Claire Nichols

So if you're writing any of these poems, it's still by hand.

Why did you never do that?

Do you still have the handwritten manuscripts of your novels?

Yes.

Right.

We're speaking today, David, because you've re-released three collections of poetry, including your latest poetry collection, An Open Book.

And I wanted to talk about the almost title poem from that collection, a poem called The Open Book.

It begins with, My mother could read me, or so she claimed, like a book.

Fair warning.

But I too was a reader and knew that books, like houses, have their secrets.

It's a beautiful poem, David, and I love this image of a young David Maloof as an open book, learning to stay quiet, waiting for the plot to thicken.

It struck me reading that poem, David, that in order to be a storyteller, first you have to be a listener.

Do you still eavesdrop?

So when did you know that you wanted to make writing your life?

And that was Jono?

What about your parents?

Were they supportive of this creative kid who wanted to be a composer or a writer or definitely something creative?

And what did they make of that?

I've read that your mum, she'd come to Australia from England.

She didn't like you kids sounding too Australian.