David Coventry facts for kids

David Henry Halford Coventry was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on October 2, 1969. He is a talented author and musician from New Zealand. His first book, The Invisible Mile, has been published in six different languages. This novel won the Hubert Church Award for Fiction in 2016. It was also a finalist for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and the Sports Book Awards in the United Kingdom.

David Coventry's Education

Before becoming a writer, David Coventry worked as a musician, a sound engineer, and a film archivist. He went to Hutt Valley High School from 1983 to 1986. Later, he studied English literature and Religious studies at Victoria University of Wellington. He earned a Bachelor's degree in 2000 and an Honours degree in English Literature in 2001. In 2010, he completed a Master's degree in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters. In 2022, he earned a special degree called a Doctorate of Philosophy from Victoria University. His research for this degree looked into ME/CFS, a long-term health condition.

His Books and Stories

David Coventry's first novel, The Invisible Mile, takes place during the 1928 Tour de France bicycle race. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper called it their "pick of the Week." They said it was a "poetic journey" told with "symbolic force and poetic finesse." The New York Times also featured it in their book section. They described the book as "Gorgeous" and a "brooding story." It mixes adventure, travel, family drama, and a look into the main character's thoughts.

A review in Auckland's Metro Magazine said the book was "A dream to read." It described the story as a "trance-like account" of the 1928 Tour de France. The writing was called "fierce" and a mix of different feelings. Brian Clearkin from Landfall magazine wrote that it was a "brilliant" book. He said it showed Coventry's great writing talent and style. This review placed David Coventry among the best authors in New Zealand.

His writing has been compared to famous authors like Don DeLillo and Toni Morrison. David Coventry's second novel, Dance Prone, came out in 2020. This book explores feelings of trauma and art, and it is set in the 1980s post-hardcore punk rock scene. His third novel, Performance, was published in June 2024. This book explores what life and writing are like when someone lives with a long-term health condition like ME/CFS. David Coventry lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

Awards and Public Appearances

David Coventry received the Todd New Writer's Bursary in 2015. This award helps new writers. He has also appeared at several important events. In 2016, he attended the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Scotland. In 2017, he was at The International Festival of Authors in Toronto, Canada. He also took part in the New Zealand Festival's Writer's Week in 2016, where he had a session with Lloyd Geering. He was also at the Auckland Writers Festival and the Nelson Arts Festival in 2016. In 2022, his special doctorate research was recognized on Victoria University of Wellington's Dean's List. Also in 2022, David Coventry was the Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury. This means he was a special writer who lived and worked at the university for a time.

David Coventry's Books

• The Invisible Mile (2015)
• Dance Prone (2020)
• Performance (2024)

Music and Sound Engineering

As a sound engineer, David Coventry has helped produce music for experimental groups. These groups include Thela and La Gloria. He also played music for the group Empirical.