Leaving the confines of the traditional educational system at the tender age of 15, this individual embarked on a journey that would take them down a multitude of unconventional paths. They began their career as a commercial artist, honing their skills in the visual arts and applying them to various mediums. Subsequently, they transitioned into the world of film, where they worked as a cartoonist, bringing imaginative and captivating stories to life on the big screen.
However, it wasn't long before they turned their attention to more mundane pursuits. They took on a stint as a laundryman, mastering the art of cleaning and pressing garments with precision and care. And when the opportunity arose, they donned their rugged attire and ventured into the great outdoors as a bushworker, confronting the challenges and beauty of the wilderness head-on.
But it was their writing that would ultimately prove to be their true calling. Their first novel, a masterpiece of literary craftsmanship, would go on to win second prize in Australia's most prestigious literary contest, launching their writing career in a blaze of glory. And their subsequent novel, "Peter's Pence", would receive international acclaim, claiming the esteemed American Edgar Allan Poe Prize as the best crime novel of 1974.
