Author. He was one of Australia's most commercially successful authors, having published 21 novels between 1989 and 2012, most of which are set in historical fiction Australia, his adopted country or South Africa, his country of birth. He began working at the age of 17 in an African mine, earning money to attend the London School of Journalism in England. He then spent the next three and a-half decades as an advertising executive before deciding to finally pursue his life-long dream of writing. His first novel, "The Power of One", was published in 1989 when he was 55. It quickly became one of Australia's best-selling books, was translated into 12 languages and released as a motion picture in 1992 starring Morgan Freeman and Sir John Gielgud. He dedicated its sequel, "Tandia", to his youngest son who died of medically AIDS in 1991, at the age of 24. This tragedy inspired the subject for his third book and only non-fiction work, "April Fool's Day". His 21st and final novel, "Jack of Diamonds", was published 11 days before his death and is dedicated to his readers.
Author. He was one of Australia's most commercially successful authors, having published 21 novels between 1989 and 2012, most of which are set in historical fiction Australia, his adopted country or South Africa, his country of birth. He began working at the age of 17 in an African mine, earning money to attend the London School of Journalism in England. He then spent the next three and a-half decades as an advertising executive before deciding to finally pursue his life-long dream of writing. His first novel, "The Power of One", was published in 1989 when he was 55. It quickly became one of Australia's best-selling books, was translated into 12 languages and released as a motion picture in 1992 starring Morgan Freeman and Sir John Gielgud. He dedicated its sequel, "Tandia", to his youngest son who died of medically AIDS in 1991, at the age of 24. This tragedy inspired the subject for his third book and only non-fiction work, "April Fool's Day". His 21st and final novel, "Jack of Diamonds", was published 11 days before his death and is dedicated to his readers.
Bio by: Emily E. Farley Smith
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