He earned two degrees in English and Psychology from Liverpool University and was a college lecturer in Crewe, Cheshire before moving to Australia in 1999.
His book The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull was shortlisted for the 2005 Children's Book Council Awards in the Older Readers category and was given a special mention the 2005 White Ravens Selection of International Children's and Youth Literature.
It's not all about YOU, Calma won the 2006 South Australian Festival Award for Children's Literature.
My Life as an Alphabet won the 2013 Children's Peace Literature Award for older readers.
[1] His 2022 book, A Little Spark, was shortlisted for the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature at the 2023 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards.