Michael Gerard Bauer 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 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. The final book in the trilogy Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel and was released in July 2011. It was been shortlisted for the 2012 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers.
Michael’s other books include, Dinosaur Knights a 2010 CBCA Notable Book described as ‘an original and adrenalin-pumping adventure’, You Turkeys! an illustrated chapter book, part of the Scholastic Mates series for early readers, and Just a Dog which was named Honour Book in the 2011 CBCA awards in the Younger Readers category and won the 2011 Queensland Premier’s award for best Children’s Book.
Michael’s latest publication is Eric Vale Epic Fail the first in a series of three humorous books for younger readers. The books will be fully illustrated by Michael’s son Joe who as well as being a talented artist is an amazing young film-maker. Joe made the trailer for Eric Vale Epic Fail.
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) as well as the American community School in Abu Dhabi (2012). In 2010 Michael was one of the guest authors at the White Ravens International Children’s and Youth Literature Festival in Munich Germany and in 2012 he was invited to the Edinburgh Writers festival.
Michael’s books will soon be sold in around 20 countries including the USA and UK and translated into 8 languages. He can be found on Facebook at Michael Gerard Bauer Author.
MGB…so impressed with your blog!!! Did you REALLY make it yourself??? I thought ‘The Running Man’ would always be my MGB favourite…but after reading ‘Just a Dog’ twice now, I think it might have won…
All my own work! I surprised myself a little.
Thanks so much Megan. When I was first asked who I thought the book was for I said ‘I’m not sure. Maybe just me.’ So it’s really lovely to hear when someone else likes it too.
This is a blog from someone with too much time on his hands. Much too professional looking for my tastes…
Well done MGB.
Pat it’s all downhill from here on in. Or maybe I should quit while I’m ahead?
I finished Just a Dog a couple of days ago and it has lingered like a warm hug. I had been warned to have tissues ready, but I managed without. I thought the whole story was tenderly handled and it brought me closer to my childhood memories of the dog I loved. Thanks for that, Michael.
Thanks for that lovely feedback Angela. So glad you liked it.
Hi Michael Only met you once at Govt House but your words gather round me like time honoured friends. Fantastic site. But I didn’t pay much attention to the look. Love your words…you obviously don’t spend much time ironing. Dimity
Hi Dimity. Thanks so much for dropping by and for those generous words. I hope that comment about ironing wasn’t in response to the state of my clothes!
Never! Just an observation that perhaps you are one of the clever ones who spends less time on domestic ‘unnecessities’ and more on word weaving. Unless of course you can multi task!
Please don’t mention the idea of me multi-tasking to my wife. I hate it when she laughs hysterically.
Ah, so you are aided by a competent other whilst I merely have a husband. Always a little hesitant to use those two ‘m’ words in the same sentence; they rarely work well together. (I mean Male and Multi task not Michael). Will miss tomorrow night’s Book Links meeting (again) unfortunately but Denise, Beth and Jenny all well aware of my affinity for the odd glass of red so please indulge on my behalf. You may wish to remind them. For me to do so repeately would be reckless.
My class has read 2 of your books so far they are loving it thanks.
Thanks Sophie. That’s great to hear. What year level do you have and what have they read?
Please say hello to them all for me.
Cheers
Michael
i am reading just a dog am am up to chapter 15 mr mosely’s mysteries and I love it so far it is such a great book and nearly cried thankyou for the great book
Thank you so much Charlotte. I’m really glad that you’re enjoying Just a Dog. I know there are some sad things in the story but I hope that reading it will be a positive experience overall for you. Thank you for taking the time to write. I really appreciate it. Cheers Michael.