George Ivanoff
George Ivanoff is the author over 100 books for young people, including many education titles. He is best known for his You Choose books — a series of interactive books where the reader gets to make key decisions about how the story progresses.
Meet the Speaker
His other book include the middle grade novel, Monster Island, the non-fiction Survival Guides, the RFDS Adventures, Meet The Flying Doctors, the OTHER WORLDS series and the Gamers trilogy. And there are more books on the way. He enjoys speaking to all age levels, from primary school students through to adults.
Where were you born?
Melbourne.
What other jobs have you had?
I’ve worked in a comic book store, as an actor, as a projects officer and as a web development consultant. I even spent a few years handing out pamphlets for a jewellery store in the city, dressed in a tacky suit with plastic signs hanging from my front and back. I’m much happier as an author.
What themes are recurring in your work?
Fitting in (or not fitting in) is a recurring theme. A lot of my main characters are misfits because I was very much a misfit at school. I draw on that a lot.
What have been the highlights of your career?
My first book getting published way back in 1999. Having a short story in an official Doctor Who book. Winning two YABBA Award for my You Choose series. Writing a novel based on the 1970s TV series The Tomorrow People.
Where have your works been published?
Most of my stuff has been published in Australia, but I’ve also had books in the UK, the US, and New Zealand. Recently I wrote some school readers for publication in Singapore.
Haven’t I seen you before?
Possibly. I have been known to occasionally moonlight as an actor. I once played a delivery man on Neighbours… I had three lines. And yes, I did get several cream pies slammed into my face on ABC3’s Studio 3 program.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Have I mentioned that I’m a Doctor Who fan? I usually carry around a sonic screwdriver toy. Yes, I’m a nerdy geek!
Click below to watch a short snippet of George’s Virtual Visits
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Speaker Type
Audience
Locations
Sessions
My Writing Life
George Ivanoff tells the story of how he went from being a part-time writer with a day job to his current position as a...
Writing for the Education Market
George Ivanoff talks about writing for the primary school education market. What are the restrictions and challenges how do...
What if?
George Ivanoff conducts a hands-on session about using your own personal experiences as a springboard for writing fiction....
You Choose
George Ivanoff conducts a presentation about writing the You Choose series. George talks about his inspiration for these...
Australia’s Flying Doctors
Although the Royal Flying Doctor Service Adventures are fiction, they include lots of factual information. George Ivanoff...
Online Session: Welcome to My Workspace
George uses a tour of his office and home library as a way in to discussing his inspiration and writing process.Topics...
Online Session: YOU CHOOSE Interactive storytelling Grades 3-6
George reads from one of his interactive YOU CHOOSE books, with kids voting on the direction of the story. He then takes...
Online Session: Q&A with George
Ideal for individual classes. Students write their questions prior to the session, which their teacher will collate and...
Writing Process & Inspiration
George Ivanoff takes students through his writing process and talks about the things that inspire his stories. George reads...
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