WORDS

Jeff is a children's writer. His first book, "Paper Magic" is due for release by IFWG Publishing  in Mid 2013. 

"I hated reading as a child. Now, I realise how much I missed out on. I love children's books; they make me feel young again. I am trying to write the type of books I would have liked to read way back when." 
 
Jeff writes chapter books, picture book texts, junior and young adult novels.

In 2009, Jeff's children's story, 'Marina Mack and the Magic Paper' was shortlisted for the Charlotte Duncan Award for Children's Literature. That story has now been reworked into the chapter book, 'Paper Magic' with some invaluable help from Sandy Fussell, one of Jeff's all time favourite children's authors. Her historical fiction books, 'Polar Boy', 'Jaguar Warrior' and the 'Samuari Kids' series are must reads.

Jeff's current work-in-progress is a Junior novel titled 'Olivia Stone and the Trouble With Trixies.'  The story explores how hard it is to protect the world from the monsters when most don't come out until past your bedtime.


 

PICTURES

 Jeff is a SCBWI member who paints and illustrates similar subject matter to his writing. A lot of his works feature children and animals. Jeff's first art exhibition 'Bless the Beasts and the Children' was very successful with the majority of the works selling on the opening night.

Jeff works in watercolours, oils, acrylics and digitally - using a stylus and graphics tablet to paint. He is a member of the Bathurst Arts Trail and opens his Studio-Gallery to the public on the first weekend of each month.

Sometimes he mixes things up a bit and experiments with different surfaces to paint on.

"Rectangular canvases can get a little boring. I like to experiment. I've painted on satin, velvet, gum leaves and odd shaped pieces of rock. It makes planning the composition much more of a challenge."

Jeff illustrated part of the teacher resource package for Sandy Fussell's CBCA nominated book 'Polar Boy.'  He provides the cover illustrations for the monthly on-line magazine for children - 'Literature For Kids' and is now an illustrator for IFWG Publishing.

Jeff has recently been commissioned to paint a mural at his local public school. The mural will be an aboriginal style painting with the centre piece of the work being a 1.5 metre long sculpture of a goanna.