Literati: Australian contemporary literary figures discuss fear, frustrations and fame

by James Phelan

Literati is a fascinating book that, for the first time in Australian publishing, takes the reader to the desks of their favourite contemporary authors. Comprising candid interviews with equally candid photographs, the book looks at these authors and their day-to-day views on success and fame whilst opening up about their fears, their critics, their fans, their frustrations and their anguish over writer's block! Some of the writers profiled include: Sonya Hartnett, Di Morrissey, Garth Nix, Robert Drewe, John Marsden, Louise Zaetta, Tony Shillitoe, Carmel Bird, Tara Moss, Matthew Reilly, Andy Griffiths, Belinda Alexandra, John Birmingham, Kathryn Fox, Celestine Hitiura Vaite, Peter Craven, and others.

Genres: Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

James Phelan is the award-winning author of twenty-four novels and one work of non-fiction. He first studied and worked in architecture before turning to English/Lit, working five years at The Age newspaper, obtaining an MA (Writing) and PhD (Young Adult Literature).

Hachette has published his five geo-political thrillers: FOX HUNT, PATRIOT ACT, BLOOD OIL, LIQUID GOLD and RED ICE.

From 2010-2011, Hachette published the widely acclaimed ALONE trilogy of Young Adult post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels.

In 2013/2014, Scholastic published James' thirteen-book adventure series about the dream work THE LAST THIRTEEN. The multi-award winning series (2014 YABBA, COOL, KOALA awards) has been highly successful around the world, selling over a million copies in 18 months.

THE SPY (Hachette, 2013), was the first instalment in a new series of suspense thrillers with the protagonist Jed Walker, and is followed by THE HUNTED (2015), and KILL SWITCH (2015).

James is currently working on a follow-up trilogy to THE LAST THIRTEEN, more thrillers, and an illustrated middle-grade series titled GRANDPA SPIES.

James has taught writing at post-graduate level and regularly talks at schools, libraries and universities around the world. Since 2006 he has sold over 4 million copies of his books.