Jack Heath

Where were you born?

I was born in Sydney, but I’ve lived in Canberra since I was nine. This may be why so many of my characters turn out to be government spies.

What other jobs have you had?

My previous professions include fry cook, music teacher, web developer, street magician, tech support agent, debt collector, and rock star. None of these jobs is as much fun as writing.

What themes are recurring in your work?

An interviewer once asked about the theme of “breaking glass” in my novels. I’d never thought of it as a “theme” before – it’s just something that happens a lot because characters keep getting thrown through windows!

What have been the highlights of your career?

I love being able to meet the writers who I admired growing up. Chatting with Matthew Reilly, Bret Easton Ellis, Isobelle Carmody, Jeff Lindsay and John Marsden were definite career highlights.

Where have your works been published?

My books are published in Australia, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. From late 2011 they are also available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

What are you passionate about?

I love everything about books – reading them, writing them, and talking about them. I also love making music, dancing, and watching magic tricks (but not in combination).

Haven’t I seen you before?

You might have! I run a pretty popular YouTube channel, and I’m on TV from time to time. It turns out that game shows are a lot of fun, but only if you’re bad at the games.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

You might Autistic, and I have ADHD. I like mentioning this during my presentations, because there are always a few neurodivergent people in the audience who feel seen and encouraged (and a couple of neurotypical people whose worldview expands a little).