Tim Winton

The pre-eminent Australian novelist of his generation, Tim’s literary reputation was established early when his first novel, AN OPEN SWIMMER, won the 1981 Australian Vogel Award; his second novel SHALLOWS won the Miles Franklin Award in 1984; and his third book, SCISSION, a collection of short stories, won the West Australian Council Literary Award in 1985.

THAT EYE THE SKY was adapted for the stage by Justin Monjo and Richard Roxburgh, and also made into a film. A film was made of IN THE WINTER DARK, starring Brenda Blethyn and Richard Roxburgh..

Tim’s fifth novel, CLOUDSTREET, the story of two working-class families rebuilding their lives, was a huge literary and commercial success. It has been a bestseller since its publication in 1991 and was recently voted the most popular Australian novel by the Australian Society of Authors. Awards include National Book Council Banjo Award for Fiction, 1991; West Australian Fiction Award 1991; Deo Gloria Award (UK), 1991; and the 1992 Miles Franklin Award.

CLOUDSTREET was adapted for the stage by Nick Enright and Justin Monjo, and played to sell-out houses around Australia and in Zurich, London and Dublin in 1999. It toured internationally again in 2001, playing in London, New York and Washington. A mini-series based on the book, written by Tim Winton and Ellen Erwin, was released in 2011.

Tim’s next novel was THE RIDERS. Published in 1995, it was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize and has been translated into numerous languages including French, German, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Polish, Greek and Hebrew.

Winton’s books for children and teenagers include the series of three books about the 13 year old Lockie Leonard. The first book in the series, LOCKIE LEONARD HUMAN TORPEDO won the Western Australia Premier’s Award for Children’s Fiction. It was adapted for the stage by Paige Gibbs and toured nationally with great success. LOCKIE LEONARD LEGEND, the most recent in the series, won the Family Award for Children’s Literature. Goalpost Pictures have made two television series based on the books.

In 2001 Tim’s novel, DIRT MUSIC, was published to considerable critical acclaim and impressive reviews. The book was shortlisted for the 2002 Man Booker Prize and won the 2002 Miles Franklin Award, the West Australian Fiction Award and the Christina Stead Award for Fiction.

THE TURNING a collection of stories, was published in 2004. It was shortlisted for the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award and in Australia won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the Queensland Fiction Book Award and the Colin Roderick Award. Filming began in July 2012 on the first of 17 short films, with 17 different teams writing, directing and producing. Robert Connolly and Maggie Miles from Arenamedia are the producers.

Tim Winton’s most recent novel BREATH won the 2009 Miles Franklin Award, making him the only Australian writer to have won this award four times. BREATH was published by Penguin Group Australia in 2008 and went on to be published in USA, Canada, UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Romania and Slovenia and other countries. Film rights have been optioned by Simon Baker (The Mentalist) and Mark Johnston.

Tim also writes plays. His first play, RISING WATER, premiered at Black Swan State Theatre in 2011 and later that year the production was part of the Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2011 season. Directed by Kate Cherry, it starred John Howard, Geoff Kelso and Alison White. SIGNS OF LIFE premiered at Black Swan State Theatre in 2012 and also had a season at the Sydney Theatre Company later that year. SHRINE, directed by Kate Cherry, opens at Black Swan State Theatre 31 Auugust 2013.

A new novel, EYRIE, will be published by Hamish Hamilton (Australia) in October 2013.

Tim Winton is patron of the Tim Winton Award for Young Writers sponsored by the City of Subiaco, Western Australia. Active in the environmental movement in Australia, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to literature and the community. He is the Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Stop the Toad Foundation. He lives in Western Australia with his wife and three children.