Meeting Tim Winton

Source: Penguin Books Australia

By Olivia. C
Last night, I had the privilege of attending a live interview with the one, the only Tim Winton. Held in Melbourne's grand Town Hall, it was understandably packed with a hundred or so of Winton's avid fans. Assuming I was going to get a front row seat I arrived fifteen minutes early, only to find that the crowd had well and truly beat me to it. A photo with the man himself, and as I later found out, an opportunity to get my book personally signed was clearly out of the question.

Conducted by the Director of The Wheeler Centre Michael Williams, the interview was a discussion based on Tim Winton’s latest novel, Eyrie. Having bought a ticket weeks in advance, I had decided not to read Eyrie until I had received my signed copy on the night. A decision I soon regretted.

Like ABC’s first Tuesday book club, the interview focussed largely on the finer details of Eyrie such as the protagonist’s relationships with other characters and other themes of the novel. I found this mildly disappointing, as I was not only completely unfamiliar with the storyline but I was also hoping to hear more about Tim Winton’s life as a writer. Like how he finds inspiration for his novels, his writing process or even how he handles writer’s block and procrastination.  I wanted to know more about the author, not the novel.

Having studied some of his work in High School (Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster in Year seven and Minimum of Two in Year eleven), I had slowly come to love Tim Winton’s style of writing. I had always thought that he was a big tosser, living it up in Western Australia.  From all of the sycophantic reviews I had read, it was definitely how I imagined him to be. However, as I sat there in the audience last night I saw a side to Tim Winton I didn’t expect. Something that none of the reviews had previously revealed.

A snapshot from the interview. Tim Winton (Left) Michael Williams (Right) Source: Twitter @PenguinBooksAus

Out of the all reviews I’d read and of all the interviews I’m seen on TV, I had no idea that Tim Winton was uncomfortable with public speaking. He unashamedly admitted this as he took to the stage. Whether it was nerves or the bright stage lights, this fear was soon assuaged as he began reading the first few pages of Eyrie.

Book reviews aside, Tim Winton is just like you and me. The only difference being that he’s a household name and you and I are not.

As the interview progressed, more was revealed. A brief insight into Tim’s personal life, his opinions on past Australian politics and the editing process behind Eyrie was presented to the audience. Before too long, the interview had come to an end.

If I could take anything away from last night, it’s that when it comes to Tim Winton there is more than meets the eye. Tim Winton is many things, but he is (thankfully) not the tosser his reviewers make him out to be.