Untwisted: The Story of My Life

Description

In the telling of his own tale, children's author and screenwriter Paul Jennings demonstrates how seemingly small events can combine into a compelling drama. As if assembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle he puts together fragments, memories and anecdotes to reveal the portrait of a complex and weathered soul. The accounts of the trials and joys of turning his stories into episodes of the television program Round The Twist will be of special interest to the millions of fans of this series. Untwisted is revealing, moving and very funny. Paul Jennings has crafted perhaps his most masterful story yet ...the story of his life.

Paul Jennings has written more than one hundred stories and sold over ten million books. Since the publication of Unreal! in 1985, readers all around the world have loved his stories. The first two series of the top-rating TV series Round the Twist were based on Paul's popular short story collections and he received two Awgie awards for screenwriting episodes. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to children's literature in 1995, was awarded the prestigious Dromkeen Medal in 2001 and was made a Fellow of Monash University in 2010. In 2019 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Children's Book Council of Australia. He lives in Warrnambool with his partner, comedian, actor and author Mary-Anne Fahey.

'As generous, sensitive, perceptive and honest as its author, Untwisted is a fascinating collage. In deceptively simple prose, Paul Jennings uses key moments and events to make a vibrant, funny and moving picture of an amazing life. If you want to know what makes a writer, read this.' - Emily Rodda 'Paul stands with O. Henry, Wodehouse and Dahl, the great short-story writers. The originality of his imagination and humour shine, but there is a wonderful darkness underneath. His memoir goes some way to explaining that darkness.' - Terry Denton 'Paul Jennings knows how to tell a tale - tall or twisted, terrifying or true. Courageous in his craft, Jennings is unafraid of the dark corners, drawing out stories that give voice to things absurd, peculiar and strange. Somehow, he's able to take a reader's hand - often a very young reader - and walk them through landscapes of vulnerability, finding tenderness and humour in the most unexpected places. In this, his memoir, Jennings gives us the story behind the storyteller, untwisting the threads of his own life with generosity, humility and candour. Untwisted is Jennings at his best - tall and twisted, terrifying and true. This is a tale most memorable. Has Paul Jennings been listed as a National Living Treasure yet? He should be.' - Gabbie Stroud, author of Teacher and Dear Parents 'Poignant, courageous and sometimes funny, this is the story of a kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful man who is also one of Australia's best-loved children's authors. I read the manuscript in one sitting and thought it was just wonderful. Having read Paul's kids' books, I was surprised. He's a beautiful writer for adults as well! And I got such a sense of Paul in his writing. It was like he was in this room talking to me about his life.' - Debra Van Tol, long time Author Liaison at Penguin Australia 'This wry and moving account of a life, from humble beginnings in 1940s Britain to literary super-stardom in Australia and world-wide, is ingeniously constructed, quietly confessional, sweetly endearing, and, of course, often wildly hilarious.' - Carmel Bird, winner of the Patrick White Award, author of Field of Poppies, Dear Writer Revisited and more 'A bare-your-soul memoir with brutal honesty from a man who just keeps giving. A raw glimpse into the person and his craft. This book is a must for lovers of the children's literature world and those who wish to contribute to it.' - Louise Park, author of 7 Steps to get your child reading A personal invitation into the remarkable head of a quirky genius and one of Australia's most beloved writers. Achingly honest, full of writing wisdom and insights for educators. Essential reading.' - Megan Daley, author of Raising Readers 'Generations of Australians have grown up reading Paul Jennings' deceptively simple tales. In Untwisted, Paul is telling a new story - that of the unique and varied chapters of his own life. Honest, raw and revealing, Paul's story features the twists, turns and surprises we've come to expect of this iconic writer.' - Jane Godwin, former publisher and author of When Rain Turns to Snow 'Read this and you'll start to understand why Paul Jennings knows not only how to captivate with his words but with his knowledge that life does not proceed in an orderly fashion. His didn't and we're all the richer for it.' - Geraldine Doogue, renowned journalist and broadcaster 'Untwisted is sad in places, funny in some...but more than anything it reminded me what a master of the storytelling arts this man is... To feel like you understand some part of the mind of an author who has helped shape your childhood is an incredible thing. An absolute must-read.' Christina - Dymocks staff reviewer [Dymocks education newsletter] 'A delight in the peculiar and the whimsical is balanced by genuine, and often moving, emotional depth' - Australian Book Review 'Much more than a string of laugh-out-loud anecdotes and tips for aspiring writers. He untwists the many strands of his life with insight and honesty.' - The Courier-Mail