John Heffernan lives with his wife, eight dogs, three cats and numerous horses on a sheep and cattle property in northern New South Wales.
John first trained as a teacher and this experience has been invaluable in his writing and in his relationship with his young readers. He writes with integrity and honesty, and employs strong plots and well-developed characters.
John talks about living on the land and writing . . .
‘I live on a sheep and cattle property south of Walcha in the New England Tablelands with my wife and two daughters. My wife and I run the place together. It’s basically a good life that gives you weather-beaten skin and sends you to sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. Naturally, the day-to-day grind can get you down, but it’s all the critters that go with this life that make it really shine. Like my horse, Elvis, who can be a real dag if he wants to, and sings out of tune anyway. Or the fox who insists of stealing boots. There’s Smokey the cat, who wasn’t sent off like all his brothers and sisters, but stayed here with his mum, and has never really grown up. And of course there are the dogs, five kelpies and one blue heeler. The kelpies are a family: mum and dad, two kids and a neurotic uncle called Con. And the blue heeler? I still haven’t really worked her out yet.
‘I always hoped that living on the land would allow me to write. What I didn’t expect though was that it would give me something to write about. The place is full of stories that are being ignored in our increasingly urbanised and technology-driven society. I want to tell some of those tales.’
John’s books reflect his love for life on the land. His first book, Spud, was about his own blue heeler and is told from her perspective. John followed up with Chips, part of the Spud series.
Rachael’s Forest takes up the theme of the rural recession and a family’s fight to save their farm. The main character is spirited and determined.
Pete Paddock-Basher is for a younger age level. It is a humorous and fast-paced story of an old car who dreams of greater things than bashing around a paddock. Pete realises his dream in a most amusing and exciting way.
CBD is different again. Set in the Sydney of the future, it is the first book in a trilogy for young adults. GBHis the second book in the trilogy, set in the twenty-third century.
More Than Gold is an inspiring story and was written from John’s own experiences coaching country kids in sport.
My Dog, John’s first picture book, is a poignant story that traces the disruption and tragedy of civil conflict through the voice of Alija, the young boy narrator.
John spends much of his time touring schools and meeting children and teachers.
John Heffernan’s books are proudly published by Margaret Hamilton Books, an imprint of Scholastic Australia.
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