Today I am fortunate enough to be hosting Brenton Cullen on day one of his blog tour to promote his wonderful book, The Writers: A Collection of Australian Writers’ Biographies. I am a big fan of Brenton’s. At just twelve years of age he is not just dreaming of becoming a published author – he is actually living the dream by being proactive and making it a reality.

Welcome Brenton.

1. Your name might be new to many of my readers. Can you tell them about yourself?

My name is Brenton Jay Cullen and I am 12, turning 13 in five months. I reside in Wondai, QLD in Australia and I am an avid reader and writer, and, of course, blogger! I have authored fifty manuscripts but have only successfully published three. I have a blog at www.bjcullen.blogspot.com and also www.brentoncullen.weebly.com

2. What inspired you to become an author? And what sort of support have you received from people around you?

I think I became an author just because for the sake of writing and also because it was something that I loved to do! I have received much support from my mother, my best friend (also an author), and emails, encouragement and words from fellow authors. Actually, I wish to personally thank: Sally Odgers, Hazel Edwards, Duncan Ball, Sally Murphy, and Di Bates.

3. How did you come to write ‘The Writers’? And how did you get such a wonderful list of authors involved?

I shall answer the first question first. I was very disappointed that my favorite author’s websites had little information about them REALLY! So I had a sparkly idea!: why not write their bios myself? I emailed them (these authors in the book were my favorite Aussie writers at the time) and it just snowballed from there!

4. A blog tour is one way to promote your book. What other things have you done to promote it?

Other ways have included: doing a signing, a mini-launch, selling books, obviously some bookmarks, and spreading the word about it, just like word of mouth.

5. What is the best thing about being a writer? And the worst thing?

Well, the best and worst thing may be different for each writer, but I think the best thing is just the joy of publication, and communicating with your fellow authors. The worst thing for me is the hard slog of ACTUALLY writing!!

6. What advice would you give other young writers?

This may sound strange but, anyway: don’t follow heaps of advice. Be your own creative person and write what YOU want, not what other people tell you to do.

Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Brenton. Brenton’s book The Writers: A Collection of Australian Writers’ Biographies, can be purchased as a download or in paperback or hardcover versions from Lulu by clicking on this link.

To learn more about Brenton, you can follow his blog tour as he visits:
Spinning Pearls on Sunday, 22 February
And Tips for Young Writers on Monday, 23 February

You can also visit Brenton online at www.bjcullen.blogspot.com or www.brentoncullen.weebly.com and read a review of The Writers at Read and Reviewed.