Corlis has worked at Mount Isa Mines for 23 years and has three children, but tries to write 2000 words a day on his days off. 

He starts writing at 9am and will not finish until the words have been written.  

Corlis began writing about eight years ago, and has self-published three books, including a thriller The Bowers Mill. 

He has a lot of support from his wife Tiffany.

Before he begins writing a novel, they brainstorm ideas together. They call themselves TNT Corlis. 

Once the plot is sorted Corlis begins writing, but does not reveal all the twists to his partner.

“There are certain parts I don’t let on with her. I like to see her reaction,” he said. 

But sometimes she reads his story while he is typing.

Once, while he was engrossed in writing a thriller, her presence made him jump in surprise. 

Corlis began working at Mount Isa Mines when he was 15, but dreamed of writing books. 

Once his children started school, he decided to use his days off to achieve his goal.  

He worked at the mine for the family, and as part of a collective cause in the community. 

“What we do here [writing] is purely for us,” Corlis said. 

Corlis is considering writing a science fiction based on infrastructure at the Mount Isa Mines.