Gary Crew

Professor Gary Crew is Professor Emeritus at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He has published over 100 short stories, novels and illustrated books all over the world.

Gary has a Master of Arts (Literature; University of Queensland) and a Doctor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing; University of the Sunshine Coast).

He is particularly interested in researching the creative links between fiction and nonfiction in his novels and the creative interface between print text and visual text in his illustrated books.

Among his many awards, Gary has won the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year four times, twice for his novels, twice for the illustrated book category; the New South Wales Premier’s Award, the Victorian Premier’s Award, The Aurealis Award for Science Fiction, The Ned Kelly Award for Crime writing, the American Children’s Book of Distinction and the Wilderness Society’s Award for Environmental Writing.

Gary is Patron of the Fellowship of Australian Writers Queensland.

He lives on Bribie Island overlooking the sea.

Gary Crew: International Publications

• 2022 The Viewer Peking Publishing
• 2022 Memorial Peking Publishing   
• 2015 ‘A Step Behind’ and ‘The Staircase’ in Story Wizards Macmillan (in conjunction with the Department of Education, Malaysia
• 2012 The Viewer. Elliot Edizoni Italy
• 2012 Memorial Elliot Edizoni Italy
• 2012 El Visor, Barbara Fiore Editora, Spain.
• 2011 The Watertower, Crocodile Books, USA
• 2007 Sam Silverthorne: Victory, Pestlazzi, Germany
• 2006 The Viewer, Muses, China
• 2006 Sam Silverthorne: Menace, Pestlazzi, Germany
• 2005 Sam Silverthorne: Quest, Pestlazzi, Germany
• 2004 Troy Thompson’s Excellent Poetry Book, Kane Miller, US
• 2003 The Viewer, Simply Read Books, US
• 2003 Memorial, Simply Read Books, US
• 2000 Liebner Venny, Liebe Saffron, Urachhaus, Austria
• 2000 Dear Venny, Dear Saffron, Floris, Scotland
• 1999 The Well, Hachette Livre, Paris, France
• 1999 The Bent Back Bridge, Franklin Watts, London
• 1999 The Well, Franklin Watts, London
• 1999 Mama’s Babies,Mondaroori, Italy
• 1999 Mama’s Babies, Annick Press, Canada
• 1998 The Barn, Elex Media, Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1997 Bright Star, Kane Miller, New York
• 1997 The Watertower, Crocodle Books, New York
• 1996 The Well, Elex Media, Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1996 The Bent Back Bridge, Elex Media, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 1996 The Watertower, Agertofts Forlag, Denmark
• 1995 The Bent Back Bridge, G&G, Vienna.
• 1995 Tracks, Gareth Stevens. Milwaukee
• 1995 First Light, Garewth Stevens, Wilwaukee
• 1994 Angel’s Gate, Simon and Schuster, New York
• 1993 No Such Country, Simon and Schuster, New York
• 1990 Strange Objects, The Holland Publishing Company, The Netherlands
• 1990 Strange Objects, Simon and Schuster, New York
• 1986 The Inner Circle. William Heinemann London

Prior to becoming an author, I believe you had a different kind of career?

Although I am Professor Emeritus in Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, I was originally (a 100 years ago) a Design Draftsman so I still enjoy drawing and painting (in watercolour) botanical subjects such as Australian Native plants but mostly I read and walk by the sea.

What type of genres do you enjoy reading?

Since I live on the coast of Bribie Island this is a great pleasure. I mostly read historical non-fiction (shipwrecks and biographies) and both British and Australian Literature.

Do you have any favourite authors/books?

My favourite authors are Ion Idriess and Patrick White. My favourite books are: Voss (White); The Aunt’s Story (White); The Drums of Mer (Idriess), Castaways of the Coral Sea (Idriess) and (the awesome) Wuthering Heights (Bronte).

Apart from books, what other creative pursuits do you enjoy?

I also love old movies. My favourites are: To Kill a Mockingbird, Travels with my Aunt, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (anything with Maggie Smith) and the wonderful comedies: First Wives Club and Blazing Saddles.

Why do you write?

I write because it is a creative act that I can do by myself (I like my own company) and it gives me satisfaction.

Do you have any advice for new and emerging writers?

I advise all emergent writers to read, read, read. The more one reads, the better one writes.

I believe you’ve won numerous literary awards.

Probably my 2 most successful books are the novel Strange Objects and the illustrated book The Watertower. Both have won many awards and sold Internationally. I suppose it is because they are eerie without being ‘horrorific’.

Why did you chose to move your new work to Hawkeye?

I chose to publish with Hawkeye because I wanted to work with a local (Brisbane) publisher, not some distant overseas company. At this late stage in my career, I am not that interested in sales. I wanted to belong to a company with a family atmosphere.

I am very proud to be published by Carolyn at Hawkeye.

To find out when Gary’s next book will be released, sign up to the Hawkeye Newsletter via our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. More details to follow soon.

Read Gary’s wonderful reviews on Goodreads here.