It is ten years ago to the day that my first book, No Shitting in the Toilet, was published. There was a cockroach on the cover and the ‘h’ in shitting had been scratched out in an attempt to safeguard sensibilities. Indeed, the woman who interviewed me for ABC radio in Tasmania insisted on calling the book ‘No Sitting in the Toilet.’
The most exciting part was getting my first author’s copies. Holding a my book in my hands made it suddenly feel real. They surrounded in the box by protective packaging shaped like witchetty-grubs. My publishers told me were made from soya and hence edible. Things got so tight financially at one point in the early days that I came close to trying them.
A decade on I’ve married my publicist, got my sixth book coming out, had articles published in The Guardian, and just got back from an all-expenses junket to Italy to talk about what I do for 15 minutes. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
In many ways I am. I got a lucky break. A lot of aspiring authors don’t. So a big thank you to Shona Martin, Heather Curdie and Fiona Inglis for taking a chance on me.
I owe you – big time!
This is where you'll find everything you need to know about me and my books.
And even though you’re “famous” you still find time to mention our crap footy team, St George, in almost every book!!
‘Twas a good day I won “The Wrong Way Home” in a dodgy TNT Mag competition!! It put plenty of great ideas in my head…
And many congratulations on the last ten years of being a published author – and all the other achievements the decade has seen. Here’s to the next ten – I’ll look forward to reading more of your books!
congratulations here to another ten years i read vroom with a view drink a toast to you and yours tonight all the best chris and and sarah of derby p.s we are off to rome for 3 days in sept vroom with a view gave us the idea
Congrats Peter – doesn’t seem like ten years since I first read ‘No Shitting’. My copy does have the ‘h’ asterisked out, by the way.
Here’s to the next ten years!
Congratulation on the anniversary of your first book!! I remember how I got hold of it and had a great time discovering the Aussie view on the countries you described there
Then Wrong Way Home and Montezuma followed. Unfortunately can’t get hold of your other books anymore 
10 years on and I am sure your first book is as popular as ever and hope you find it possoble to write more books!