Bio
I am a Vancouver author and citizen of Canada, having moved from my native Australia in 2007. My novels include Kindling and the acclaimed YA works Are You Seeing Me? and Munro vs. the Coyote (titled Exchange of Heart in AUS/NZ). My new novel Boy in the Blue Hammock was released April 2022.
My work has been lauded in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Australian Bookseller & Publisher and Good Reading Magazine; and by bestselling writers including Nick Earls, Vikki Wakefield, Susin Nielsen and Eileen Cook.
I have appeared at numerous literary events on both sides of the Pacific, including the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival, Adelaide Writers’ Week, the Vancouver Writers Fest and the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. I’ve been a keynote speaker, guest lecturer, workshop/masterclass facilitator and writer-in-residence for literary organizations, writing groups, schools and libraries. I’ve penned feature articles for a variety of print and online publications and was formerly a registered Mentor with the Australian Society of Authors.
I am a passionate advocate for the representation of intellectual disability in literature, and am the proud father of a son with lifelong cognitive and communication challenges.
For fun, I watch ‘American Ninja Warrior’ with my beautiful Canadian wife and eat Fatburger with my wondrous adult twins.
Recognition
WINNER of the Adelaide Festival Award for Young Adult Literature (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
WINNER of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Top Novel (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Shortlisted in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Young Adult Book Award (Australia) for Most Valuable Potential
Official Selection in the ‘Books From Our Backyard: 100 Must-Read Books From Queensland’ Collection (Australia) for Most Valuable Potential
Shortlisted in The Text Prize (Australia) for Concentrate
Book of the Month, Booktopia (Australia) for Kindling
Book of the Month, Notebook Magazine (Australia) for Kindling
Selection in the ‘Best Reads of 2012′, Reading Rewards (Australia) for Kindling
Selection in the ‘2014 Books of the Year’, Booktopia (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Outstanding Selection in the ‘2015 Book Collection’, International Board on Books for Young Adults (IBBY) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Older Readers Book of the Year for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult’s Literature (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Best Books for Young Readers’, ABA (Children’s Group) (USA) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Griffith University Young Adult Book Award (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the PFP Children’s Peace Literature Award (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘White Raven’ Collection, International Youth Library (Germany) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Governor General’s Literary Awards (Canada) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Best of 2015 YA’, Cleaver Magazine (USA) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Best Fiction for Young Adults’ Collection, YALSA (USA) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Best of 2015’, YA Books Central (USA) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Top Grade’ List, Association of Canadian Publishers (Canada) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize (Canada) for Are You Seeing Me?
Shortlisted in the Western Australia Premier’s Book Awards (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Nominee in the Sakura Medal – English High School Books (Japan) for Are You Seeing Me?
Starred Selection in ‘Best Books for Teens’, Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Canada) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in ‘Read Up List’, The Stella Prize (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in ‘Best YA Books for Summer’, Readings (Australia) for Exchange of Heart
Selection in ‘Favourite Australian YA Titles’, Booktopia (Australia) for Exchange of Heart
Selection in ‘Favourite Australian YA’, Better Read Kids (Australia) for Exchange of Heart
Selection in ‘Top Picks of 2017’, Novel Ideas Show (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Selection in ‘Highly Recommended – Winter 2017-2018’, CanLit Books for Kids and Teens (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Selection in ‘Recommended Books’, Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Selection in ‘Best Books’, Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Shortlisted in the Young Australian Best Books Award (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in the ‘Teen Committee Summer List’, Forest of Reading (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Finalist in the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Nominee in the White Pine Award (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Selection in ‘Best Books’, Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Canada) for Infinite Blue
Selection in ‘Best Teen Canadian Books’, Halifax Libraries (Canada) for Infinite Blue
Shortlisted in ‘Adaptable: Turning the Page to Screen’, QWC (Australia) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in ‘CBC Showcase’, Children’s Book Council (USA) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in ‘Families Showcase’, Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Canada) for Are You Seeing Me?
Selection in ‘BC Books for BC Schools’, ABPBC (Canada) for Munro vs. the Coyote
Selection in ‘Most Anticipated 2022’, 49th Shelf (Canada) for Boy in the Blue Hammock
Selection in ‘Editor’s Picks’, 49th Shelf (Canada) for Boy in the Blue Hammock
Selection in ‘BC Books for BC Libraries’, Read Local BC (Canada) for Boy in the Blue Hammock
Selection in ‘Staff Picks 2022’, Block Shop Books (Canada) for Boy in the Blue Hammock
Selection in ‘Library Staff Picks’, Okanagan College (Canada) for Boy in the Blue Hammock
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