Paul Geraghty

Paul Geraghty, born in South Africa in 1959, grew up among wild animals and began drawing from an early age. In spite of the idyllic surroundings, he spent his childhood fighting the Second World War. He took requests and drew aeroplanes for his classmates. He wrote and illustrated stories about the war. When peace returned he completed a degree in Fine Art and English with Higher Diploma in Education at the University of Natal. He funded his student life by playing keyboards in a band on weekends. Later original recordings got airplay, achieving minimal fame and no fortune. He painted for a year, taught English and Art for two, then worked as a copywriter for a year, winning awards in the U.K. and U.S.A.

Since moving to England in 1986 he has been an author/illustrator of children's picture books (All but one illustrated in watercolour - The Wonderful Journey was done in oils) and teenage fiction, often visiting schools, libraries and colleges as well as conducting the occasional writers' workshop. He travels extensively.

His picture book The Hunter was short listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration, and won the Earthworm Award (sponsored by Friends of the Earth), while Solo won the Children's Book Award - out of 392 books, judged by 70 000 children nationwide. His first novel, Pig, won the Longmans Young Africa Award, and most recently, Tortuga won the Prix de la Ville de Cherbourg-Octeville.