Steven Herrick facts for kids

Steven Herrick is an Australian writer born in Brisbane in 1958. He is famous for his poems and books, especially his "verse-novels" for young people. He has written many books for different ages, and people see him as a leader in writing verse-novels for kids and teens.

About Steven Herrick

Steven was born in 1958, the youngest of seven children. He wrote his first poem, called Love is like a gobstopper, when he was 18 years old. He left school in Year 10 but later studied poetry at the University of Queensland. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982.

In 1984, Steven moved to Sydney. He started performing his poems in pubs and clubs, sometimes opening for local music bands. A record company called Mighty Boy Records asked him to record his poetry. He released two records: 'The Esoteric Herrick' and 'The Herrick Manifesto'. These records were played on alternative radio stations.

In 1994, Steven moved with his wife and children to the Blue Mountains, where he still lives today. This is when he started writing books for children and young adults.

Awards and Recognition

Steven Herrick's books have won many awards. He won the NSW Premier's Literary Awards in 2000 and 2005. Many of his books have been nominated for the Children's Book Council of Australia "Children's Book of the Year Awards". Some of these include:

• 1997 - Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair
• 1999 - A Place like This
• 2001 - The Simple Gift
• 2003 - Tom Jones Saves the World
• 2013 - Pookie Aleera is not my boyfriend
• 2015 - Bleakboy and Hunter Stand out in the Rain
• 2019 - The Bogan Mondrian
• 2022 - How to Repaint a Life

Two of his books were also named Honour Books:

• 2004 - Do-wrong Ron
• 2005 - By the River

His books for children and young adults have been translated into many different languages. They are often used as reading material in Australian schools. In 2019, the German version of his book By the River won two major awards in Germany: the German Catholic Book of the Year Award and the important German Youth Literature Award.

School Visits and Travel

Steven often visits schools across Australia. He talks with students about poetry and soccer, which he has loved since he was a child. He has also performed his work in many other countries, including the United Kingdom, USA, Singapore, Canada, Croatia, Spain, Vietnam, Germany, The Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.

Cycling Adventures

Besides writing for kids, Steven has written nine travel books about his cycling trips around Europe. One very popular book is 'baguettes and bicycles'. Other cycling books include 'Cycling North', which describes a 4000-kilometre bike ride from Marseille, France, to Bergen, Norway. 'Cycling South' tells the story of his journey from the Highlands of Scotland to islands in the Mediterranean Sea, like Sardinia and Corsica. Steven also writes articles about cycling for The Guardian newspaper in Australia.

Steven Herrick lives in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains with his wife, Cathie. They have two adult sons named Jack and Joe.

Books by Steven Herrick

Steven Herrick writes different kinds of books, including fiction novels, poetry collections, and novels in verse. Here are some of his titles:

• How to Repaint a Life (University of Queensland Press, 2021) ISBN: 978-0-7022-6315-6
• Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus (University of Queensland Press, 2020) ISBN: 978-0-7022-6300-2
• The Bogan Mondrian (University of Queensland Press, 2018) ISBN: 978-0-7022-6110-7
• Another Night in Mullet Town (University of Queensland Press, 2016) ISBN: 978-0-7022-5643-1
• Bleakboy and Hunter Stand Out in the Rain (University of Queensland Press, 2014) ISBN: 978-0-7022-5267-9
• Pookie Aleera Is Not My Boyfriend (University of Queensland Press, 2012) ISBN: 978-0-7022-4851-1
• Black Painted Fingernails (Allen & Unwin, 2011) ISBN: 978-1-74237-459-8
• Slice: Juicy Moments from My Impossible Life (Random House, 2010) ISBN: 978-1-86471-603-0
• Untangling Spaghetti (University of Queensland Press, 2009) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3730-0
• Rhyming Boy (University of Queensland Press, 2008) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3673-0
• Cold Skin (Allen & Unwin, 2007) ISBN: 978-1-74175-129-1
• Lonesome Howl (Allen & Unwin, 2006) ISBN: 978-1-74114-656-1
• ... Bunyip Dancing (Allen & Unwin, 2005) ISBN: 978-1-74114-655-4
• By the River (Allen & Unwin, 2004) ISBN: 978-1-74114-357-7
• Do-Wrong Ron (Allen & Unwin, 2003) ISBN: 978-1-86508-661-3
• Tom Jones Saves the World (University of Queensland Press, 2002) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3336-4
• Love Poems and Leg Spinners (University of Queensland Press, 2001) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3317-3
• The Simple Gift (University of Queensland Press, 2000) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3133-9
• The Spangled Drongo (University of Queensland Press, 1999) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3095-0
• A Place Like This (University of Queensland Press, 1998) ISBN: 978-0-7022-2984-8
• Poetry to the Rescue (University of Queensland Press, 1998) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3318-0
• My Life, My Love, My Lasagne (University of Queensland Press, 1997) ISBN: 978-0-7022-3326-5
• Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair (University of Queensland Press, 1996) ISBN: 978-0-7022-2878-0
• The Sound of Chopping (Five Islands Press, 1994) ISBN: 978-1-875604-17-3
• Water Bombs (University of Queensland Press, 1992) ISBN: 978-1-875491-07-0
• Caboolture (Five Islands Press, 1990) ISBN: 978-0-9587972-8-3