Paul Shannon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon, Paul (1961 –) is a novelist. He was born in Ashburton and educated at the University of Otago. He has worked as a freelance writer and web consultant.
Shannon’s debut novel, Davey Darling (Penguin, 2006) is set in 1970s Christchurch and centres on twelve-year-old Davey, whose father Tiny is an abusive bully. When Davey witnesses an act of violence, he is forced to make some difficult moral choices. Described by the publishers as a ‘classic coming-of-age novel’, John McCrystal, reviewing Davey Darling in The Dominion Post (19 August 2006) wrote that: ‘this is a slightly unusual take on the genre. Davey is more knowing than the traditional coming-of-age hero, and less charming – indeed, there’s a serious dearth of appealing characters in Davey Darling. But the conventions are set aside in favour of something more interesting: an intriguing moral complexity, and a plot whose direction is hard to second-guess.’
Shannon has also published short stories: ‘Curing the Ham’ in Metro magazine (July 2001), and ‘The Curious Head’ in the Listener (September, 2001).
The Totem Hole (Penguin, 2007) tells the story of two farming brothers Jesse and Aaron, who shoot an albatross accidently when out duck shooting one day. The Penguin website says: [the albatross] is badly wounded, and the dilemma of what to do with the injured bird - and the consequences - becomes the central feature of the novel. This is a strong, tough, heartland novel that reminds one of Tim Winton meets Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
MEDIA LINKS AND CLIPS
- Paul Shannon's book profile at Penguin NZ
- Paul Shannon Q&A session at Penguin NZ
- David Hill reviews Davey Darling in the NZ Listener
- Nicholas Reid reviews The Totem Hole in the NZ Listener
