Darren is the author of nine novels including Kindling, Are You Seeing Me?, Exchange of Heart and his most recent North American work, Boy in the Blue Hammock. He is an Adelaide Festival Award for Literature winner, a two-time finalist in the Queensland Literary Awards, and a past nominee for numerous other prestigious prizes, among them the CBCA Book of the Year, the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, The Text Prize, and the Governor General's Literary Awards in Canada. He has written for newspapers, magazines and literary journals including The Courier-Mail, The Sun-Herald, Mamamia, The Lifted Brow and Syntax. He will always believe Queensland was robbed by Mark McGaw’s match-winning try in Game 1 of the 1987 State of Origin series. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
What inspired you to be a writer?
My grade 7 teacher, Mr Wade, was a big inspiration. He was very focused on creative writing and required his students to write a new story every week, which was great for me but hell for most of the class. There’s a big nod to Mr Wade in Marooned.
I’ve also been inspired by numerous great Queensland authors: Nick Earls, Venero Armanno, Andrew McGahan, John Birmingham, Rebecca Sparrow, Michael Gerard Bauer and Hawkeye’s own, the legendary Gary Crew.
What prompted you to write 'Marooned'?
Marooned is a gift to my father. As detailed in the story, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma during the pandemic. He remains healthy four years on, but the condition is terminal and things will take a turn for the worst at some point. This unknown timeframe for his remaining days was the primary reason to write the Marooned memoir and explore the themes central to it: fatherhood, football, legacy and identity.
Do you have any more books in the pipeline?
I have a number of other books in the queue.
What is your professional background?
I was a teacher of intellectually disabled students for three years then migrant and refugee students for a decade.
Any advice you’d like to give aspiring writers?
Success is inevitable as long as your definition of success isn’t too narrow. In a long writing career filled with many good things, one of my best successes remains the first personalized and positive rejection I got from a renowned literary agent.
What are your hobbies, interests and favourite books?
I love sports, particularly rugby league. I enjoy history podcasts, barbecues, karaoke and working out at the gym. Favourite books: Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The Road, I’m Not Scared, Burial Rites and What Strange Paradise.
How can readers contact you?
Instagram and Threads: @onebrothergroth
Facebook: Darren Groth Author
Website: https://darrengroth.com/
Email: choco.mcconaghy@gmail.com
Contact via: Hawkeye Contact Page
