Jock Serong

Author, Social Issues

Jock is an Australian novelist with a deep interest in who we are as a nation. He explores that interest through stories of our history, and especially our coastlines and islands.

Jock Serong’s novels have received the ARA Historical Novel Prize, the Colin Roderick Award, the Ned Kelly Award for First Fiction and, internationally, the inaugural Staunch Prize (UK) and the Historia Award for Historical Crime Fiction (France). He has been a criminal barrister, writer and editor of journals and is now a celebrated novelist. He lives with his family on Victoria’s far west coast.

Where were you born?

Melbourne.

What other jobs have you had?

Bartender, national parks ranger, solicitor, barrister.

What themes are recurring in your work?

The ocean, contested histories, the natural world.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Winning the Ned Kelly for my debut novel, Quota, and the ARA Historical Novel award for The Burning Island. Often though, the highlights re just being around the writers you admire, and talking to readers.

Where have your works been published?

Australia/NZ, Germany and France.

What are you passionate about?

The importance of history, the landscapes and seascapes of Australia, writing that is brave and distinctive.

Haven’t I seen you before?

No, I just look a lot like Brett Clements from Simon Townsend’s Wonderworld.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?