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. 2021 marks the release of a new junior series called The Nerd Herd in collaboration with the very talented illustrator, Chris Kennett.
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).
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 Creative Producer for the Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT) in Western Sydney. I currently teach music, drama and writing part-time within primary schools.
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.
