Hi Liam, can you tell us a bit about your early years?
I moved to Elphinstone in early 2021 – but I am from Woodend originally, so it felt a bit like being back in my place. After high school I went to Uni in Melbourne and studied creative writing. When I was 22, I travelled to Ireland and had the whole backpacking experience. While I was there, I got quite sick and found I was sleeping during the day a lot and awake at night so I wrote a screenplay which has never seen the light of day – a romantic comedy.
I also lived in New York for about a year. My girlfriend at the time wanted to go and I had nothing better to do so I went and bummed around. It was a good time to explore what I wanted to do.
You write cryptic crosswords for The Age and The Saturday Paper how did that come about?
Before I went to New York I was working as a proof reader in the puzzle department of a media company and myself and some others started creating puzzles. Going to New York which was the home of crosswords was very inspiring.
When I came back from New York I got my old job back in the puzzle department and eventually I started making my own.
I’d always been interested in drawing cartoons as well (I was obsessed by the Far Side cartoons as a kid) and I really got into the drawing by in 2013, but it never turned into a career. It’s sort of symbolic because I’m colour blind and I chose the black and white crosswords over cartoons. I’ve been writing the crosswords for the papers since 2012. I like amusing people and lots of people love crosswords.
I got married in 2019 – two kids later and a move to the country. Actually, I’ve found a way to slip little personal details into my puzzles to mark life events, like when I married Helen and each of the kid’s names when they were born. And even Castlemaine has been an answer, although I haven’t used Elphinstone yet. My grandfather was a puzzle solver and I wrote a puzzle for his funeral.
How did you end up working at the Castlemaine Mail?
I’ve worked with a lot of newspapers and over the years became involved in web design. I started at the Castlemaine Mail in May last year to help design the paywall for the paper.
What other hobbies do you have?
I am a Brisbane Lions supporter. I follow AFL quite passionately. It’s a great way to vent my frustrations, I’m otherwise a pretty chill person. I also enjoy chopping wood. I live in a very old house that gets quite cold. And I play tennis in Kyneton.
What sort of music do you enjoy listening to?
At the moment I’m listening to Jenny Hval, a Norwegian singer. She’s very poetic and has incredible lyrics. And I am a big Radiohead fan.
What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers for book club. It was the best book I’ve read in a while.
Who are your three dream dinner guests?
Rupert Sheldrake the philosopher, Damon Albarn, the lead singer of Gorillaz and Blur and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
What philosophy do you live life by?
Try not to be too cynical.
And finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
I really enjoy the history of the area, both recent and ancient and I love going for bush walks.
