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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.
His first series
is the popular, 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.
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 ...
His latest book
is a new departure for John. Marty’s Shadow is
his first novel for a young adult audience and has received many
accolades – it was an honour book in the Older Readers section
of the CBCA 2008 awards and was shortlisted for the 2008 Queensland
Premier’s Literary Award.
   
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, The Mind
Master (a fantasy novel in the Quentaris Series), Sykie, The
Island (a picture book with Peter Sheehan), Stinky and The
Boot Thief.
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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