George Ivanoff — Full Bio
George Ivanoff is an author. He lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
He has written over 100 books for children and teenagers, including fiction and non-fiction. He has written school readers, library reference books, chapter books, novelettes, novels and even a short story collection. He has books on both the Victorian Premier’s and the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists.
George’s latest novel, Monster Island, was published by Penguin Random House (under their Puffin imprint) on 30 May 2023.
With his latest series of books, George has entered the world of commercial non-fiction for children. The Survival Guides take a humorous and creative approach to presenting factual information.
OTHER WORDS is a series of four books in which George has ventured into the realms of science fiction and fantasy, two of his favourite genres, in order to tell stories about ordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances.
George’s has written 13 books in his interactive You Choose series. You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove won the 2015 YABBA in the “Fiction for Younger Readers” category; and You Choose: Alien Invasion From Beyond the Stars won the 2023 YABBA in the same category.
His teen science fiction novel, Gamers’ Quest (2009), won a Chronos Award for speculative fiction. The sequel, Gamers’ Challenge (2011), was shortlisted for the same award. And the final book in the Gamers trilogy, Gamers’ Rebellion (2013), also won a Chronos Award. This trilogy has now been re-branded and re-released as Game On!, Level Up! and Game Over!
George has also written a series of realistic adventure books for kids — RFDS Adventures. The four books in this series were published in 2016.
George also writes short stories and articles for adults as well as kids. And he occasionally wanders in to the realm of media tie-in fiction. He has written official tie-in stories for The X-Files and Doctor Who, as well as novels and short stories that are spinoffs from Doctor Who.
Occasionally, George has been known to moonlight as an actor. He has had small roles in numerous productions including the television series Neighbours and the feature films Frozen Butterflies and William Kelly’s War. He recently guest starred in an episode of the audio series Night Terrace.
George eats too much chocolate, drinks too much coffee and watches too much Doctor Who.
He has one wife, two children, two cats and several chickens. And he is very content!
Awards and honours
2023
- “The Lady Jessica Affair” (UNIT: The Benton Files 2, Candy Jar Books, UK, 2022) — shortlisted for a SCRIBE Award (short story).
- The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Memories of the Future (Candy Jar Books, UK, 2022) — shortlisted for a SCRIBE Award (YA/MG).
- You Choose: Alien Invaders From Beyond the Stars (Penguin Random House Australia, 2015) — winner, YABBA (Fiction For Younger Readers).
2020
“Pure History” (Lethbridge-Stewart, The Havoc Files: The Laughing Gnome, Candy Jar Books, 2019) – SCRIBE awards shortlist (Short Fiction).
2019
You Choose: Alien Invaders From Beyond the Stars (Random House Australia, 2015) — shortlisted for the REAL Awards (Fiction For Older Readers).
2018
- OTHER WORLDS: Game World (Random House Australia, 2018) — shortlisted for the K-Zone Toy of the Year Awards (Best Book).
- You Choose: Footy Fever (Random House Australia, 2017) — shortlisted for the REAL Awards (Fiction For Younger Readers).
2017
- You Choose: Alien Invaders From Beyond the Stars (Random House Australia, 2015) — KOALA Honour Award (Fiction For Younger Readers).
- “An Eye For an Eye” (The X-Files: Secret Agendas, IDW Publishing, 2016) – SCRIBE awards shortlist (Short Fiction).
2016
You Choose: Alien Invaders From Beyond the Stars (Random House Australia, 2015) — KOALA Honour Award (Fiction For Younger Readers).
2015
You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove (Random House Australia, 2014)— winner, YABBA (Fiction For Younger Readers).
2014
- Gamers’ Rebellion (Ford Street Publishing, 2013)— winner, Chronos Award (Best Long Fiction)
- “Fairy Pie” (Stories for Girls, Random House Australia, 2013) — shortlist for Chronos Award (Best Short Fiction)
- “That was then, this is now: how my perceptions have changed” (Doctor Who and Race, ed: Lindy Orthia, Intellect Books, 2013) — shortlisted for William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review
2013
Viewing Clutter — winner, Chronos Award (Best Fan Publication)
2012
- Gamers’ Challenge (Ford Street Publishing, 2011)— shortlist for Chronos Award
- “Vitality” (Dead Red Heart, ed: Russell B Farr) — Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror Honorable Mentions list
- “Trees” (Short and Scary, ed: Karen Tayleur) — Recommended Reading List, Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror
2010
Gamers’ Quest (Ford Street Publishing, 2009)— winner, Chronos Award (Best Short Fiction) [The dividing line between short and long fiction in the Chronos Awards is 40,000 words, and Gamers’ Quest is under that limit.]