His most novel, HEY JOE - about the Vietnam War, the movement against it and the sixties in Australia - was named as a Notable Book in the 2004 CBC Awards. Many of his short stories for Younger Readers are published in the Trend/Awesome Series including the popular titles: THE FOOTY COACH FROM HELL, SEAL SAVES THE ISLAND and HOW I GOT A GIRLFRIEND.

Michael edited two senior anthologies for the Australian Association of English Teachers (AATE), HUNGER (CBC Notable Book 2004) and THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A FLY (CBC Notable Book 2002). Both anthologies feature popular YA Australian writers (including Michael) and like his novels, enjoy significant sales. After a long career as an English teacher, (with stints as a journalist and truck driver) Michael now lectures in Professional Writing, Sports Writing and Children's Text at Victoria University.

His many non-fiction works include being the series editor and writer for the national English Series, ENGLISHWORKS, a writer for the Macmillan series MOSAIC, and his own textbook THE DIARY OF MY SECRET LIFE (a guide to the craft of writing). Other non-fiction works include the Richard Osborne biography, OSSIE RULES and ASIA AT A GLANCEÐ a CD Rom and English Curriculum Units for secondary students.

MICHAEL'S PRESENTATIONS

Michael runs Creative Writing Workshops for years 5 - 12 and is demand for Writer-In-Residency programs.

Professional Development
Michael Hyde’s PD sessions are informed, vibrant and directly helpful to the classroom teacher. Each program includes a good mix of theory and practice, teacher involvement, exercises designed to teach aspects of the writing process and excellent take-away lessons.

Michael’s PD and Talks cover:
Writing Folios
Writing in English
Getting them Writing and keeping them Writing
Developing a Writing Culture
Tricks of Writing
Responding to students’ drafts
Accelerated Programs
Whole School Writing Programs
Teaching Narrative
Linking Reading and Writing Programs
Supporting Parents with their children’s Writing
Script Writing
School/Student Publications
Sports Writing
Writing for the Media

Diverse themes and issues are explored in all Michael's novels and are suitable for study at all levels from years 7 - 12. Please find a list below of study themes:

MAX
Friendship, Support, Death and the struggles of young people to find meaning in their lives. The ending is both uplifting and optimistic.
Suitable for Year levels 9 - 11

TYGER TYGER
The more profound, intangible aspects of sport (in this case, Australian Rules football), the power of dreams / metaphors, and fathers and sons.
Suitable for Year levels 8 - 10

HEY JOE
War, dissent, social / cultural upheaval and personal change and parent-child relationships.
Suitable for Year levels 10 - 12

Michael also conducts writing workshops for students and teachers across Australia. He lives in Melbourne with Gabrielle and Zachariah, the youngest of his four children. He loves the bush, the desert, the sea, Aussie Rules footy (especially Collingwood), canoeing and encouraging others to write.

"Michael's success was made evident for me when walking back to the staffroom with him after a presentation to one of the year levels. He was stopped by several students wanting advice, assistance or simply wanting to make contact. Here we had students independently engaging and pursuing an interest and comfortable enough to approach him. Thus, it wasn't just through his workshop or lecture where results were evident but in the less obvious but more important personal contact. Our boys had found another voice with whom they could identify."

- David McLean, Mentone Grammar School

"Michael's passionate commitment to justice, love of sport, and lively sense of humour combine in a perfect recipe to ignite readers and writers, students and teachers. During stimulating workshops with both students and teachers in Sunraysia, he generously shared strategies and ideas. His easy engagement and passion for reading and writing is contagious and the influence of his ability to ignite is evident within our school community."

- Camilla Elliot, St Joseph's College, Mildura

"He has been an inspiration, enabling the young girls to write about the environment and to see it in new ways. Michael has also been invaluable support to staff, sharing with them his expertise and insights into the teaching of writing to young people."

- Coordinator Middle School English, Methodist Ladies’ College

"As a group of experienced English teachers, we were all delighted with the writing workshop Michael Hyde conducted for our faculty. He offered practical and achievable ideas for a range of student and levels. We were left with a renewed enthusiasm for the possibility of developing ‘a writing culture’."

- Curriculum Coordinator, Greensborough Secondary College