Tim Bick's first writing job was in 1984 as a cub reporter for Arizona music paper Newsreal, where he was paid in free copies of the paper and congratulatory notes from the editor, thus prefiguring today's online world of writing for a credit and two clicks of the Like button. He has co-written three books for Cheeky Guides, whose publishing ethos appears to be to allow its authors to do whatever they want. Even if that entails being very silly indeed.Bick's writing is inspired principally by Proust, Vivian Stanshall and Bruce Robinson. He thinks swearing is big and clever, but only in mixed company. Above all he insists on challenging the status quo, breaking down barriers, saying the unsayable and dealing in self-serving clichés. A photo of the author with his dog is available for fly leafs.