Craig Silvey
Craig Silvey (born January 1st 1982)[1] is an Australian novelist and musician.
Silvey grew up on an orchard in Dwellingup, a small town in the south-west of Western Australia.[2] When he was 12 he wanted to become a palaeontologist.[3] He currently lives in Fremantle.
Literary career
His debut novel, Rhubarb, which he wrote when he was 19[4] was published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press in 2004. Silvey received the Sydney Herald Young Author of the Year in 2005[5]. Rhubarb was selected as the inaugural book for the 'One Book' series of events at the 2005 Perth International Arts Festival, and was included in the Australian national 'Books Alive' campaign. In 2007 Silvey authored a children's book entitled The World According to Warren, a picture book starring the guide-dog from Rhubarb, illustrated by Sonia Martinez and published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press.
In early 2008, Silvey completed his second novel Jasper Jones with the aid of an Australia Council New Work Grant. Jasper Jones was published in 2009 by Allen & Unwin Australia, Knopf Books in the United States (in 2011), Windmill Books in the United Kingdom,[6] Seix Barral/Grupo Planeta in Spain, Neri Pozza/Giano Editore in Italy, Calmann-Lévy/Hachette in France and Rowohlt in Germany (2012). The novel was shortlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.[7] It also won a Printz Honor award from YALSA, a division of the American Library Association, which was announced 23 January 2012 in Dallas, Texas.[8]
In 2010, Silvey was named one of The Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists of the year.[9]
Director Rachel Perkins started filming a movie adaption of Jasper Jones in October 2015.[10][11][12] The film stars Toni Collette (as Ruth Bucktin), Levi Miller (Charlie Bucktin), Aaron McGrath (Jasper Jones), and Angourie Rice (Eliza Wishart).[13]
Silvey says of his literary influences that "I've always been attracted to Southern Gothic fiction. There's something very warm and generous about those regional American writers like Twain and Lee and Capote, and it seemed to be a literary ilk that would lend itself well to the Australian condition."[14]
The Australian authors Silvey admires are Shaun Tan, Markus Zusak, Christos Tsiolkas, Tim Winton and Gail Jones who "write such distinct, brave and beautiful books that simply render me awestruck".[15]
Silvey is also the singer/songwriter for the indie/pop/rock band The Nancy Sikes!. Perth Wildcats guard Adam Caporn plays guitar in Silvey's band.
Works
- 2004: Rhubarb
- 2007: The World According to Warren (juvenile)
- 2009: Jasper Jones
- 2012: The Amber Amulet
References
- ^ "Authors and Artists – Craig Silvey".
- ^ "Power to Blow Your Mind," Marc McEvoy, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 October 2012. Accessed 18 October 2014. Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Castle, K. (2011). "Silvey, Craig". Jasper Jones Library Journals, LLC.
- ^ "Five Ways With Words". Smh.com.au. Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelists of 2005, "Five ways with words," 28 May 2005. Accessed 18 October 2014. Archived 18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, Windmill Books, Archived 18 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "William Trevor makes an Impac", Irish Times, 12 April 2011.
- ^ "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books" Archived 26 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of American Library Association (ALA).
- ^ McEvoy, Marc (26 May 2010). "Grace Under Fire". SMH.com.au. Sydney Morning Hearld. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ ScreenDaily, Archived 7 October 2015 at WebCite
- ^ Screen NSW (the NSW government's key funding body for the NSW screen production industry), "Funding Approval Details", Archived 7 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rachel Perkins' 'Jasper Jones' is cast and ready to film in WA", SBS, Archived 7 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ “Toni Collette Joins the Cast of Jasper Jones” Archived 9 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Porchlight Films, archived 07 October 2015
- ^ Craig Silvey on writing Jasper Jones.
- ^ Purcell, John (12 April 2010). "Craig Silvey Answers Ten Terrifying Questions". The Booktopian.
External links
- Allen & Unwin author page including an extract from Jasper Jones, author interview and publication information.
- Review of Jasper Jones and interview with Craig Silvey.
- Review of Rhubarb, Booklover Book Reviews
- More than Rhubarb, a profile of Silvey that originally appeared in The Big Issue in 2009.