DARREN GROTH

AUTHOR

Darren Groth has always maintained he could have been a great athlete but for a lack of talent, work ethic and passion. Turned out these were the very things he possessed as a writer, and since realising this ten years ago, he hasn't looked back.

Darren combines several lives. He is the author of two fiction novels - THE PROCRASTINATOR, the story of a sports hero who believes he can save his life by jumping off a bridge (Jacobyte Books, 2000) and MVP - MOST VALUABLE POTENTIAL, the story of the sometimes sad, oftentimes hilarious, eight week journey of an injured sports star and six migrant/refugee student wannabes as they shoot for against-all-odds glory (Ninderry Press, 2003).

He is currently completing his third novel, THE UMBILICAL WORD, which finds a father-to-be discovering what's most important in life through an e-mail exchange with his unborn child. Venero Armanno, acclaimed author of The Volcano, has described Darren as a 'writer to watch' and 'a born storyteller', and MVP as 'an immensely satisfying read'.

When he's not watching 24 with his beautiful Canadian wife, or listening to Spiderbait with his two and a half year old twins, he is HPE teacher to the students of Milpera State High School - Australia's only government-run school for migrants and refugees. Milpera served as the backdrop for MVP and demonstrates to Darren, on a daily basis, the true meaning of 'most valuable potential'.

As a teacher, he preaches respect over competition, equity over elitism, and fun over skill. Darren is also Queensland Schools Co-ordinator for War Child Australia, a not for profit organization dedicated to providing immediate, effective and sustainable aid to children in war zones. One dollar from every copy of MVP sold is donated to War Child.

Darren is available for talks and workshops on the following:
- MVP and Me: How I Found My Most Valuable Potential
and How You Can Find Yours
- MVP: Most Valuable Prose (weaving writing straw into story gold)
- The One And Only Milpera: What Its Like To Work In
An Australian School With No Australian Students

For more information, visit Darren's website at www.darrengroth.com