James Roy
Encyclopedia
James Roy is an Australian writer. He writes primarily for young adults and children, and in addition to his native Australia
, his books are published in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany and South Korea.
Roy's parents were Seventh-day Adventist
missionaries to Papua New Guinea
and Fiji
. Roy has often said that growing up in such an environment was key to his development as a writer.
His first novel, Almost Wednesday, was published by University of Queensland Press
in 1996, and since that time he has released eighteen books, ranging from novels and short story
collections to chapter books for young readers.
Roy is a well-known and popular visitor to schools and festivals throughout Australia, where he conducts author talks and creative writing
workshops across a wide range of audiences.
He lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife and two daughters.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, his books are published in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany and South Korea.
Roy's parents were Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
missionaries to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. Roy has often said that growing up in such an environment was key to his development as a writer.
His first novel, Almost Wednesday, was published by University of Queensland Press
University of Queensland Press
Established in 1948, University of Queensland Press is a dynamic publishing house known for its innovative philosophy and commitment to producing books of high quality and cultural significance...
in 1996, and since that time he has released eighteen books, ranging from novels and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
collections to chapter books for young readers.
Roy is a well-known and popular visitor to schools and festivals throughout Australia, where he conducts author talks and creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
workshops across a wide range of audiences.
He lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife and two daughters.
Books
- Edsel Grizzler: Ghostly Shadows (2011)
- Edsel Grizzler: Rescue Mission (2010)
- Anonymity Jones (2010)
- Edsel Grizzler: Voyage to Verdada (2009)
- Quentaris: The Gimlet Eye (2009)
- Hunting Elephants (2008)
- Queasy Rider (2008)
- Town (2007)
- Problem Child (2007) - published in the US as Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully
- Broken Wings (2006)
- The 'S' Word - a boys' guide to sex, puberty and growing up (2006)
- The Legend of Big Red (2005)
- Billy Mack's War (2004)
- Wrestlefest Fever (2003)
- Ichabod Hart and the Lighthouse Mystery (2003)
- A Boat for Bridget (2001)
- Captain Mack (1999)
- Full Moon Racing (1999)
- Almost Wednesday (1996)
Awards
- In 2011 the German edition of Town, titled "Town; Irgendwo in Australien" (Gerstenberg Verlag) was shortlisted for the prestigious Deutscher JugendliteraturpreisDeutscher JugendliteraturpreisThe Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
(German Youth Literature Prize) in the Young Adult category.
- In 2008 Town was awarded the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature, a category of the New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsNew South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsThe New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities...
.
- In 2008 Town was also short-listed for the Queensland Premier's Awards; and won the Golden Inky, a readers' choice award run by the Victorian Centre for Youth Literature.
- Two of Roy's books have named as Honour Books in the Children's Book Council of AustraliaChildren's Book Council of AustraliaThe Children's Book Council of Australia is a not for profit organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards for books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.-Awards:The first...
"Children's Book of the Year Awards": Captain Mack, in 2000; and Billy Mack's War, in 2005. Several other of his titles have been named as Notable Books in the same awards.