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Total books written: approx. 70
Ages of readership:
Most typical wordcount per book:

Countries published in: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States,
>Great Britain, Denmark (and probably others)

Movie rights, merchandise or other exciting offshoots: None known

Title of Featured Book: Cadaver Dog
Blurb: There is something disturbing about Clarry Johnson and even more
>disturbing about his teenage daughter, Ellie, who daily pushes a pram with
>a doll in it up and down a dirt road.
>Shane's recently separated father has bought an old bush school next to
>Clarry's neglected orchard, but its an eerie place and it has a history
>that Shane's dog, Caddy, can unearth.

Place where your book is set: .An abandoned, one-teacher bush school.

Genre(s): Suspense mystery with a slow realization the protagonist's plight.

Extract from an independent review:

From Good Reading (about 2002/3) by Kerry Foster
>"Cadaver Dog is part of the Lothian Crime Wave series.
>Sixteen-year-old Shane is spending the holidays with his dad, helping him
>to get the farm he bought into shape. Unfortunately Shane's dad's work
>takes him away all day and sometimes at night. Not that that would normally
>worry Shane but there is something definitely odd about Clarry from the
>neighbouring property - he always seems to be turning up at the most
>unexpected times and places. And he's not all that friendly when he does.
>Shane's not sure why Clarry is behaving like this but he's worried enough
>to tell his dad who brings home a dog, Caddy, to keep him company and act
>as a watch dog.
>When Caddy uncovers some grisly remains, she and Shane find themselves in
>grave danger - alone in the dark with a mobile phone that is not working,
>and a madman stalking them with a gun. Alan Horsfield's taut and tense
>novel will have you on the edge of your seat, almost too frightened to turn
>the page but finding it impossible not to do so."
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What's the inside info about your life as a writer?
Alan is an ex-teacher having taught in NSW and PNG. On retiring he lived
>on a Fijian island where he wrote The Rats of Wolfe Island. A number of his
>books are set in the South Pacific where he found the ideal place for
>inspiration and procratination.

Do you have another job as well as being a writer?

Write and construct basic skills, literacy and numeracy test papers.

Why do you love to write?

Words and sayings fascinate me - evolution and origins. Some people
>fish, or play golf in their retirement, I write!

What inspired you to write your book (or series which includes this book)

Most of my books evolve out of experience and an imagination that see
>human idiosyncrasies and dilemmas as part of life. I find it most
>satisfying to develop clear, believable resolutions to the problems and
>situations posed in my stories.

What surprised you during research, writing or publishing of this book?
The importance of setting and environment in determining how people
>behave and react.

If students are doing assignments on this book, what special insight into
symbolism, metaphors, choice of title, characters or research can you
provide:

Most of my stories are set in real places, modified to suit the story
>line. I love giving my characters names that have some 'hidden
>significance'. Dr awKwarD was a nasty villain that had a machine that
>reversed words. Hannah and Bob were able to outwit him using palindromes.
>Brian, in Big Brave Brian, daydreamed about being brave. Brian means brave.

Secret writing tip for students:

Use your experiences, imagination, and your intelligence in you story
>writing and remember to respect the reader who also has experiences,
>imagination, and your intelligence.

Personal pet peeves:

Stories with contrived, phony or clichéd endings.

When you were aged 8 to 15, what job(s) did you think you would have (if not a writer):

As I lived in the remote Blue Mountains (no schools) I expected to be a
>timber cutter or farm laborer.

What you're working on next: A quirky mystery story for junior readers, The
>Garden Gnome Plot

Are you available for paid school visits at ASA rates?: Yes

Are you blue-card approved to conduct school visits in Qld:

Are you available for free school visits in your local area during book launch months?: Possibly

Is your computer/internet connection set up to do online chats?: No

Do you speak/webchat in any languages other than English?: No, I have enough
>trouble with English. I can throw in some pidgin English.