Science fiction dream becomes a reality for finalist in international writing competition

HOBART IT consultant Robert Batten, a closet science fiction author since 2010, has outed himself spectacularly.

Hobart IT consultant Robert Batten has been a closet author for years, but has come out after his manuscript was selected as a finalist in an international competition involving Ridley Scott's company. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

HOBART information technology consultant Robert Batten, a closet science fiction author since 2010, has outed himself spectacularly after his manuscript was selected as a finalist in an international competition held by Ridley Scott’s production company.

Mr Batter said nobody except for his wife and a couple of close friends knew about his literary bent until this year when he joined an online community associated with Inkshares, a book publisher that organises crowd funding for its authors.

“It has been a very personal process,” he said.

Mr Batten said when he decided to share parts of his draft manuscript titled Human Resources with the community he was braced for constructive criticism, but had been instead floored by an overwhelmingly positive response.

His work is now leading the people’s choice section of the Launchpad competition which ends November 8.

“The other moment that floored me was when I received the email informing me it had been selected for the finals,’’ he said.

One, possibly more, of the 75 finalists selected by a panel of top film industry talent are expected to be made into a movie by Mr Scott’s company Scott Free.

Originally published as Science fiction dream becomes a reality for finalist in international writing competition