The Hand-Knitted Hero

As a child David Metzenthen was a nature boy; he loved fishing and farm work, exploring the bush, and being outdoors under the stars. He also lived very much inside his own head; feeling that the world was a place of unlimited adventure. He harboured dreams of becoming a cowboy, a fisherman, a farmer, a sailor, or a writer. Instead he left home at eighteen, with a copy of Jack Kerouac's On the Road for company, and hitch-hiked his way around New Zealand. Returning to Australia, David worked as a builder's labourer and advertising copy writer before finding success as a writer of books for children and young adults.

Stig Wemyss is Australia’s most loved audiobook narrator for children and young adults. He has lent his voice to the work of some of Australia’s most accomplished authors, including Andy Griffiths, Paul Jennings, Tim Winton, Marcus Zusak, Margaret Clarke and, most recently, Andrew Daddo. For the last three years he has been the recipient of the ABIA audiobook of the year award, including for the Trent Dalton's widely acclaimed debut novel Boy Swallows Universe. Stig has also written his own successful audiobook series entitled, The Tripp Diaries, which he narrates himself. His success and popularity have led him to develop a one-man comedy show for kids, Stig Live @ The Library, which he has performed in schools and libraries around Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.