Lockie Leonard: Lockie Leonard

Born in Perth in 1960, Tim Winton is the author of thirteen books, including novels, short stories, non-fiction and books for children. He began publishing fiction in his teens and his first novel, An Open Swimmer, won the 1981 Australian/Vogel Prize. He has twice won the Miles Franklin Award, for Shallows in 1984 and for Cloudstreet in 1991, and his other awards include the Banjo Prize, the WA Premier's Prize, the DEO Gloria Award (UK), the Marten Bequest and the Wilderness Society Environment Award. In 1995 The Riders was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Dirt Music - shortlisted for the Booker Prize, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary award and more - confirms Tim's status as one of the finest novelists of his generation.

His collection of short stories called The Turning won the 2005 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the 2005 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.

Tim Winton has lived in Greece, France and Ireland. He lives in Western Australia with his wife and three children.

(from Pan Macmillan)