Robert Gott is the author of more than 80 nonfiction books for children. He is also the author of a comic series of crime novels set in wartime Australia featuring the hopeless and hapless William Power. His new series, set in Melbourne in 1943, in the newly formed homicide division, examines the dark side of life in Australia in a time of war. Two of his novels, Amongst the Dead and The Holiday Murders, have been shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Novel. He is also the creator of the long-running newspaper cartoon, The Adventures of Naked Man.
He will be appearing in the following Melbourne Writers Festival sessions:
The Ned Kelly Awards
Australia’s premier crime writing awards, The Ned Kellys, are turning 20! Jane Clifton will host a celebratory night of entertainment, including the awards, SJ Watson, the ‘Great Crime Debate’ (with Matthew Condon, Robert Gott, Vikki Petraitis and Leigh Redhead), live music and bar.
Doors and bar open 6pm for pre-event drinks. Limited seating with plenty of standing room available.
Saturday 22 August, 6.30pm
Location: Bella Union, Trades Hall
Historical Fictions: Crime and War
What does historical fiction tell us about now? Writing about the past from a present-day perspective can revise and update our stored memories. War novelist Mark Dapin and crime writer Robert Gott reflect on how memories are made through reading and writing fiction. In conversation with Melissa Cranenburgh.
Sunday 23 August, 11.30am
Location: ACMI Cinema 1