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Neil Roberts

Goodreads Author

Born

Australia

Genre

Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Member Since

December 2017

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G’day there.

Hopefully you’ve read, or you’re considering reading my debut crime / fiction / thriller novel ‘Ice Hunters’... either way, your visit here is much appreciated!

I’ll touch on a little of my background first up, then talk more about my initial effort at scribing a suspense novel... I won’t go into too much detail, but I figure if you’ve gone to the trouble of reaching this page, the least I can do for you is paint a picture of how it all came about.

I grew up in a working class suburb of Melbourne, Australia. In high school (for the odd times I was in attendance and not truant on a fishing or camping expedition) my favourite subject was English, only marginally ahead of Geography. After leaving school and completing a trade in the G’day there.

Hopefully you’ve read, or you’re considering reading my debut crime / fiction / thriller novel ‘Ice Hunters’... either way, your visit here is much appreciated!

I’ll touch on a little of my background first up, then talk more about my initial effort at scribing a suspense novel... I won’t go into too much detail, but I figure if you’ve gone to the trouble of reaching this page, the least I can do for you is paint a picture of how it all came about.

I grew up in a working class suburb of Melbourne, Australia. In high school (for the odd times I was in attendance and not truant on a fishing or camping expedition) my favourite subject was English, only marginally ahead of Geography. After leaving school and completing a trade in the building industry I guess Geography eventually won out, for I succumbed to the lure of the ocean and travel - which saw the next twenty years spent with the Royal Australian Navy.

It was an interesting twenty years which included many years at sea on numerous classes of ship (Tankers, Destroyers, Frigates, Patrol Boats and Landing Craft to name a few, plus one job on two classes of submarine), serving with the Multi-National Force and Observers peace keeping force in the Middle East, and a stint on the Royal Yacht Britannia (including meeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II).

The latter part of my naval career included research, analysis and the inevitable report writing - these skills were transferred to my next career with an Australian Law Enforcement Agency, where I was fortunate enough to again travel extensively and where I was provided the opportunity to analyse many different crime types and their associated risks both in Australia and overseas - much of which included liaison with Foreign Law Enforcement Agencies. I maintained a keen interest in illicit drug operations, their modus operandi, types of drugs being manufactured or imported, the broad spectrum of people involved, and of course the social and human toll of drug addiction.

Fast forward to retirement, and a key question was “what do I do when I’m not fishing, camping or four wheel drive touring?” The answer was to combine my experience in a law enforcement environment, and my research, analysis and report writing skills, with my interest in the drug trade and its impact on individuals and society as a whole.

In my first novel I wanted to incorporate not only some of the places I’ve been, a few life experiences and my passion for fishing and the outdoors, but also a powerful anti-drug message. Seeing so much harm and despair in my travels caused by illicit drugs, my first novel had to include a theme on drug abuse plus a powerful message to anyone using or considering using drugs... and hence ‘Ice Hunters’ was born... a mix of the outdoors, survival, fishing, good and evil, with a bit of drug education on the side.

If you’ve managed to read it, I not only hope you enjoyed the read, but I also hope the anti-drug message was apparent. At times the wording may seem excessively blunt, but to be honest, I think it needed to be. I’d dearly like the novel (or at least Chapter 11) to be required reading in Secondary Schools or Colleges to spread drug education/awareness and as a research topic (maybe even in an English class!) but if reading Ice Hunters makes just one person shy away from drug use, then I’ll be happy with the outcome, regardless of whether or not it makes a best seller list...

I’m in the process of a sequel, so would very much appreciate feedback from readers to ensure my next attempt is even better.

My beautiful wife of thirty years still (surprisingly) puts up with me and my continual quest to find remote camping and fishing locations. I think she is happy when I write... primarily because it keeps me at home for a while... and out of her hair. And while my adult sons don’t fish with me anywhere near enough, they are still amazing.

Thanks again for visiting. ...more

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Hi Neil, I'm a fellow Aussie crime writer, and delighted to see a new Aussie crime writer come on board this site. Goodreads is a wonderful platform to learn many things about other works and authors. Unfortunately, I think the site also very unwieldy, and difficult when attempting any promoting. Just messaging someone seems to be a dark art...Would like to exchange ideas etc. ?

Neil Roberts Hi John, good to hear from you.

More than happy to exchange ideas, bearing in mind I'm a novice at both being an author and using Goodreads!

You have c…moreHi John, good to hear from you.

More than happy to exchange ideas, bearing in mind I'm a novice at both being an author and using Goodreads!

You have certainly been around... I can see why you have the globe in your profile picture. I did a bit of time around Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia during my Navy days. It took me a few years but I finally changed from a 'bangers and mash' eater to enjoying the flavours of Asian cooking :)

This is my first attempt at doing anything on Goodreads other than posting in a forum, so still not sure how it all works. The marketing/promoting side of things is daunting for me... I wish I'd invested more time in learning about it before I published... but it's all learning I guess.

Anyhow, happy to chat.. would be good to get another Aussie author's view on things, so feel free.

Cheers

Neil (less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Neil Roberts Hmmm. With only one novel I hardly feel qualified to answer this question... but if I must... I’d say the mere fact of having people read and enjoy yo…moreHmmm. With only one novel I hardly feel qualified to answer this question... but if I must... I’d say the mere fact of having people read and enjoy your work.(less)

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Neil Roberts’s books

Average rating: 4.17 · 90 ratings · 9 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Ice Hunters

4.17 avg rating — 90 ratings — 2 editions

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