David Metzenthen

David Metzenthen is a talented and highly regarded author of picture books, children’s novels and YA titles for secondary students. He is also a strong proponent of boys and reading as he regularly visits schools to encourage boys to celebrate reading and all it can offer.

David draws on incidents in life to develop his stories and they resonate with Australian readers of all ages. It may be a statement he overhears in the street or something he sees at a school or park. It may be something that captures his imagination in history or an aspect of his own life and family as with the successful YA novel "Boys of Blood & Bone".

David is happy to discuss the background and influences for any of his books as an author talk (but is not available for workshops - he is still working out how he writes and does not feel he can guide others).

His work has been recognised with numerous awards, including being shortlisted for the 2008 CBCA Awards in two categories – "Winning the World Cup" in the Younger Readers’ category and "Black Water" in the Older Readers’ category. In 2007 his picture book, "Rainbirds" (illus. by Sally Rippin) was an Honour Book in these same awards.