Troy Hunter
| Troy Hunter is a bestselling YA crime fiction writer, living in Melbourne, and working at the University of Melbourne. His debut YA novel Gus and the Missing Boy was published in March 2024 and was shortlisted for both the Ned Kelly Award and the BAD Sydney Danger Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction. The sequel Gus and the Burning Stones came out in August 2025. A third Gus novel Gus and the Climate Killer is due in March 2027. He is currently working on an adult crime novel. He is passionate about getting reluctant readers, especially boys, into reading books. He’s also a massive Agatha Christie fan and was lucky enough to speak at the International Agatha Christie Festival in the UK in 2025. He also hosts of the Queer Writes Sessions podcast. Troy offers writing workshops for secondary/senior students across topics including ‘Write Your Own Crime Story’, ‘Write Your Own YA Crime Story’, and ‘How I Wrote the Gus Books’ |
Meet the Speaker
Where were you born?
I was born in Melbourne but grew up in Bendigo.
What other jobs have you had?
Outside of marketing and communications, I’ve worked as a casual at a bookshop (my first job), a cook and barman (in the UK), a tax inspector (I was awful), and a graphic designer (which was fun).
What themes are recurring in your work?
Crime, mystery, friendships, identity, fat kids as the heroes, queer kids as the heroes, resilience when things are rough, tricky family relationships. My books also tend to have elements or references to things I love, like Agatha Christie and Doctor Who.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Getting Jane Novak as my agent and then getting a contract from Wakefield Press for my first book Gus and the Missing Boy were both definitely highlights. Having Gus shortlisted for the prestigious Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction is another highlight. Being invited to speak at the 2025 International Agatha Christie Festival in the UK is big highlight too.
Where have your works been published?
Gus and the Missing Boy and the sequel Gus and the Burning Stones are both published in Australia.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about helping getting boys into reading, and into diversity issues, and telling fun twisty crime stories
Haven’t I seen you before?
I have always attended a lot of book events and writers’ festivals - and now I get to speak at them and meet readers, which is amazing!
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
I have a third Gus book coming out in 2027 and I am working on an adult crime novel as well.
Speaker Type
Audience
Locations
Sessions
Write Your Own Crime Story
In this fun, interactive workshop, Troy will take the group through the key elements of crime books so they can write their...
How (and Why) I Wrote the Gus Books
“Agatha Christie, if she was a teenager.” Troy will talk about his writing and his journey to having two Gus crime books...
Write Your Own YA Crime Story
In this fun, interactive workshop, Troy will take the group through the key elements of YA crime books so they can write...
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