The subject of his latest novel When the Lions are Drinking is based on his experiences when working for the British Government as a information officer. His main client was the British Foreign Office. Wake was in a charge of a film unit that produced films with a Foreign Office brief for world distribution. Prior to joining government service in Britain Wake worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and variious newspapers and radio stations in Canada and Australia. Wake is married and lives with his Canadian born wife in Australia. They have two daughters.