James Moloney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Moloney
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James Moloney
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| Born | 20 September 1954 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Notable works | Swashbuckler, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove, Dougy, Gracey, Angela (Gracey Trilogy), Lost Property |
James "Jim" Moloney (born 20 September 1954) is an Australian children's author. A prolific writer whose books span an age range from seven- to seventeen-year-olds, he is best known for his young adult novels. He has been nominated and won awards for his books in the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards. His books have been translated into French, Korean, Lithuanian and Flemish/Dutch.
Moloney was born in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane where he still lives today with his wife, Kate a retired teacher-librarian. He trained as a teacher (Griffith University) and holds diplomas in Teacher–Librarianship and Computer Education. His role as a Teacher Librarian sparked his interest in children's literature and eventually led to his early attempts at writing. His first book, Crossfire, was published in 1992 and he continues to publish. In 1998 he resigned from teaching at Marist College Ashgrove and now writes full-time in a cabin in his backyard affectionately known by the family as 'Dad's Shed'.
His says of his writing
I like to get inside the head of today's adolescents to connect with the passion they have for like and understand what they care about. The challenge then is to express it in a story.
His themes in his novels for older readers include family, love, belonging, body image, rites of passage, sexism, mateship/friendship, winning at all costs, relationships, identity, disability and racial issues.
Awards
Children's Book Council of Australia Awards
- 1993 Notable - Older Readers : Crossfire
- 1994 Honour Book - Older Readers : Dougy
- 1995 Honour Book - Older Readers : Gracey
- 1996 Book of the Year - Younger Readers : Swashbuckler
- 1996 Shortlisted for Book of the Year - Older Readers : The House on River Terrace
- 1997 Book of the Year - Older Readers : A bridge to Wiseman's Cove
- 1999 Shortlisted for Book of the Year - Younger Readers : Buzzard Breath and Brains
- 2001 Shortlisted for Book of the Year - Older Readers : Touch me
- 2004 Shortlisted for Book of the Year - Older Readers : Black Taxi
- 2006 Honour Book - Older Readers : Lost property
- 2009 Shortlisted for Book of the Year - Older Readers : Kill the possum
- 2016 Notable - Older Readers : The beauty is in the walking
- 2018 Winner - Dame Annabelle Rankin Award
- 2019 Nan Chauncy Award
Winner Children's Peace Literature Award 1997 : A bridge to Wiseman's Cove
Recommended Book Children's Peace Literature Award 1999 : Buzzard Breath and Brains
Honourable Mention - UNESCO Prize for Children's Literature in the Service of Tolerance and Peace : Angela (published 2009, 1993)
Winner Victorian Premiers Award 2001 Young adult category : Touch me
Winner Children's Peace Literature Award 2001 : Touch me
Winner Herald Sun prize for Young Adult Literature 2001 : Touch me
Shortlisted Children's Peace Literature Award 2007 : Lost Property
Winner Gold Inky 2011 : Silvermay
Shortlisted Best Designed Children's Fiction Book 2015 : Disappearing Act
