An Eye to the Future : Tony Davis interviewed by Fran Knight, March 2015
Preparing himself for a writing future has meant combining his writing columns for Sydney Morning
Herald and The Age (Drive) and The Financial Review (Motoring) with recently completing a PhD
which will further establish his writing credentials. But why does a successful children’s author
need to ‘future proof’ himself?
Having always written stories and novels, and wanting to be an author, Davis worked for the
Sydney Morning Herald as a journalist working as the paper’s feature editor, back page columnist
and chief of staff. He hedged about taking a redundancy when they were offered some years ago,
eventually accepting one in 2015, but promising himself that he would use this money to support
himself while he writes.
Fairfax published several of his non fiction books, but after Random House published Total
Lemons (2004), Step on it! A Wild Ride through the Motor Age (2006), Are You for Wheel , the Most
Amazing Cars Ever (2007) and You must be Skidding: The Greatest Losers of the Motoring World
(2007), they published his books about Roland Wright.
This was his first series of novels, aimed at younger readers, Roland Wright, (Brand New Page,
Future Knight and At the Joust). Davis spent a great deal of time researching medieval times, even
going so far as joining a Medieval reenactment group donning armour to act out some routines. It
was worth it as the Roland Wright books are impressive in dealing with the medieval era and were
popular, although the sales of the third book didn’t quite encourage the publishers to back a fourth
in the series. I was most impressed with this series and its accurate presentation of the times. The
detail of Medieval life was engrossing and the series also had a strong moral theme, one which
Davis felt was self evident for the younger age range being aimed at.
Columns for SMH, FIIN and The Age still proceed, but with the publication of The Big Dry, Davis has
established a niche for himself with those upper primary people looking for something a little
meatier. This book concerns itself with the impact we have made upon our environment, using the
American Dust Bowl as a clear example. Aimed at those kids no longer reading Roland Wright, but
wanting something with more depth before moving the Young Adult genre, this book hits the mark.
The sympathetic trio of protagonists, combined with a recognisable background, and a seven year
drought makes for a book which impels its readers to keep reading. And as the first in a trilogy, he
is assured of a continuing audience.
Davis was in Adelaide as a Fellow of the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust, staying in their flat
in Norwood when I met him over coffee. The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship
allows an author or illustrator to have a month’s residency in Adelaide where they can work without
interruption. The down side is that Davis had to write some twenty articles for his newspaper
columns before leaving Sydney.
With an ever watchful eye to the future, Davis has a PhD in writing, something that will ensure his
writing career continues. The future of print media is in a state of flux, with digital and online news
taking over the ground traditionally concentrating on newspapers, so with The Big Dry receiving
such acclaim, a new novel written while in Adelaide, and a play based on The Big Dry being
produced in Sydney next year, his future looks very safe, combining the world of children’s
literature with journalism.
Quick bibliography for reading other books by Tony Davis
Total Lemons: 60 Heroic Failures of Motoring (Random House, 2004)
Step on it! A Wild Ride through the Motor Age (Random House, 2006)
Splat; The Madness and Magnificence of the World’s Most Dangerous Sport (Allen & Unwin, 2007)
F Scott, Ernest and Me (Random House, 2007)
You must be Skidding: The Greatest Losers of the Motoring World (Random House, 2007)
Rolnd Wright: Future Knight (Random House, 2007)
Roland Wright: Brand New Page (RAndom house, 2008)
Roland Wright: At the Joust (Random House, 2008)
Are You for Wheel, the Most Amazing Cares Ever (Random House, 2008)
The Big Dry (Harper Collins, 2013)