Children’s Author
Alan writes children’s books for 8-12 year olds. His latest novel for young readers, Six Seconds, was pubished in 2021 and is part of the Scholastic My Australian Story Series. Growing up by the beach in Newcastle in 1989 means footy, sandcastle competitions and school. Michael's dad's a journalist and his small world gets bigger as he starts to pay attention to the news. His interest turns into anxiety and obsession as Michael begins to see the world as a dangerous place that is fast collapsing around him. When the Berlin Wall comes down, most see it as a sign of change and freedom but Michael isn't convinced. But when an earthquake hits his home down, Michael discovers that the worst that can happen is not always as bad as your fears. Refugee (2006) was also published as part of the My Australian Story series. See teachers' notes here.
The Incredible Powers of Montague Towers, was published in 2016. Montague Towers has to solve the crime of the century and hunt down an evil criminal mastermind. But how can he do that when he's just a normal boy? That's where the Cape of Justice can help ...
Toy Wars (1999) was a fantasy adventure about a titanic battle between monsters and chess pieces, a story that explored notions of friends and enemies, and what it means to be different. Cosmo Cooper and the Lemons of Lockbarrel (2002) followed the book’s hero, Cosmo Cooper, as he travelled from his tiny village into the big city to save his friends and family after disaster threatens their community.
HarperCollins Australia published the children’s series Octavius O’Malley and the Mystery of the Exploding Cheese, Octavius O’Malley and the Mystery of the Missing Mouse and Octavius O'Malley And The Mystery Of The Criminal Cats. The first book in the series was published by Corint Junior in Romania and all three O'Malley Mysteries were published in German by Ars Edition from and in Turkey by O2 Yayinevi.