There's no easy way to put this, so I'll say it straight out. It's time I faced up to the truth. I'm fourteen years old and I have Ishmael Leseur's Syndrome. There is no cure. And there is no instant cure to not fitting in. But that won't stop Ishmael and his intrepid band of misfits from taking on bullies, bugs, babes, the Beatles, debating, and the great white whale in the toughest, the weirdest, the most embarrassingly awful...and the best year of their lives.
Michael Gerard Bauer (see facebook page at Michael Gerard Bauer Author)was born and lives in Brisbane Australia. In 2000 he resigned from his full-time position as an English/Economics teacher to pursue his dream of becoming a writer.
In 2004 his first YA novel The Running Man was published to great acclaim. It subsequently won the 2005 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Older Readers and was short-listed for the NSW, Victoria and South Australian State Premiers' Literary awards.
In 2008 the German translation of The Running Man was short-listed for the German Youth Literature Prize and subsequently won the German Catholic Children's and Young People's Book Prize. In 2009 the Italian translation of The Running Man was a finalists for the "Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cento" Prize.
In 2007 his second novel, a 'laugh out loud' comedy entitled Don't Call Me Ishmael! was short-listed in both the CBCA awards and the NSW Premier's Literary Awards and won the 2007 Children's Peace Literature Award and the 2008 South Australian Festival Award for Children's Literature. It was also included in the 2007 White Ravens selection for Outstanding International Books for children and young adults. Its sequel Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs was a 2008 CBCA Notable book.
Michael's other books include, Dinosaur Knights a 2010 CBCA Notable Book described as 'an original and adrenalin-pumping adventure' and You Turkeys! an illustrated chapter book, part of the Scholastic Mates series for early readers.
His latest novel for younger readers Just a Dog has just been released.
Michael is currently writing the third and final book in the Ishmael series which is due for release in 2011.
These days Michael is a full time writer. His books are widely set as school texts and he is in high demand for talks and workshops at schools and Festivals around Australia. He has also enjoyed three very successful visits to Indonesia as a writer in residence at the Jakarta International School (2007 and 2008) and the British International School (2008).
Recently Michael was one of the guest authors at the White Ravens International Children's and Youth Literature Festival in Munich Germany.
Michael's books are currently sold in around 20 countries including the USA.
Join Michael's Facebook page at Michael Gerard Bauer Author.
