Western Suburbs Weekly - August 20th 2002 (Australia)
Spinner of top yarns
There
have been many spin-offs for Subiaco author David Michie
since he wrote his first book. The Invisible Persuaders
- a non-fiction expose into the manipulation of the
British media by its spin-doctors - was Michie's first
published work.
However, the stress of avoiding libel action was a
catalyst for his move into fiction and it proved successful,
with a recently published third novel.
"Fiction is unrestricted and it makes interesting
reading," Michie explained. That is not to say
there is not reality in his storylines. "While
the characters and stories are composite - to protect
the guilty - the PR and media shenanigans I write about
are, for the most part, real," he said.
Michie's latest novel, Expiry Date, follows his first
two fiction works in the genre of PR thriller. This
time the focus of the media intrigue is biotechnology.
Scientist Dr Lorna Reid discovers and anti-ageing treatment
that can put back the expiry date genetically written
into people's DNA. However, not everyone is thrilled
by her scientific breakthrough - especially health insurers
who realise the impact her work will have on their multi-billion-dollar
industry.
The South African-born writer has an insider's knowledge of the power and actions of spin-doctors. After graduating from Rhodes University with a degree in English literature and psychology, Michie began a career in public relations, first in Johannesburg and then in London.
Michie said he had always been passionate about writing and had penned 10 novels - none of which had been published - when he decided to write about what he knew.
The author said The Invisible Persuaders, his analysis of political PR, showed how the creation of "New Labour" (the British political party) was one of the best spin-doctoring achievements. He believed his decision to write and expose the power of public relations was about being in the right place at the right time.
"It was 1998 and people began to get worried about the power of spin doctors," he explained. "The public had become concerned that the public image of New Labour was at odds with the reality."
After the trouble it had caused him to provide enough evidence to write an interesting non-fiction book, Michie decided he would be better using media manipulation as a basis for fiction writing.
His first novel, Conflict of Interest (published in 2000), concerned a strategic planner Chris Treiger. Treiger began work for a powerful and apparently reputable PR firm, but found himself involved in some of the more sinister practices of public relations, including attempts to sabotage corporate enemies.
In his second novel, Pure Deception, Michie switched from corporate to celebrity PR and from those carrying out media manipulation to the celebrities whose images were being "managed".
Michie said he always tried to write his thrillers around controversial or interesting issues, such as gene-therapy or animal testing. "I find gene technology fascinating," he said. "It does not just affect one individual, but the future of the human race. And if you had to be rich to afford it, we would create a race of super-humans."
Michie said he always researched the issued he wrote about to make sure they were realistic. "I couldn't sustain a book if it (the content) had no basis in reality," he said. The author said it took him about eight months to write each novel - with a daily target of 1500 words - and had usually agreed an outline with his agent and editor before he started. He divides his time between London and Perth - his wife's home - and has kept up his work as a strategic planner.
Although he said he had not yet received offers to turn his novels into films, he admitted it was an aim.
By Gab Knowles