JOHN HEFFERNAN

AUTHOR

John Heffernan has been writing since 1997. In that time he has produced about 14 books on a range of subjects and genre, for a variety of age.

His main age group is 10 - 14 years, but he writes for older and younger readers, producing both YA novels and picture books.

One series that has been very popular is the award-winning SPUD series. There are three books here (SPUD, CHIPS and PUP) that deal with life on the land in Australia seen through the eyes of the work dogs. The books are fiercely realistic and pull no punches, showing a way of life that can be hard and cruel at times, but also beautiful. In these books John deals with issues such as dysfunctional families, alcoholism, cruelty to animals, as well as environmental matters. His books leave readers in no doubt about the importance of trust, friendship and love especially between human and animals.

A more recent novel - A HORSE CALLED ELVIS - is also in this vein, but goes further. This is a book written on several levels. It can be enjoyed by readers in the 10 - 14 year range, but John has intentionally given the novel more layers so that older readers can gain something from it.

John has also written on war and refugees. MY DOG is a picture book for all ages about the war in Bosnia. The sequel to this book, MORE THAN GOLD, deals with a young Bosnian refugee who settles in Australia with his mother. This novel has been popular with a wide range of readers. Although exploring several serious issues, it is esentially a story of friendship between two very different boys.

John loves writing in the science fiction / fantasy genre as well. He has two books out in the Mythos Trilogy, which focus on a post-apocalyptic Sydney in the 23rd Century. Wild, tattooed tribes called the Oztrakii battle with the rulers of the Sydney basin called the CroNullas. The two titles published so far are CBD and GBH. A third book is being written at present, called FAQ, and even though this is a trilogy, John thinks it may extend to five books.

John has received quite a few national awards for his books. SPUD and PUP were both classified as Notable Books by Children's Book Council of Australia.

RACHAEL'S FOREST was short listed for the Wilderness Society's Environmental Award for Literature. MY DOG was awarded Book of the Year and Honour book by the CBCA, as well as being short-listed for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. MY DOG is at present being translated into French. John's latest picture book. TWO DOG is at present being translated into French. John's latest picture book TWO SUMMERS was short-listed for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 2004, and won the Crichton award for Freya Blackwood's wonderful illustrations.

John mainly publishes with Scholastic Australia, but has recently started writing for two other publishers: Lothian Press and ABC Books. He has done a reworking and expansion of the very popular PETE PADDOCK BASHER, put on by ABC Books.

John has also produced a fantasy novel in the Quentaris Series from Lothian Press, titled THE MIND MASTER.

For 2005 John has ccompleted a ghost series with Scholastic under the general title of SPPOKS DOWN UNDER, a picture book called THE ISLAND, and a creative writing CD for teachers titled HEADS FOR TALES. He has a novel in first draft stage with Lothian, and has contributed to the ABC collection called H2O: Stories of Water.

As John says: "I never have enough time to write, and I don't think I'll ever get all those tales out that are floating about inside my head. It's fun trying though. I think being a writer is one of the most exciting and enjoyable things you can be."

BOOKS BY JOHN INCLUDE:

- SPUD, RACHAEL'S FOREST,
- PETE PADDOCK BASHER (Scholastic), - CHIPS, CBD, MORE THAN GOLD,
- MY DOG, PUP, GBH, WILD THINGS,
- RIDING HIGH, TWO SUMMERS,
- A HORSE CALLED ELVIS,
- THE MIND MASTER,
- THE AVENTURES OF PETE PADDOCK BASHER (ABC)