About Brian Falkner
Brian Falkner is an international award-winning Australian author and educator whose books have inspired readers — and young writers — all over the world. For more than two decades he has combined storytelling, teaching and innovation to ignite a love of writing in thousands of students.
Author and Storyteller
With over twenty-five books published internationally, by major publishers like Walker Books, Random House, Scholastic, Penguin, MacMillan and more, Brian’s work ranges from high-energy adventures and gripping historical dramas to deeply human stories of courage, imagination and hope. His novels — including Brainjack, The Tomorrow Code, Maddy West and the Tongue Taker, The Real Thing and the Recon Team Angel Series — have been translated into multiple languages, optioned for film and studied in classrooms across Australasia, Europe and North America.
Known for combining thrilling plots with big ideas, he writes stories that challenge readers to think as well as feel — exploring technology, history and the extraordinary possibilities of the human spirit.
Born and raised in New Zealand, Brian began his career in radio and advertising before turning to writing full-time. His fast-paced, idea-driven novels have established him as one of the region’s leading writers for young people. Reviewers and teachers alike praise his ability to capture reluctant readers through cinematic action and emotional depth.
Awards & Honours
Brian’s work has received national and international recognition, including wins and shortlistings at the NSW Book Awards, the QLD Book Awards, the NZCYA Book Awards, along with multiple selections for the prestigious Junior Library Guild and the Texas Lone Star Reading List. He has won the Sir Julius Vogel award for science fiction and the Ngaio Marsh award for crime.
Educator and Founder
Alongside his writing career, Brian has become one of Australasia’s most innovative writing educators. He is the creator of the acclaimed Write Like an Author (WLAA) programme — a unique series of workshops and camps that teach young writers to think and create like real authors. The programme has reached tens of thousands of students across Australia and New Zealand and is recognised by teachers for its rare blend of professional authenticity and classroom practicality.
Building on that success, Brian founded Litbridge Education, which adapts the WLAA approach for schools. Litbridge delivers ready-to-teach, curriculum-aligned units and model texts that bring creativity and joy back into writing classrooms.
A Passion for Creativity
Whether writing novels or designing classroom programmes, Brian’s goal remains the same: to spark imagination and confidence in every student. He believes storytelling is not just an art but a learnable skill — one that connects deeply with emotion, structure and character.
“Stories are how we understand the world — and writing them gives young people the power to change it.”