Why I studied physiology is because I spent so much of my youth and early adulthood playing sport. Loved the stuff. I wanted to learn how the hell we all did it. You d be better asking someone else the successful author bit. But all of the things you mentioned are important to me.
Good reviews are very nice, too.
But I certainly wouldn t knock back the odd award or bestseller. Either would be terrific. I ll see what I can do but my influence is pretty limited. Your first novel, Burning Sunday , was nominated for The Age book of the year. I d like to build on it.