Hello…
I’m one of five boys and we all grew up (just not very high) on a farm outside of Yass, New South Wales. I’ve always loved books and now I get to write them!
Chicken Stu (Scholastic, 2010), was my first book and it is inspired by the antics I got up to with my four brothers on our home farm. It was followed in 2013 by Bad Grammar (Walker Books), a story set at a remote boarding school for rough boys. More recently I’ve written 5 books in a junior series called The Nerd Herd collaborating with the very talented illustrator, Chris Kennett. 2023 will see the release of the first two titles in a new series for 8+ called Family Holidays Disasters, also featuring the work of Chris. A third Family Disasters book will hit shelves in the first half of 2024.
As well as books, I write plays. Two of my plays have been nominated for Awgie (Australian Writers’ Guild) Awards: Smashed, and Thai-riffic! (adapted from the novel by Oliver Phommavanh).
These days when not writing you might find me at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, where I’m the Children’s and Young Adult Manager. I also teach music, drama and writing within primary schools on a part time basis.
For 7 years I worked for the Wakakirri National Story Festival, an arts festival for Australian schools promoting education through the telling and sharing of stories. I also had an exciting stint as a Creative Producer for the Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT) in Western Sydney.
In my quest for knowledge (and to avoid real work) I’ve completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Theatre/Media), a Graduate Diploma in Screenwriting from the Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) and a Master of Teaching. These bits of paper mean I’m much smart.
A List of Things You Might Not Know About Me
- I can’t swim (I am a world champion doggie-paddler, but that hardly counts)
- I lived in Italy for 9 months and can speak Italian, badly (dove la pizza? Ahhh, ecco la pizza. Yummo, yummo)
- I once starred in a show as a WWF style wrestler named Corporal Carnage and somehow managed to avoid breaking any bones.
- I once worked as a clown for a street party and kids screamed when they saw me, though not in the good way.
- In Kindergarten, I was the smallest kid in the year by a lot. During the end of year circus extravaganza performance they made me play the strongman.