GARRY DISHER

AUTHOR

Garry Disher is one of Australia's most successful writers, publishing over 35 books in a range of genres. Garry Disher has been quoted to say: 'I wear three fiction-writing hats, 'literary', crime and children's - but in my head the three are indistinguishable from each other in terms of worth, writing craft and hard work.'

Garry's novels often draw on memories of life in the dry wheat and wool country of mid-north South Australia, where his family have farmed for generations. Laurie Clancy of The Age, notes that Garry's novels are "among other things celebrations of ordinary Australians, the thoroughly decent or mostly decent people who do not always attract the novelist's attention." However, his wealth of experience also stems from his extensive travelling, living and working throughout the UK, Italy, Israel and southern Africa.

For the past 15 years he has written full-time, publishing novels, short-story collections, textbooks, children's fiction, crime thrillers, anthologies and writers' handbooks both in Australia and overseas.

Garry's work has received numerous awards and honours. THE DIVINE WIND, a novel for young adults, won the prestigious Ethel Turner award, was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council, SA Festival and Ethnic Affairs awards, and is currently Year 12 text in Victoria. Garry's third novel for adults, THE SUNKEN ROAD (Allen & Unwin), was shortlisted for three major awards and nominated for the Booker Prize.

Garry's other popular and award-winning texts include THE BAMBOO FLUTE (Hodder), RATFACE (Hodder), PAST THE HEADLANDS (Allen & Unwin) and KICKBACK.

FEEDBACK

"Engaging - Garry brought across to the students the difficulties in expressing ideas in language. He gave a comprehensive and informative discussion both on a personal level and about the 'politics' involved in becoming a writer."

- Pam Feidman, Beth Rivkah Ladies' College