Tim Ayliffe has been a journalist for more than 20 years and is the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News and the former Executive Producer of News Breakfast. He has travelled widely and before joining the ABC he worked in London for British Sky News. A few years ago he turned his hand to writing global crime thrillers featuring former foreign correspondent John Bailey. He is the author of The Greater Good, State of Fear and The Enemy Within. When he’s not writing or chasing news stories Tim rides bikes and surfs. He lives in Sydney.
Today, Tim Ayliffe is on the blog to take on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …
Tim Ayliffe (Photo by Courtney King Photography).
1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
I was born in Sydney and grew up in Avalon Beach in the 1980s, attending the local primary school and then boarding school.
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
From when I was old enough to read and write I wanted to be a journalist and a novelist.
3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?
Catholicism. I’m agnostic these days.
4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?
J. M. Coetzee’s Disgrace for the extraordinary characters and dark truths.
The Radiohead album Kid A for the melancholy that makes me think. Lastly, I have a portrait of Brett Whiteley on my wall. His face tells so many stories and reminds me about depth of character.
5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing a novel?
I get to create characters and a plot around real world issues that impact people’s lives. I also think that fiction allows you to get much closer to the truth.
6. Please tell us about your latest novel!
In June 2019, Australian Federal Police raided my workplace at the ABC brandishing a warrant that enabled officers to “add, copy, delete or alter” our files. I found this power extraordinarily disturbing, especially if it fell into the hands of the wrong person. I have been equally disturbed by the rise of far-right nationalism and white supremacy. In The Enemy Within, my character John Bailey is investigating a global white supremacist movement that he has linked to violent acts on Sydney’s streets. Bailey’s also dealing with a federal police officer who has it in for him.
7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?
That there are no simple solutions to complex problems and that the only thing that matters is the truth.
8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?
Michael Connelly for creating such compelling characters and stories that tell us hard truths about our flawed society, yet somehow give us hope. I especially admire him because his body of work is so consistently good. He’s also a gentleman.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
To keep writing books until the day I die.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Write because you love it. Don’t be in a hurry. Never be afraid to hit delete. And read!
Thank you for playing!
—The Enemy Within by Tim Ayliffe (Simon & Schuster Australia) is out now.
The Enemy Within
Investigative journalist John Bailey is doing his best to turn his life around after losing the woman he loved. He has a new job. He’s given up the drink. He even has a dog.
But then Federal Police raid his home with a warrant granting them unprecedented powers to take anything they want, including all his electronic devices and passwords. When Bailey protests, they threaten to put him in a prison cell.
Someone wants to stop Bailey doing what he does best – exposing the truth...
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