, kept going. As of February 2018, Jack is now the 4th best selling fiction author in Australia.

He’s written award-winning series for children, teens and, most recently, adults. His new thriller, Hunter is the sequel to 2018’s Hangman and follows antihero and ex-FBI consultant Timothy Blake as he tries to escape his past – and keep his dark secret hidden.

To immerse himself in the world of his stories, Jack has trained with firearms, performed street magic, travelled extensively (even touring morgues and prisons) and yes, he still lives in Canberra.

As Hunter climbs the charts and appears on every action-lovers recommended reading list, we caught up with Jack to chat process, persistence and…poisoning people.

Your protagonist of questionable tastes (ahem) is quickly joining a league of antiheroes from many iconic narratives. What drew you to creating Timothy Blake in the first instance?

As a writer, I was interested in the ways readers could be convinced to empathise with a bad person. I wondered how far I could push that idea, and thought a cannibal detective would be a good test!

Hunter is your 29^th novel – what keeps your creative process fresh?

Every book is different—new places, new people, new plots. I never get bored. I think it helps to read diversely. The more facets of the world I discover, the more interesting my next novel will be, for the readers and for me.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve Googled or researched while writing Hunter?

I posted on Facebook: “If I wanted to poison someone and then eat them without getting poisoned myself, which chemical could I use?” I went with suxamethonium chloride, but kudos to one evil genius who suggested air, injected straight into the vein.

What’s your favourite piece of feedback from Hunter readers so far?

“I didn’t realise you were Australian!” Hunter is set on the mean streets of Houston, Texas, so it’s nice to know that it seems authentic. American readers of Hangman have made the same remark, to my delight.

Do you find it difficult to switch between writing for kids and writing books strictly for adults?

Writing for adults is liberating, because the characters don’t always have to do the right thing, and because sex scenes are fun. But writing for kids is liberating too, because kids don’t care if something is possible, so long as it’s epic. So switching is fun rather than hard.

QUICKFIRE ROUND

Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Tried to quit, can’t.

What’s the longest time you’ve spent writing without getting up (toilet/coffee breaks don’t count)?

I’m guessing about ten hours, but three or four is much more typical. Sometimes I write through lunch without noticing and then realise I’m starving at 4 pm.

Favourite writing spot in Canberra that isn’t your house?

Kippax Library. You can practically feel the concentration in the air.

Favourite café?

Coffee Guru Charnwood—I have a favourite table, and I often donate to the book exchange near the counter.

North or south of the lake?

I’m a northside boy, although I did go to Narrabundah College.

You can find Hunter at all self-respecting Canberra bookstores.