Paul Anthony Surch was born in Melbourne Australia in January 1967 and existed for nineteen days. That was the time between being named by his birth mother and being given up for adoption and renamed.

I grew up in the small seaside town of Mornington where I quickly became restless. The only thing that held my fascination was the sea, with its constantly changing moods. It felt endless and timeless and I had the childish notion that if I were to step into a boat it could take me anywhere. It is little wonder that my earliest poems were all about the sea.

At the age of nineteen I left Australia to travel across America. This was the first time that I felt alive, finding myself in dangerous situations and making friends that would last a lifetime. The journey had a profound effect on my view of the world and on my poetry. I have since travelled to many countries, and that feeling of adventure, danger and intrigue has always remained a powerful drive to see as much of the world as possible before I die.

Walking on Ice is a journey of discovery. Written on trains, buses, planes and in airport lounges, hotels and wayside stops, it is as much a search for self as it is for a definition of home.

Throughout my journey I have often thought about Paul Anthony and the life he may have led had I not been adopted. This book is my dedication to the life he gave to me and is published in his name.