The word ‘persistence’ is often thrown about in the world of publishing. And Alex Dook is a perfect example of it paying off – with a little help from the Australian Writers’ Centre!
Alex's journey to publication was a long one – the culmination of years of learning from the many screenplays and manuscripts he had tried to get over the line. But during that time, he wisely sought expert guidance to hone his craft, and the results speak for themselves – a two-book deal with Echo Publishing, kicking off with the publication of his debut novel Gunpowder Creek.
The wilderness years
Like many writers, Alex dreamed of being published one day, but for so long it eluded him. “I’d been writing novels and screenplays for about 15 years, never with much success,” he admits. “I’d had some great feedback and encouragement on earlier manuscripts. I’d had agents and some publishers read my stuff and consider it, but I was never able to actually get a manuscript over the line. And I can understand why. Those other books were okay, but they weren’t good enough.”
Alex knew he could write – with an unpublished crime novel getting longlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award in 2020. ”That was hugely exciting, and probably my first bit of ‘real’ positive feedback that wasn’t from someone I knew personally,” he says. While he didn’t win the award, it gave him invaluable confidence and helped develop his skills further.
For his next book – his seventh manuscript by this point – he wanted to add more authenticity to his crime story. He interviewed a few cops and veteran WA journalists but soon realised a flaw in his plan. “I had planned to ask about the basics of criminal investigation: how police departments work, what crime scenes are like, and so on,” he recalls. “However, very quickly I found myself talking through their personal stories; I didn’t want to use my limited time with them to ask about the basics.”
Anatomy of a crime
It was at this time Alex came across the Australian Writers Centre’s course Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder – created by bestselling author Candice Fox. “What attracted me to the course was two things: its focus on the nuts and bolts of criminal investigation, and Candice Fox,” he says. “Candice is a great storyteller, and she is the perfect person to show how specific details of criminal investigations can add colour to a story and bring it to life.”
This ultra-specific crime writing course provided Alex with the technical foundations necessary to bring authenticity to his narrative without sacrificing time with his interview subjects. This balance of first-hand accounts and procedural knowledge would prove crucial to the development of what would ultimately become Gunpowder Creek.
Alex applied all the lessons he'd learned from previous attempts. “With each manuscript I felt I was getting better, but I always felt there was something I could have done differently,” he says. “So for Gunpowder Creek, I put in action everything I had learnt on the other manuscripts, particularly that I needed to plan meticulously.”
The path to publication
Despite his confidence in the manuscript, the publication process still brought challenges: “Getting Gunpowder Creek published wasn't so easy. “I was certain it was the best manuscript I'd written, but it was actually getting less attention than my earlier manuscripts. I eventually came to believe I wouldn't get a deal.”
Then came the unexpected breakthrough. “An offer came through from Echo Publishing. They were literally the last publisher I was waiting to hear back from. I expected them to say ‘no thanks’. Instead they offered me a two-book deal. Go figure!”
Alex doesn’t downplay the magnitude of the moment. “By the time I got the offer, I had been trying for about 15 years. So I was pretty bloody happy with myself. Even now, about a year later, I still can't believe it.”
Creating Gunpowder Creek
Alex’s debut novel centres on Emily, who takes on a job for a bunch of criminals in order to spare her boy’s life. The job is simple enough – deliver a stolen car to Gunpowder Creek, a remote location in the WA outback. But of course it isn’t so easy. Someone else is after the car. And also, what’s that noise coming from the boot?
Alex’s research for the novel took him on a road trip through remote mid-west Western Australia, gathering details to help make the story feel real. This journey led to a serendipitous discovery that would shape the climax of his book. “On a whim, dad and I went to a ghost town called Big Bell, which is about 680 kilometres from Perth,” he recalls. “The Big Bell Hotel was built in the 1930s in the Art Deco style, and is mostly still standing. Seeing that big ruined building in the late afternoon sun was a pretty inspiring moment. I decided right there it would become the Gunpowder Creek Hotel, the setting for the climax for my book.”
Beyond the suspenseful plot, Alex notes that “the story is about how quickly desperation can change the life of a normal person. One day you're figuring out how to do pivot tables on your spreadsheets. The next, you're aiming a gun at someone.”
Persistence pays off
Now published and working on his second novel, Alex faces the familiar challenge of balancing writing with other responsibilities, including a new baby. His writing routine has adapted to his circumstances: “Generally speaking the only time I get to write is over lunch at work, so I'm often hiding away in the corner, being antisocial. Keeping up with the work is at times quite overwhelming, but Echo has been very understanding and I've managed to make a lot of progress.”
But after a path that could never be described as an overnight success, Alex is grateful to be where he is – and proof that persistence, and a little guidance, can yield results. He says: “A lot of writing advice is freely available online, but it’s also quite generic and vague. The specificity of the AWC course brought a lot of value. It’s absolutely worthwhile.”
Courses completed at AWC:
