Robert Hood – November 17 2019

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – November 17 2019

Rob is an award-winning writer of speculative fiction for adults, young adults and children. He has written radio comedy, worked as a journalist, research assistant, magazine editor, and helped establish a small-press publishing company. Rob holds a degree in English Literature and was a creative writing teacher for ten years. He  is currently the Graphic Design/Publications Coordinator of the Faculty of Commerce at Wollongong University. Rob’s YA novel Backstreets explores a dark area of the human spirit, drawing on the tragedy of the sudden death of his stepson in an accident. His other works include the four-book YA ‘Shades’ series and, with his friend Bill Condon, the ‘Creepers’ series of nine comic horror novels for children. His short story collections include Day-dreaming on Company Time, Immaterial Ghost Stories, Creeping in Reptile Flesh and Peripheral Visions: The Collected Ghost Stories and he has written and directed plays for amateur theatre.

Backstreets
Hodder Children’s Books Australia, 1999; ISBN 9780733609954
Young adult
A horrific car accident leaves Kel in a coma, and Bryce, his lifelong friend, dead. When Kel awakens he cannot believe his friend is truly gone and is wracked with guilt, fear and feelings of deep loss. When he begins to experience strange dreams and catch sight of shadowy figures, he comes to believe Bryce is lost rather than no longer alive. His journey towards confronting his grief becomes a descent into an often nightmarish world as he roams the streets of his city home, searching for his friend and encountering a reality beyond everyday society, of the homeless and violence that seemingly echoes his inner trauma.

Rat Heads – co-authored with Bill Condon
Hachette Australia, 1997; ISBN 9780733604607
Children; teenagers
A mysterious gang is terrorising the city streets appearing out of the shadows to scare pedestrians, mangle cars and rob shops of every scrap of cheese they can find. But one of their victims is sure that this is no ordinary gang. When Creeper, Nat and Boris investigate, they find themselves face-to-face with creatures that are part street-kid, part rat; a monstrous gang of Rat Heads! Where does this mysterious gang of Rat Heads come from? What do they want? The answer may be more than even the International Network of the Supernatural can handle!