Anthony McGowan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony McGowan
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McGowan in 2012
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| Born | Anthony John McGowan 1 January 1965 Manchester, England |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Manchester University Open University |
| Genre | Children's literature, Young adult fiction, Literary fiction, Nonfiction |
| Notable works | Hellbent The Knife That Killed Me Henry Tumour The Truth of Things series (Brock, Pike, Rook, Lark) |
| Notable awards | Carnegie Medal (2020) |
| Spouse | Rebecca Campbell |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | |
| Anthony McGowan official website: https://web.archive.org/web/20141021115523/http://anthonymcgowan.com/anewsite/[Usurped!] | |
Anthony John McGowan (born in January 1965) is an English author. He writes exciting books for children, teenagers, and adults.
He won the 2020 Carnegie Medal for his book Lark. This is a very important award for children's books. He was also considered for the Carnegie Medal two other times. In 2006, he won the Booktrust Teenage Prize for his book Henry Tumour.
Contents
Anthony McGowan's Early Life and School
Anthony McGowan grew up in a working-class Catholic family. He was the second of five children. His parents were both nurses. When he was young, his family moved to a village called Sherburn in Elmet. This village is near Leeds.
When he was a child, Anthony mostly read non-fiction books about nature. But when he was nine, a teacher gave him JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He said that reading this book changed him. It made him want to read novels and maybe even write one someday.
School Days and Inspiration
At age 11, Anthony went to Corpus Christi Catholic College. He described it as a tough school. He said it was a big shock for him. He was used to a quiet, country life. Suddenly, he was around many difficult kids. There were often fights, and teachers were very strict.
His time at this school deeply influenced his writing. He often uses his school memories in his books for young people. He said that school was full of conflict, fear, and excitement. These feelings helped him create stories. He wanted his books to focus on kids and their friendships. He still feels like he's "never really left that school" in his imagination.
Education and Early Jobs
Anthony McGowan studied Philosophy and Politics at Manchester University. He earned two degrees there. Later, he got his PhD from the Open University.
Before becoming a full-time writer, he had many different jobs. He worked as a nightclub bouncer. He was also a journalist and a civil servant.
Anthony McGowan's Writing Career
Anthony McGowan writes books for different age groups. He has written for adults, teenagers, and younger children.
Books for Adults
Anthony McGowan wrote his first book, Abandon Hope, while working as a civil servant. But no publishers wanted to print it. Later, his wife's agent offered to help him. He was asked to write something "more normal" and "more popular."
His adult thriller Stag Hunt was published in 2004. It got good reviews. But there was a problem with the book's barcode. All the paperback copies had to be taken back. This made it hard for his adult writing career to take off.
He wrote another adult thriller, Mortal Coil, in 2007. This was after he became successful writing for young adults.
Books for Young Adults
Anthony McGowan found success when he started writing for teenagers. He rewrote his first book, Abandon Hope. He made it suitable for teens and called it Hellbent. This funny story is about a teenager who goes to Hell. It was published in 2005 and was praised for being clever and funny.
He won the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize for Henry Tumour. This book is about a boy whose brain tumor talks to him. Critics said it was funny, original, and gripping.
His agent then suggested he write about knife crime. This was a big topic in the news. The Knife That Killed Me (2008) is about a 16-year-old boy. His relationship with a school bully leads to sad events. Reviewers said the book was believable and powerful. It was made into a movie in 2014.
In 2013, he wrote Hello Darkness. This book looks at mental illness. It tells the story of a teenage boy accused of harming school pets. The book was praised for being clever and darkly funny, even with a difficult subject.
Writing for Reluctant Readers
Anthony McGowan also writes for Barrington Stoke. This publisher makes short books with simpler language. These books are for readers who have dyslexia or don't like reading much. He said writing for them changed his style. It made him focus more on characters, story, and setting.
He wrote four novellas in The Truth of Things series for Barrington Stoke. These books are about two working-class brothers, Nicky and Kenny. Kenny has a learning disability. They deal with a tough home life and other problems.
- Brock came out in 2013.
- Pike was published in 2015.
- Rook followed in 2017.
- Lark was released in 2019.
Lark won the Carnegie Medal in 2020. It tells the story of Nicky and Kenny fighting to survive after a dangerous hike on the North Yorkshire Moors.
He also worked with author Joanna Nadin on Everybody Hurts (2017). This is a love story between two teenagers from different social backgrounds. They took turns writing chapters. McGowan wrote as the male character, and Nadin wrote as the female.
Books for Children
In 2008, Anthony McGowan published his first book for middle readers. It was called Einstein's Underpants and How They Saved the World. People said it was silly, funny, and absurd. Kids loved it.
He also wrote four books in The Bare Bum Gang series. The first book, The Bare Bum Gang and the Football Faceoff, was very popular. One reviewer said it would definitely get 7- to 9-year-olds reading.
He helped write a "guided reading" series for Oxford University Press called "Project X." This series was made to get boys interested in reading. McGowan wrote about twenty books in this adventure series.
In 2011, he wrote The Donut Diaries. This was the first book in a trilogy. It's about an overweight boy named Dermot Milligan. He is worried about being sent to "Camp Fatso." The book won an award and was called a "warm, witty and inspiring tale." The sequels were The Donut Diaries: Revenge is Sweet (2012) and The Donut Diaries: Escape from Camp Fatso (2013).
From 2012 to 2014, McGowan wrote four books that continued the classic children's wildlife adventure series by Willard Price.
I Killed Father Christmas (2017) was his first book for middle readers with reading difficulties. It's about a boy who thinks he caused Father Christmas's death. So, he believes he must take his place.
Non-fiction Books
In 2017, Anthony McGowan published his first non-fiction book. It was called The Art of Failing: Notes from the Underdog. It's a collection of funny stories from one year of his life. He wrote about adventures with his dog, Monty. He also wrote about funny everyday moments with his family.
In 2019, he wrote How to Teach Philosophy to Your Dog. In this book, he uses his knowledge of philosophy. He explains ideas from famous philosophers. He does this through "conversations" with his dog, Monty. Reviewers called it a "charming, informative, unique introduction to Western philosophy."
Other Writing and Teaching
Anthony McGowan has also worked as a journalist. He has written about sports, travel, and culture. He has taught creative writing at several universities. These include London Metropolitan University and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Anthony McGowan's Personal Life
Anthony McGowan is married to Rebecca Campbell, who is also a novelist. They have two children. They live in West Hampstead, London.
He enjoys cricket. He wrote an article about how listening to the Ashes cricket series helped him through a tough time. He plays for the Authors Cricket Club with other British writers. He even hit 100 runs in a game once. This is called a century in cricket.
