Trent Dalton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trent Dalton
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Dalton in 2018
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| Born | 1979 (age 45–46) Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Notable works | Boy Swallows Universe All Our Shimmering Skies Love Stories Lola in the Mirror |
| Notable awards | ABIA Awards Indie Book Awards MUD Literary Prize Walkley Awards |
| Spouse | Fiona Franzmann |
| Children | 2 |
Trent Dalton, born in 1979, is an Australian writer and journalist. He is widely known for his 2018 novel, Boy Swallows Universe, which is partly based on his own life experiences.
Contents
Trent Dalton's Early Life and School Years
Trent Dalton was born in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He is the youngest of four brothers. His early childhood was spent with his mother and stepfather in Brassall. Trent experienced a challenging upbringing during these years.
When he was seven years old, his mother was away for two years. During this time, Trent lived with his paternal grandparents for about a year. After that, he moved to Bracken Ridge, a suburb near Brisbane, to live with his father in a house provided by the government. For a few years during their teenage years, Trent and one of his brothers lived with their mother again.
After finishing high school, Trent studied journalism. He spent one year at the University of Southern Queensland and another year at Queensland University of Technology. In 2024, the University of Southern Queensland recognized him as an honorary fellow.
Becoming a Writer: Trent Dalton's Career
Trent Dalton began his writing career in 2000. A tutor from his university recommended him for a job at Brisbane News, a free weekly magazine. After that, he worked as a journalist for The Courier-Mail. As of April 2024, he is a staff writer for The Weekend Australian Magazine.
Books by Trent Dalton
In 2011, Trent published his first book, Detours: Stories from the Street. This book shares the stories of 20 people he interviewed who were experiencing homelessness or were at risk of it.
His most famous novel, Boy Swallows Universe, came out in 2018. This book is a semi-autobiographical story, meaning it mixes real events from his life with fictional elements. It was very popular and was even considered for the Miles Franklin Award in 2019.
Boy Swallows Universe has been adapted into other forms of media. In 2019, companies bought the rights to turn it into a TV show. Netflix released a seven-episode series based on the book in January 2024. The Queensland Theatre Company also created a play from the novel, which first showed in September 2021.
Trent Dalton's second novel, All Our Shimmering Skies, was published in 2020. This book also focuses on the power of words and storytelling. In 2021, he released Love Stories, a collection of real-life love stories he gathered by talking to people on street corners.
His third novel, Lola in the Mirror, was released in October 2023.
Trent Dalton's Family Life
Trent Dalton is married to Fiona. They have two daughters together.
Trent Dalton's Published Works
Fiction Books
- Boy Swallows Universe (2018)
- All Our Shimmering Skies (2020)
- Lola in the Mirror (2023)
Non-fiction Books
- Detours: Stories from the Street (2011)
- Love Stories (2021)
Awards and Recognitions
Trent Dalton has received many awards for his writing and journalism.
Journalism Awards
He has won several Walkley Awards, which are very important awards for journalists in Australia:
- 2011: Won for his social equity journalism piece "Home is where the hurt is."
- 2015: Won for his feature writing piece "The Ghosts of Murray Street."
Literary Awards
His novel Boy Swallows Universe has won many literary prizes:
- 2018: Won the Dymocks Book of the Year.
- 2019: Won the Australian Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards.
- 2019: Won the Australian Literary Fiction Book of the Year.
- 2019: Won the Matt Richell Award for New Writer.
- 2019: Won the Audiobook of the Year.
- 2019: Won the BookPeople Book of the Year from the Australian Booksellers Association.
- 2019: Won the Indie Book of the Year and Debut Fiction at the Indie Book Awards.
- 2019: Won the MUD Literary Prize.
- 2019: Won the UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing and the People's Choice Award at the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards.
Other notable awards for his books include:
- 2021: All Our Shimmering Skies was shortlisted for the Literary Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards.
- 2022: Love Stories was shortlisted for Nonfiction at the Indie Book Awards.
- 2024: Lola in the Mirror was shortlisted for Fiction at the Indie Book Awards.
