Christopher Holcroft

Christopher John Holcroft RFD, JP (born 15 June 1953) is an Australian author.

He is best known as the author of the Scott Morrow adventure trilogy, which consists of the books Only The Brave Dare, Canyon, and A Rite of Passage. He has also written Finding Thomas, and One Last Concert in his Afterlife series.

Life and work

Christopher Holcroft was born in Cooma, New South Wales during Australia's largest ever building project, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. He was born to Allan and Shirley Holcroft along with his brothers Mark and Peter and his sisters Liane and Nerida.

Holcroft graduated from Peakhurst High School in Sydney's south in 1970 (now Georges River College). He started work two weeks later at Sydney's The Sun newspaper as a copyboy. Within a year he began his formal cadetship as a journalist and completed his training in 1974 when he became graded. Christopher worked for and contributed to a series of newspaper mastheads for more than 20 years including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Australian and a string of suburban papers, lastly, editing The District Reporter in Camden, New South Wales.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, majoring in journalism and communication technology at the University of Technology, Sydney, later completing his Masters degree in Communications (Organisational Communication) at Charles Sturt University. Holcroft followed his grandfather, New Zealand author M. H. Holcroft, into a career in journalism and writing. He also followed his uncle, New Zealand author Anthony Holcroft, in writing children's and adult books.

In 1974 Holcroft joined the Australian Army as a part-time soldier in the Army Reserve as an Infantryman, rising to the rank of Temporary Sergeant. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1982 into the Australian Army's PR Corps, the Australian Army Public Relations Service, and rose through the ranks to become the Corps's first Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in 1999. Holcroft graduated from the Australian Army's Reserve Command And Staff College as a Captain in 1987 and a Major in 1992. He saw ACTIVE service in East Timor in 2000 as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority East Timor (UNTAET) and was posted in Iraq in 2006 as part of the Australian Army's Operation Catalyst based in Baghdad. He was awarded the Australian Army Active Service Medal, The Iraq Campaign Medal, Reserve Forces Decoration (RFD) and the Australian DeFence Medal.

Since 1968 Holcroft has been a member of Scouts Australia as a "Senior Scout" (now called Venturers), Assistant Venturer Leader and Venturer Leader in charge of youths aged 14 to 18, (with some breaks in service). During his time as a Senior Scout and Venturer, he gained his Queen's Scout Award and the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. When he became a youth leader, he gained his Wood Badge and was awarded the Silver Wattle Award for meritorious service.

He is also a Justice of the Peace.

In 2008 Australia celebrated its centenary of scouting, and Holcroft wrote the first two novels in the Scott Morrow adventure trilogy to mark the occasion: Only The Brave Dare and Canyon. In 2010 Holcroft completed the trilogy with A Rite of Passage All three books followed the adventures of a group of venturers and a teenager who never wanted to be a hero but whom his country needed.

In 2011 he published the first book in his Afterlife series, Finding Thomas. He explores what happens after someone dies in novel form using a teenage central character called Kit Green, in a focus on near death experiences.

Infinity Publishing (USA) has published Only The Brave Dare, A Rite of Passage and Finding Thomas, while Poseidon Books Australia has published Canyon. The books are sold in the USA, UK, India, New Zealand and Australia.

The second book in Holcroft's Afterlife series is One Last Concert. It was published in April 2013 and Holcroft explores how to move on the spirits of people who have died suddenly and are trapped on Earth. One Last Concert is published by Infinity Publishing (USA).

Influences

Holcroft's inspirations for his novel writing were drawn from real life experiences as a newspaper reporter, a soldier and a venturer leader. He found a lack of imaginative and challenging books available for teenage boys to read, so he has written his novels to encourage boys to read more and enjoy the great outdoors. When he found in his youth work a distinct lack of knowledge AbOUT God or a superior being, and what happens when people die, he started his afterlife series.

Personal life

Holcroft lives in Banksia, New South Wales, where he wrote his first five books. He is married with three sons.

Bibliography

The Scott Morrow Trilogy

• Only The Brave Dare (2008)
• Canyon (2008)
• A Rite of Passage (2010)

The Afterlife Series

• Finding Thomas (2011)
• One Last Concert (2013)

External links

• Only The Brave Dare. Pat Pledger, ReadPlus book review: Accessed 2012-09-05
• [http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/the...on.../1384206.aspx Canyon]. St George and Sutherland Shire Leader newspaper
• [http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/boost-for.../1868875.aspx A Rite Of Passage]. St George and Sutherland Shire Leader newspaper
• One Last Concert. St George and Sutherland Shire Leader newspaper
• Anthony Holcroft. New Zealand children's book author Anthony Holcroft
• Australian Army Public Relations Service. Australian Army Public Relations Service