Melbourne-born David Burke began his newspaper career on the Herald-Sun later moving to the Sydney Morning Herald and its associated publications. He has written 30 books covering fact and fiction, some relating to railways (where he once worked). 30 Days on Australia's Railways was his previous railway book published in 2014 by Rosenberg. His adventure novel set on Victoria's narrow gauge Puffing Billy was made by the ABC into a seven episode TV serial and Come Midnight Monday enjoyed international release. His most recent work is The Cottage at Tathra a stage play telling of Japan's submarine warfare along Australia's south coast during World War II, and among the local population, what happened when the enemy came ashore.