about the author - updated july 2010
[For a summarised list, see the Writing section.]
Craig Bezant is an Australian writer and editor. He finds equilibrium between working as a primary school teacher, spending time with his family, and predominantly writing dark fiction (in the rainbow of crime thriller, suspense, horror, and dark fantasy genres). His main focus is on writing novels.
Craig is the creator and editor of Eclecticism E-zine (nominated for 2008 and 2009 Tin Duck Awards), now in its fourth year, a Associate Editor/Reviewer for the award-winning HorrorScope news and review zine, and a reviewer for Black: Australian Dark Culture magazine (Brimstone Press). He was nominated for a 2009 Ditmar Award (Best Fan Writer) for his reviews.
Craig is now the co-founder of new Australian dark fiction publisher, Dark Prints Press, and will edit their first three short story collections before the press expands into the realms of longer fiction.
At 31 years-young, he has several short stories and articles published in Australian and online zines. He houses a downed tree of old 'practise' manuscripts in his study, but found life's opportunity to get serious with his writing and has since completed and refined several 'publication-worthy' manuscripts (well, in his opinion).
He has completed a mentorship with author Martin Livings ('Carnies', Hachette Livre/Lothian) for his latest manuscript, a crime thriller / suspense novel set entirely in Perth, Western Australia. He has also finished editing a Young Adult adventure/dark fantasy novel, the first in a series, of which he has started the second; and has started the first draft of his next adult crime thriller / suspense novel, which involves a past that can't be left alone, largely thanks to the social wonders of Facebook.
Craig is a member of the Australia Horror Writers Associaton (AHWA), and has just finished a stint as one of their judges for the 2009 Australian Shadows Award. He will be a judge again for the 2010 award.
When his is not writing, he is completing a postgraduate degree (Literacy Education) and watching TV shows after they have been on TV (DVD is better). He has also dabbled in a Bachelor of Arts (Design and Creative Writing) as well as various work in the real world. His fondest memory of the Creative Writing course was being tutored by Australia's great author, Elizabeth Jolley, who was one hip lady. His fondest writing-related memories in more recent times are interviewing authors Stuart MacBride and Scott Sigler.
Favourite authors:
James Herbert (Craig's biggest influence and literary idol), Michael Connelly, Natsuo Kirino, Gao Xingjian, Richard Matheson, David Morrell, Lawrence Block, Stephen King, DBC Pierre, Koji Suzuki, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Zadie Smith, Edward DeBono, Peter Straub, Stewart O'Nan, Peter Carey, Chris Simms, Stuart Macbride, Scott Sigler, Martin Livings, Will Elliot, Joe Hill, Kathryn Fox, Alexander McCall Smith, Tim Winton...and many, many more.
My favourite author: James Herbert
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Researching for my latest dark crime novel. It's cold underground!
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If you would like to contact Craig, you can email him at:
craigbezant [at] westnet [dot] com [dot] au
