In this interview, we feature Phillip Leighton, an accomplished author with 24 published books. Phillip reflects on his life journey, the experiences that shaped his writing, and the themes that define his work. Drawing from a rich background in education, history, and lived experience across Australia, his stories explore identity, resilience, and the human condition.
Phillip Leighton’s Journey as an Author
We were curious about Phillip Leighton’s background, so we asked him to share a brief overview of his journey as an author.
Phillip Leighton: In post-WWII Australia, unmarried mothers were prohibited from keeping their infants, a harsh decree of the era’s moral rigidity. In 1951, immediately after birth, I was whisked away from my birth mother. I was handed to the Anglican Church, an act that would later echo through my writings with nuanced reflections on belonging, identity, and resilience.
My adoptive dad, Bruce Daly, received a special dispensation and left school at 13. He worked initially as a telegraph delivery boy and also as a dairy assistant.
During the war he served with the legendary 39th Battalion in New Guinea. Before facing the Japanese in the unforgiving Owen Stanley Mountains, he contracted malaria and was evacuated by Sunderland flying boat to Australia. His nurse, Margaret Love would later become his wife.
My mum was the sole child of a strict, austere school music teacher. Mum served in war hospitals, tending to the wounded, diseased and mentally tortured.
My parents each received three war medals which I proudly displayed during ANZAC marches for many years. Through them, I inherited an unshakeable sense of honour, duty, and gratitude, values that pulse through the heart of my fiction.
My childhood home at Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast, was once a picturesque tourist haven. The town itself oozed with colonial heritage and was surrounded by the majestic lakes, creeks, rivers and expansive bays. Shipbuilders, orchardists, boatmen, and fishermen once thrived there. It was, for a young boy with imagination to spare, a living treasure chest. As the Mississippi was to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, the Brisbane Water was to my mates and me.
During the 1950s, my mother managed a boatshed for the Sea Scouts. Days were spent sailing, fishing, camping, swimming, and exploring the riverine labyrinth that became my backyard.
I described this period as my personal Tom Sawyer era, a world of innocent adventure and natural wonder that would later enliven much of my fiction.
My sporting life flourished too, cricket, baseball, tennis, and rugby league. These activities helped shape his understanding of discipline, camaraderie, and character qualities that would inform both his leadership and his literary voice.
For one year, I worked as a clerk at Morisset Mental Hospital. The large hospital was a self-supporting model farm estate; it housed female and male patients with physical and mental infirmities. Wards 21 and 22 had a sinister, forbidding feel to them. There, the violent psychiatric patients were incarcerated. None of our staff were permitted entry beyond the huge, towering steel gates and the four-metre-high brick perimeter.
I attended infants, primary and secondary schools in Gosford and, after working for one Year at Morisset Mental Hospital, secured a Teachers College Scholarship at Armidale.That college was about a 6 hours car trip from Gosford.
The separation from my family at Armidale, the course content and the teaching experience changed my insular perceptions considerably. Historical, ecological and philosophical studies, emanating from my college years, feature prominently in my literature and in my social media contributions.
Throughout my 45 years as a teacher, I taught extensively throughout the four geographical regions of NSW. Schools taught in the respective regions included :
- Coast. South West Rocks, Gosford East and Gosford Primary.
- Tablelands. Armidale, Glen Innes, Goulburn district schools.
- Western Slopes. Coonabarabran, Coonamble. Gunning, Crookwell.
- Western Plains. Bigga, Binda, Five Mile Tree.
Each region introduced me to distinct topographies, cultures, and communities which included orchardists, limestone miners, ranchers, beekeepers, boatmen, oyster farmers, crop dusters, etc. From these communities, a wide array of my fictional characters were drawn.
Twenty-five years into my teaching career I began to write, commencing with non-fiction historical books centred around the City of Goulburn. My thirteen non-fiction projects resulted in the compilation of hundreds of oral histories, hours of research, and many interesting sojourns into wild and rugged terrain.
I have written 13 non-fiction and 11 fiction books. Seventeen are featured on Goodreads. My nonfiction (13 books ) focuses on people and events in Goulburn, a country city in NSW. Four publications specifically focus on the preservation of a former psychiatric hospital, which vandals, looters and developers threaten today. My mum was employed in this army hospital during the war.
My eleven fiction works are young adult/adult-based adventure stories. The Fisherman and his Foundlings and the lengthened rewrite, The Foundlings and the Fisherman from Tumby are my most popular.
The Inspiration Behind His Writing
We asked Phillip Leighton what inspired him to start writing and how his first book came about.
Phillip Leighton: A school inspector remarked that I wrote outstanding end-of-year reports. A mate encouraged me to write about my early years in Gosford, a small coastal town in NSW. Since following his advice, I have continued to write for the last 25 years. I transitioned from non-fiction to fiction eight years ago. At 74 years old, I basically promote my stories, which is a full-time job. I write extensively on LinkedIn, where I have built a considerable following. Using this as a springboard, I promote my stories and contribute to pressing social issues.
Writers such as Oscar Wilde, George Orwell, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Rod Serling (Twilight Zone) and Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove) provided valuable inspiration.
The Ideas That Shape His Stories
We asked Phillip Leighton about the themes and ideas that most often appear in his work.
Phillip Leighton: A plethora of experiences over 75 years have shaped my work. These include my poor socio-economic upbringing, sporting achievements so vital in overcoming my shyness and lack of confidence. I represented Gosford district in cricket, baseball and Armidale Teachers College in rugby league. My college experience, combined with 45 years of classroom teaching and 15 years of teaching swimming, water safety, and survival, significantly provided colour and direction to my fiction.
I write from experiences and from a vivid imagination. I write about these out of interest. This has recurred with all my books rather than what I believe readers will warm to.
The Evolution of His Writing
With 24 published books to his name, we asked Phillip Leighton how his writing has evolved over time.
Phillip Leighton: I enjoyed writing all my fiction and non-fiction too. I have written a great book about the natural and social history of the trees in our district. This is a salient example of how my research, oral histories and field work in compiling non-fiction was particularly useful in the compilation of my fiction books, The Foundlings and the Fisherman of Tumby, Against the Tide, and Honourable Thieves. Oral histories, research and field studies were essential components of my 13 non-fiction.
The transition to fiction challenged me to address a plethora of societal issues. This was extremely rewarding. The Fisherman and his Foundlings (18000 words), a rewrite of the popular Fisherman and his Foundlings (4000 words), was a challenge and has many fine ideals. It has earned me many positive reviews.
One of my 200-plus page non-fiction books focused on local flora and fauna. This publication, ‘Wrinkled Armpits and Woollybutts’ vastly enlarged my knowledge on that subject, resulting in very real fictional storylines.
After transitioning into fiction I turned to social media and used it effectively to promote all of my books. My strong social conscience is projected in my fiction and also in my considerable following on LinkedIn, Instagram and to a lesser degree, Facebook.
My fiction is commendably acclaimed on AI or Google. Ask about the commendable features of Phil Leighton-Daly’s fiction. Specifically target ‘Against the Tide, Elizabeth’s Garden, The Foundlings and the Fisherman from Tumby, The Boiling Toad, The Feral Menace, Honourable Thieves and the Crinkling on the Poisonous Pie’. Also, inquire about the significant role that Phillip Leighton-Daly fulfils on LinkedIn?
Over the last year, several film scripts have been compiled along with two ten-minute trailers. ‘Against the Tide, ’and ‘The Foundlings and the Fisherman from Tumby ‘ have piqued the interest of Hollywood film companies. Dr Chikodi Adeola Olasode has made this possible through the compilation of film scripts, trailers and securing the attention of the Hollywood film companies.
How Audience Response Shapes His Writing
We asked Phillip Leighton about the role readers and feedback play in shaping his work.
Phillip Leighton: My characters arise from my work, religion, sport and recreation over 75 years. Thirteen factually written books provided intriguing backgrounds and substance for my fiction. Studying the community’s peculiarities has yielded intriguing fictional characters. “There are none so queer as folk
Four of my most popular non-fiction books target the Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital . Whereas my first appointment was at Morisset hospital near Gosford, another saw me relocated to Goulburn. Here, my mother nursed during the war. To see that large estate vandalised and looted struck a discordant chord.
I found the psychiatric hospital in dire straits for reasons mentioned above and from opportunistic developers. I witnessed the destruction of a chapel where my mother accompanied diseased and maimed soldiers.
My advocacy through literature stands as an example of how writers can serve as custodians of heritage.
My 24 stories were all shaped by my maritime experiences. My first school employment was located on the magnificent Hawkesbury River. Here I kayaked extensively. I still partake in this pleasurable activity. For 15 years, I taught swimming with the NSW Education Department. I hold a 30 year Austswim certificate and 6 bronze medallions.
Recurring Themes in His Work
We asked Phillip Leighton about the themes and ideas that most often appear in his work.
Phillip Leighton: Recurring themes. My fiction books emphasise a multitude of virtues to be imbued and emulated, such as resilience, kindness, compassion, and perseverance. My plethora of experiences over 75 years has set this compassionate, empathetic ethos in stone. I believe in making the world a better place by assisting, where possible, those who are less fortunate than me.
For instance, Against the Tide (16,000 words) is based on my shorter story, “Elizabeth’s Garden” (4,000 words). It is a historical fiction set deep in space. The scenery and storyline closely mirror events occurring on the Hawkesbury River in the early 19th century. The storyline revolves around determination, respect, justice, and courage.
The Foundings and Fisherman from Tumby has much to do with sacrifice, hardship, turmoil, tragedy, loyalty, honour, respect, and selflessness.
My affinity with dramatic, breathtaking terrain stemmed from my teaching appointments throughout the state and our family’s pioneering spirit to settle there. The inaccessible wilderness, rivers, mountains, flora and fauna all feature prominently in the social and environmental backdrops in my books.
Having worked in small schools for most of my career, my worldly outlook is commensurate with that of the classroom. All students formed close bonds with one another and with the community. Selflessness, care, and charity were guiding stars.
Challenges Faced in a Prolific Writing Career
We were interested in understanding the obstacles Phillip Leighton has faced as a prolific author, so we asked him to share some of the challenges and how he overcame them.
Phillip Leighton: For three decades, writing was one but colourful weave in a colourful tapestry. Balance was essential for long-term endurance. This included recreation, family, music, spirituality, and social engagement.
My Brush With Mortality. A life-changing medical discovery recently shaped my appreciation for this balanced lifestyle. A cardiologist detected a 3.5 cm hole in the septum of his heart two years ago. It was a birth defect which had been overlooked for 73 years.
Specialists Dr. Baker and Dr. Cordina performed a delicate operation, inserting a nickel disc through a vein in my thigh to repair the damage. It opened up once inside my heart and has proved sufficient to seal the hole. The doctors told me that such a procedure would not have been attempted had I not maintained such an active, healthy lifestyle.
His heart is now gradually returning to normal, an outcome I view with thankfulness, humility and pride.
Advice for First-Time Authors
We were keen to learn from Phillip Leighton’s experience, so we asked what advice he would offer aspiring authors preparing to publish their first book.
Phillip Leighton: One very real, ominous threat to budding authors is the fraudulent American publishers and editors. Bitter and painful experiences have tarnished my trust and respect for mankind. Deceitful, scurrilous intent is a sad indictment of mankind.
These perspectives may help to avoid the charlatans and deviants who prey on authors.
Vet every service provider meticulously.
Patience is indispensable.
A positive attitude sustains endurance.
Self-belief is non-negotiable.
Humour alleviates despair.
Concurrence with Hemingway’s insistence on disregarding negative reviews is a useful practice that shields creativity from corrosive doubt.
Watch out for these scurrilous lowlifes who prey upon budding young writers keen to be recognised for their literary designs. Be very aware of the criminals and pretenders who will heap praise and adulation on your efforts as a means of taking your money. Research all prospective agents, reviewers, etc, thoroughly. Trust very few.
Developing an attractive website and a popular social media profile have I allowed me to display my wares. These include my books, trailers and character traits.
Highly favourable reviews across platforms, including AI-generated literary analyses, help promote my persona. They have revealed
- rich worldbuilding,
- virtuous characters,
- emotional depth,
- environmental detail,
- historical resonance, and
- compelling adventure arcs.
LinkedIn is where he has cultivated a loyal following for more than twelve months.
My social media posts on LinkedIn assist my profile considerably. It is my purpose to highlight the heights of altruism that mankind has attained and can continue to attain. My incisive commentaries attack hypocrisy, inequality, moral decay, societal contradictions, greed and divisiveness.
My books are promoted on social media, and along with them, my posts exude encouragement, historical insights, and reflections on the virtues embodied by my characters.
A Life in Full
Mine is an unique sojourn over 75 years of:
- a child surrendered at birth,
- a son of wartime warriors,
- a teacher who shaped generations, skill, and mindsets,
- a chronicler of vanishing histories,
- a protector of heritage,
- an environmental observer,
- a novelist of rare moral conviction,
- a survivor of heart impairment,
- a writer whose pen continues to dignify the human condition.
I believe I am a custodian of humanity, one whose legacy will reverberate into the future.
It has been said that in a world hungry for authenticity, my experience stands as a reminder that true leadership is not defined by titles or corporate empires but by character, compassion, and contribution.
Thank You, Phillip Leighton
We sincerely thank Phillip Leighton for sharing his remarkable life journey and literary insights with us. His reflections on history, humanity, and hope offer a powerful reminder of how lived experience can shape meaningful storytelling. It has been an honour to feature his voice and celebrate a body of work that continues to preserve heritage, inspire compassion, and dignify the human condition through words.
