David Hill is a versatile and popular author, and winner of the 2005 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. A regular visitor to schools, he also teaches creative writing, and has been a reviewer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines for more than two decades.
'As one of the country's most versatile writers,' said Dr Libby Limbrick, 'David has helped many children develop a love of story and books, as well as tirelessly supporting teachers and librarians. His contribution to both literature and literacy in New Zealand continues to be outstanding.’
Born in Napier in 1942, David gained an MA (Hons) from Victoria University in 1964, teaching English in secondary schools for 14 years before becoming a full-time writer. David is a versatile journalist, reviewer, fiction writer, playwright and children’s author. He has been widely published in newspapers and magazines both in New Zealand and overseas. Many of his novels have been translated into various languages including French and Chinese.
David has a well-developed sense of humour, which, coupled with his own interests, and experiences as a child and teenager, provide much raw material for his writing. In Beneath Southern Skies (Scholastic 1993), David comments ‘As a small kid I was short, stout and stammering. As a teenage kid I was spotty, scruffy and still stammering’. David understands the desire of young people to be accepted within their peer group and this has become a strong feature of his writing - and what makes it incredibly accessible and sought after by his readers.
David works from his home in New Plymouth where he lives with his wife, Beth who is a language teacher. In his spare time David enjoys reading, astronomy, tramping and supporting the All Blacks.
Selected bibliography:
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Introducing Maurice Gee (Longman Paul 1981).
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The Games of Nanny Miro illustrated by June Grant, translated to te reo Mâori by Irene Curnow (Moana Press 1990).
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See Ya, Simon (Mallinson Rendel 1992).
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Kick Back (Ashton Scholastic 1995).
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Take It Easy (Mallinson Rendel 1995).
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The Winning Touch (Ashton Scholastic 1995).
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Curtain Up (Heinemann 1995).
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Seconds Best (Scholastic 1996).
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Cold Comfort (Mallinson Rendel 1996).
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Fat, Four-eyed and Useless (Scholastic 1997).
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Treasure Deep (Mallinson Rendel 1997).
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Give It Hoops (Scholastic 1998).
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Comes Naturally (Mallinson Rendel 1998).
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Boots 'n' All (Scholastic 1999).
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Just Looking, Thanks (Puffin Books 1999).
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Time Out (Mallinson Rendel 1999).
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Impact (Puffin Books 1999).
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Afterwards (Mallinson Rendel 2000).
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The Sleeper Wakes (Puffin 2001).
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The Name of the Game (Mallinson Rendel 2001).
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The High Wind Blows (Puffin 2001).
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Where All Things End (Puffin Books 2002).
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Right Where It Hurts (Mallinson Rendel 2002).
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No Big Deal illustrated by Terry Fitzgibbon [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin Books 2003).
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No Safe Barbour (Mallinson Rendel 2003).
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Journey to Tangiwai: The Diary of Peter Cotterill, Napier, 1953 [My Story] (Scholastic 2003).
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Getting Board? illustrated by Ross [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin Books 2004).
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Coming Back (Mallinson Rendel 2004).
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Running Hot (Mallinson Rendel 2005).
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Bodies and Soul (Scholastic 2005).
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Aim High (Mallinson Rendel 2006).
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Hill Sides: The Best of David Hill (Mallinson Rendel 2006).
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Black Day illustrated by Lotte Wotherspoon [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin Books 2007).
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Duet (Mallinson Rendel 2007).
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The River Runs (Mallinson Rendel 2008).
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Fire on High (Mallinson Rendel 2009).
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Down Under (Gilt Edge 2011).
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The Red Poppy illustrated by Fifi Colston (Scholastic 2012).
Awards:
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ICI Bursary 1980.
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Esther Glen Award 1993 shortlist for See Ya, Simon.
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AIM Children’s Book Awards 1993 Senior Fiction shortlist for See Ya, Simon.
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Times Educational Supplement Award for Special Needs 1994 for See Ya, Simon.
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Esther Glen Award 1996 shortlist for Take It Easy.
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AIM Children’s Book Awards 1996 Junior Fiction shortlist for Take It Easy.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1997 Junior Fiction shortlist for Cold Comfort.
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Esther Glen Award 1998 Medallist for Fat, Four-eyed and Useless.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1998 Junior Fiction shortlist for Fat, Four-eyed and Useless.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1999 Junior Fiction shortlist for Give It Hoops.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Junior Fiction shortlist for Time Out.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2000 Junior Fiction list for Time Out.
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Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award 2002 for See Ya, Simon.
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Esther Glen Award 2002 shortlist for The Sleeper Wakes.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2002 Junior Fiction list for The Sleeper Wakes.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2002 Senior Fiction list for The High Wind Blows.
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Esther Glen Award 2003 Medallist for Right Where It Hurts.
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University of Otago College of Education Children Writer in Residence / Robert Lord Writers' Cottage Residency 2003.
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White Ravens List 2003 for Right Where it Hurts.
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New Zealand Order of Merit 2004.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2004 Junior Fiction shortlist for Journey to Tangiwai.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2004 Junior Fiction list for Journey to Tangiwai.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2004 Young Adult Fiction list for No Safe Harbour.
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Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal Award 2005.
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White Ravens List 2005 Special Mention for Coming Back.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2005 Young Adult Fiction list for Coming Back.
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New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2006 Young Adult Fiction shortlist for Running Hot.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2006 Young Adult Fiction list for Bodies and Soul.
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Storylines Notable Books List 2007 Young Adult Fiction list for Aim High.
Other resources:
Storylines thanks zeald.com for their ongoing support of the Storylines website.
