Doug MacLeod (60 works by) (a.k.a. Doug McLeod )
Born: Established: 13 Oct 1959 Greensborough Watsonia - Greensborough - Plenty area Melbourne - Northeast Melbourne Victoria ;
Gender: Male

BiographyHistory

Doug MacLeod started writing poetry and plays in his early teens, with some of his poems published in the Melbourne Age. His first book of verse, Hippopotabus, was published when he was sixteen. Comedian John Cleese was a fan of the book and sent its author a fan letter.

MacLeod graduated from the Drama School of the Victorian College of Arts in 1982. While he was there, he wrote a number of musical scripts, including Heart in the Mouth (for the Victoria Theatre, Ballarat) and Bilge (published in 1988). My Son the Lawyer is Drowning began life at the college as a musical piece. MacLeod became well-established as a writer, especially for children, and edited Puffinalia. He has written From Pen to Print : The Making of a Book (1987) about his writing.

MacLeod's career in broadcasting began in 1982 when he wrote and presented for Rave, a weekly one hour current affairs and comedy programme on ABC radio. He has also worked as a writer for many of Australia's most popular television shows including Fast Forward, Big Girls' Blouse, The Micallef Program and SeaChange. MacLeod was script editor for the ABC series Kath and Kim.

Notes

  • Surname sometimes misspelled as McLeod.

Awards for Works

The Shiny Guys , 2012 novel single work

'"Wouldn't it be funny if they were real?"

"Shiny red men?"

"What if I were the sane one and everyone else was mad?"

'One night, the shiny guys visit fifteen-year-old Colin Lapsley. They don't speak, but Colin can read their thoughts. They want him to pay for the terrible thing that he has done. When the shiny guys won't go away, Colin is admitted to ward 44. Ther he discovers an alien world, a powerful weapon, a gentle giant, and a girl who may be able to see what he can see.

'The Shiny Guys is a dark, sometimes funny novel about how fantasy and reality can merge, especially when electricity is involved.' (From the publisher's website.)

2013 shortlisted Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award Book of the Year: Older Readers
2012 shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for Young Adult Fiction
The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher , 2010 novel single work Thomas Timewell is sixteen and a gentleman. When he meets a body-snatcher called Plenitude, his whole life changes. He is pursued by cutthroats, a gypsy with a meat cleaver, and even the Grim Reaper. More disturbing still, Thomas has to spend an evening with the worst novelist in the world.

'A very black comedy set in England in 1828, The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher shows what terrible events can occur when you try to do the right thing. "Never a good idea," as Thomas's mother would say.' (From the publisher's website.)
2012 shortlisted Festival Awards for Literature (SA) Young Adult Fiction
2011 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award Book of the Year: Older Readers
2011 shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for Young Adult Fiction
2010 finalist Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction Young Adult Division Best Novel
Mozzie and Midgie , 2011 picture book single work When Mozzie and Midgie meet a colourful parrot who boasts of being the most beautiful bird on the island, the two young spoonbills set off to find out what could make them beautiful and special. (Trove record)
2012 shortlisted Crichton Award