JOHN HEFFERNAN
John Heffernan lives with his wife and two daughters, eight dogs, three cats and numerous horses, on a sheep and cattle property in northern New South Wales. He has been writing since 1997 and in that time he has produced about 14 books on a range of subjects and genre, for a variety of ages.

One series that has been very popular is the award-winning Spud sequence. Spud, Chips and Pup deal with life on the land in Australia, as seen through the eyes of work dogs. The books are fiercely realistic, showing a way of life that can be hard and cruel at times, but also beautiful. The Spud sequence deals with issues such as dysfunctional families, alcoholism, and cruelty to animals, as well as environmental matters.

A Horse Called Elvis is written in a similar voice, but delves deeper. 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, including adults, can gain something from it. His books leave readers in no doubt about the importance of trust, friendship and love, especially between humans and animals.

John has also written on the topic of war and refugees. My Dog is a picture book for all ages, set in war torn 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 very popular among a wide range of readers and, although exploring several serious issues, it is essentially a story of friendship between two very different boys.

John also loves writing in the science fiction/fantasy genre. He has two books out in the Mythos Trilogy, which centre 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. The third book in the series (FAQ) is 'in the works' and, although one would logically see the third book as the concluding volume in the trilogy, John thinks it might extend to as many as five ...

John has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. Spud and Pup were both classified as Notable Books by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). Rachael's Forest was shortlisted for the Wilderness Society's Environmental Award for Literature. My Dog (currently being translated into French) was awarded Book of the Year and Honour book by the CBCA, as well as being shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. John's latest picture book, Two Summers, was shortlisted for both the CBCA Picture Book of the Year and won the 2003 Crichton Award for illustration.

Other titles by John include Pete Paddock Basher and a fantasy novel in the Quentaris Series, The Mind Master. 2005 will see the publishing of a ghost series under the general title of Spooks Down Under and he is currently working on another novel and a picture book.

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

For more information visit John's website.

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