About John Bailey

John Bailey (b. 1944) is an Australian author with five books to his credit. Bailey’s approach to writing has been to create a strong narrative against the background of exotic or remote locations. His first book, The Wire Classroom 1969 (Angus and Robertson), described colonial life in New Guinea. His second, The Moon Baby 1972 (Angus and Robertson), was set in the future in an unnamed metropolis. His third, The White Divers of Broome 2001 (Macmillan), concerns pearl shell diving in the coastal town of Broome in the north of Western Australia.

The Lost German Slave Girl, 2003 (Macmillan) relates the true story of a slave woman in Louisiana who claimed to be a German immigrant who had been illegally taken into bondage when she was a child.

His latest book, Mr Stuart’s Track 2006 (Macmillan), reveals the forgotten life of John McDouall Stuart, the first explorer to cross Australia from coast to coast.

Both The Wire Classroom and The Moon Baby were published 30 years ago. Although obtaining critical acclaim, they were not a commercial success and Bailey - then married with children - decided that it was time he earned some money. Over the next twenty-five years, Bailey enjoyed a varied career, from being a public servant in New Guinea, a teacher in England and a barrister in Melbourne. During this time, although he did not write, he retained the hope, that some day he would, eventually follow his dream to become a full-time writer. Finally in the year 1999 he took the plunge. He threw in the law and moved a thousand kilometres north to a small town close to the Queensland border in sub-tropical New South Wales.

His risky decision to change careers at the age of 55 paid off. He wrote three books in seven years, all of which were published by Macmillan. His books have been well received by the critics and the public alike. They have won literary prizes and been short-listed in a number of awards. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for services to literature.