Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. I am the son of Dutch migrants who arrived in Australia in 1952. I grew up in a small country town called Nimmitabel in 1956. History has always been my passion even in primary school. When I was ten, I corrected my headmaster after the class that Dirk Hartog discovered in Australia in 1616. “Excuse me sir. It was Willem Jansz in 1606,” I stammered. I was rewarded with the cane for daring to question his knowledge. From that day I searched every library, including university libraries as I grew older, for any scrap of information on the man who discovered Australia, Captain Willem Janszoon.
After becoming a history teacher, my interest did not wane. During my spare time, I had written over a thousand pages on the maritime discoveries and shipwrecks of Australia. Three shipwrecks stood out: Batavia (1629,) Vergulde Draeck (1656), and the Zuytdorp (1712).
I was driven to solve the mystery of a lost white tribe originating from a Dutch 17th century shipwreck. It resulted in ‘The Lost White Tribes of Australia Part One: 1656 The First Settlement of Australia.’ (2012) Although I was happy with the book, publishing a further five books to complete the series, Australia Discovered, seemed out of the question with the estimated publishing around $180,000.
I resigned myself to releasing the rest of the series as E books. My father constantly badgered me to write the story of the Batavia shipwreck. I hastily wrote a draft copy for him as I knew he did not have long to live. I didn’t publish the book because I wasn’t satisfied that I had sufficiently conveyed to the reader the psychological drama that I felt was so important to the story. I realised that the only way I could do that was to write the book as a historical fiction. However, most of the book is real. Anything that was speculated or filled in due to the absence of historical records, I have recorded in the footnotes. After receiving too many letters and emails from disgruntled customers demanding a hard cover book, I had to find a way to fund a hard book version. I did this by printing the book myself.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “1629 Mutiny on the Batavia?”
A2. Creating a hard book was the greatest challenge. Deciding the genre was another. (Historical or historical fiction). No one has ever been able to work out the exact timeline of events after the shipwreck. That was difficult but not impossible. While writing the book, I was forced to imagine myself as a murderer and the person being murdered. Almost as bad was putting myself into the minds of those who were forced to become murderers. They had a choice: murder or be murdered.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. Only one book influenced my writing: Batavia’s Graveyard by Mike Dash.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. That’s a difficult question. There is no one favourite spot. I love living on the south coast of NSW but I do have a sentimental feeling towards my hometown, Nimmitabel. My favourite city to visit is Sydney. I never get tired of the harbour. Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, was a memorable walk. You do need to be fit and be comfortable in the heat.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘1629 Mutiny on the Batavia’?
A5. Firstly, it was my father, George Van Zanden. However, what set things into motion was reading another author’s attempt where he claimed assumptions as truth and possibilities as fact. That was the moment I decided I should write the book as a historical fiction because we don’t know all the facts.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘1629 Mutiny on the Batavia’?
A6. It took about four years, but I was not constantly writing the book. Once I decided on the format, it developed very quickly. I worked day and night and sometimes jumped out of bed at 3 am to write a few paragraphs in case I might forget in the morning. I can’t remember exactly how long it took, but it was months rather than years once I started to write in my chosen format.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Kindle and Amazon. I will include all the epub platforms as soon as I am able. Or visit australiadiscovered.com.au
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘1629 Mutiny on the Batavia’?
A8. The title wasn’t difficult. All my books in the series Australia discovered, either begin with a date or the date is in the sub-heading. The book is about the mutiny of Batavia. I simply added ‘1629.’
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. The most difficult part were the introductory chapters. To understand the characters and responses to their actions, the reader had to understand each character’s background combined with the context of the times. That meant I was unable to get into the story immediately. By writing in first person, I was able to bring the characters and events to life. It also allows the reader to identify with the characters and feel the inner conflict or evil depending on the character. I carefully selected the images to assist the reader in recreating the events in their minds. Where there was no evidence available, I used real events when filling in the gaps to the story.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. Start writing. It is as simple as that. If you procrastinate, you will never write anything. It’s important to do your research, check and recheck everything you write. Look for an unbiased friend who is willing to read your work and accept what they say in good grace.
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