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Summary

Multi-award-winning writer, Norman Jorgensen, is a versatile writer for young people with a dozen books published. He often feels like he is a twelve-year-old trapped in the body of an aging novelist, and does tend to see the world like that, which is probably useful for someone in his profession. He prides himself that nearly all his books are is set in Western Australian, unlike the stories he read as a child where Cornwall featured a lot. He also has a deep love of history and has set a number of his plots in the 19th century in a landscape we can all still recognise.

Biography

Norman was born in Broome and lived a happy, Huckleberry Finn like childhood living in various county towns before moving with his family to Kalamunda.

Norman has worked in the book trade for much of his life, and in his spare time, he loves to read, travel and take photographs. He now lives in a 100-year-old house near the city with his wife, Jan Nicholls, a children’s book devotee.

Norman began writing when in primary school and had a story read on the ABC Radio Argonaut’s Club, but it took many years before his first picture book, In Flanders Fields, beautifully illustrated by Brian Harrison-Lever, was published.

His novel, Jack’s Island, set on Rottnest Island during World War II, has been well received by many students but also by their parents and grandparents who admired the way Norman accurately captured a simpler, more gentle time.

Norman teamed with talented debut illustrator, James Foley, to produce his latest picture books, The Last Viking, and The Last Viking Returns, about a boy who outwits local bullies by channelling his inner Viking.

His latest novel The Smugglers’ Curse, an action-packed tale, appealed to many young readers, and the sequel, The Wreckers’ Revenge, promises to be a huge hit as well.

In February 2020, Norman was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Western Australian Young Readers Books Award, an honour he is immensely proud of, as previous inductees have been Road Dahl, Paul Jennings and John Marsden.

Relevant qualifications

Writing Awards and Shortlistings:

Ashe of the Outback Thomas Catt Publishers 1992 (Graphic novel)

Ashe on Parade Thomas Catt Publishers 1992 (Graphic novel)

Ashe: The Great Escapes Thomas Catt Publishers 1994 (Graphic novel)

In Flanders Fields Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2002 (Picture Book)
Shortlist, WA Premier’s Literature Awards 2002
Winner, CBC Picture Book of the Year 2003
Honour Book, American SPCA, Henry Burgh Award 2004

In Flanders Fields (Paperback) FACP 2002 (Picture Book)

In Flanders Fields (Paperback ) Simply Read Books USA Canadian Edition

The Call of the Osprey Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2004(Picture Book)
Shortlisted, WA Premier’s Literature Awards 2004

A Fine Mess! Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2004 (YA Novel)
Shortlisted, WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2006

Another Fine Mess 002 Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2007 (YA Novel)

Jack’s Island Fremantle Press (YA Novel) 2008
Local Winner. WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2009
Honour Book. The Children Book Council of Australia Awards 2009
Shortlisted. The WA Premier’s Award 2009

The Last Viking Fremantle Press (Picture Book) July 2011
Winner. SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards 2012
Local Winner. WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2012
Shortlisted. South Australian Premier’s Award 2012
Shortlisted. Aurealis Award 2012
Shortlisted and Notable Book. Children’s Book Council Awards 2012
Winner, 2012 Children’s Book Council of Australia Junior Judges Awards,
Early Childhood Book of the Year

Bach the Guide Dog and his Seeing-eye Girl (Short story). Published by writingWA 2014

The Last Viking Returns ( Picture Book) Fremantle Press
Shortlisted WAYRBA 2015
Shortlisted Aurealis Award 2015
Local Winner. WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2015

The Smuggler’s Curse (Upper Primary Novel) Fremantle Press October 1 2016.
Outright Winner. The WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2017

The Wreckers’ Revenge (Upper Primary Novel) Fremantle Press June 1st. 2019.

Recent experience

Writer in Residence, Mandurah Catholic College.
Writing Workshops, Helena College.
Presenter at Between the Line Festival, Busselton.
Rottest Island workshop with Sacred Heart College, Sorrento.
Workshop presenter for Gosnells Writing Circle.

Publications

The Wreckers' Revenge

The Wreckers' Revenge

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2019

Genre: Middle grade Fiction

The Smuggler's Curse

The Smuggler's Curse

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2016

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

The Last Viking Returns

The Last Viking Returns

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2014

Genre: Picture Book

The Last Viking

The Last Viking

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2011

Genre: Picture Book

Jack's Island

Jack's Island

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2008

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

A Fine Mess!

A Fine Mess!

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2004

Genre: YA Novel

The Call of the Osprey

The Call of the Osprey

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2004

Genre: Picture Book

Another Fine Mess 002

Another Fine Mess 002

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2003

Genre: YA Novel

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publ. date: 2002

Genre: Picture Book

Ashe: The Great Escape

Ashe: The Great Escape

Publisher: Thomas Catt Publishers

Publ. date: 1994

Genre: Graphic Novel

Ashe on Parade

Ashe on Parade

Publisher: Thomas Catt Publishers

Publ. date: 1992

Genre: Graphic Novel

Ashe of the Outback

Ashe of the Outback

Publisher: Thomas Catt Publishers

Publ. date: 1992

Genre: Graphic Novel

Get in touch

Email [email protected]

Website http://normanjorgensen.com.au

Facebook http://facebook.com/norman.jorgensen

Instagram http://instagram.com/normanjorgensen

Twitter http://twitter.com,/normanjorgensen

Phone +61408932196

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