Robert has published novels, short stories and screenplays which have won international awards and received outstanding reviews from around the world. He wrote his first story about a chook (chicken) held in a prison (cage) when he was six. This plucky tale was followed by, The Three Boys Who Went to War - a topic about which he knew nothing. Many years later he became a full-time writer when his first novel, The Sugar Factory was published around the world to greater acclaim even than his chook story.In order to have some interesting things to write about, Robert embarked on various adventures: - became a patrol officer in Papua/ New Guinea - flew a Tiger Moth biplane (badly) - spent 12 months as a private detective in King's Cross, Sydney - became a registered psychologist - spent six months in one room in Paris - walked 116 miles through the jungle in 3 1/2 days - memorised the order of a shuffled deck of playing cards - bred Angora goats for mohair - sold his house to finance a movie - made an award-winning Hong Kong short film, praised by president Clinton - rode a motorbike with his beloved dog tied to the petrol tank - wrote and directed a film shot in the desert during the highest rainfall in living memory.Eventually (1997) he would write and direct the feature film of The Sugar Factory which won the Best Film Award at the Hollywood International film Festival (1998). His latest film, Thirst (www.thirstthefilm.com) was released to critical acclaim and sold-out cinemas in 2012.This year sees the release of Book One in the FRANKIE series - his first foray into the crime/thriller genre.Robert is very grateful to that first caged chook and would have dedicated the Frankie series to imprisoned chickens everywhere if the publisher had permitted it.