I’m a writer, working amidst the splendour that is Wollongong on the NSW south coast. Inspired by Jerry Hopkins’ engrossing bio of the Doors, No One Here Gets Out Alive, I began tapping away at the keyboard in the late 1980s. At last count, I’ve written 30 books, either as author, co-writer or ghostwriter; my work’s been published all around the world.(Hello Finland! And yes, Bulgaria, I’m talking about you.)

My specialist subject — I use the term warily — is music. I’ve written biographies of such talented and sometimes tormented souls as Daniel Johns, Jeff Buckley, the Finn brothers, Marc Hunter, Johnny O’Keefe and the three Young siblings, Angus, Malcolm and George. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with ARIA Hall of Famers Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton. I’ve also helped with books from Mark Evans (the former AC/DC bassist) and Michael Browning (AC/DC’s first manager). Away from music I’ve worked with test cricketer Michael Slater, soccer hero Tim Cahill and Paul Warren, the former captain of the Australian Invictus Games team. 

I started out as a magazine writer, spending four years on staff at Australian Rolling Stone. (That business card opened some doors for me.) I’ve encountered interesting characters up close over the years, everyone from Aretha Franklin to Helen Reddy, the Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan. I know the whereabouts of Natalie Imbruglia’s secret tattoo, while photographer-to-the-greats Mick Rock once asked my wife if she did upside-down yoga. (Long story.) Oh and I was once turfed out of a U2 show in Florida for, well, actually I don’t want to get into that now . . .  

My most recent book is Friday On My Mind: The Life of George Young, which has proved to be very popular. Thanks for that, folks. My next release is Behind Dark Eyes: The True Story of Jon English, which lands on March 26. The publisher is offering a 20% discount for early bird orders; click on this link to save, save, save. The official Jon English Facebook page is the best place to learn more about the book and the man, although you can always email me. I don’t bite. 

I share my life with a very patient partner, two delightful and talented children (they get that from their mother), a blue dog named Neela and a cat that’s so damned cool he answers to no name. There’s a bird called Poe flapping about somewhere, too.

Photo credit: Sylvia Liber