The journey from advertising copywriter to best-selling, award-winning author has been swift and sweet for David Metzenthen who, in 1996, was awarded the NSW Premier’s Award for Children’s Literature with Johnny Hart’s Heroes. Along the way David has also worked as a barrow boy, night porter, gravedigger and labourer—all experiences which have enhanced his understanding of character.
David’s previous novels include Danger Wave; Lee Spain; Brocky’s Bananagram (short-listed for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Younger Readers Award); Gilbert’s Ghost Train; as well as Roadie and Animal Instincts in the Omnibus Shorts range.
His Omnibus novel for older readers, Falling Forward, was short-listed in the NSW Premier’s Award and the Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Awards (Older Readers category).
David believes in ‘treating every square centimetre of Australia as a living, breathing thing’, a belief that comes through in his powerful, resonant novels, which pulsate with life and emotion.
A letter from David Metzenthen
Dear Reader,
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, as it gives me an opportunity to attempt to explain what I’m trying to achieve in my books and writing.
I guess I try to present stories that could happen in the real world—so when I write I work very hard to create ‘people’ rather than ‘characters’. In the process of writing I have to ‘see’ the book, ‘see’ the story, and if I can’t, then I doubt any of my readers could either. So I do try to give you everything I am capable of.
I write about what I consider to be the most important things in life: friendship, loyalty, courage, love, Australia, and the mystifying process of being alive. Describing this country is also what I like to do, in a heartfelt effort to show my readers exactly what I see … and hopefully bring my settings to life.
I consider myself a pretty normal sort of a person. I’m married with two children, two goldfish, a parrot, and a Commodore car, but I admit that trying to earn a living from inventing stories is at least slightly odd—so maybe I am a bit out of my tree at times, but hey, everyone pretends not to notice.
If you do go on to read any of my books, I sincerely hope that they are worthy of your time, attention and imagination.
Best wishes,
David Metzenthen
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