Shane Maloney is profiled in "The Courier-Mail", as his Murray Whelan Trilogy, a compilation of the first three books in the series, is selected as the latest work to feature in the paper's Big Book Club reading group.
The success of the novels and the telemovies means Maloney's literary hero now has a life of his own. "It is quite extraordinary to have an imaginary friend who is better known that you are," he says. Maloney once received an invite, from one of Tony Blair's political advisers, for Murray Whelan to go to No. 10 Downing Street. And, after the telemovies were made, Murray Whelan Pty Ltd sent the author a royalty cheque. "I made this guy up and now he's sending me money in the mail," Maloney says.
