1991: Young adults find comfort in bedtime stories

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Tags: books, centenary-edition, economics

Richard Newsome, BEcon (hons)

From bedtime story to bestseller, UQ economics alumnus Richard Newsome has bridged the literary gap with his award-winning debut novel The Billionaire’s Curse.

Richard Newsome

After numerous rejections, Mr Newsome’s offering took out the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s writing at last year’s Melbourne Writers Festival, which included a coveted publishing deal and $10,000.

Initially told as a series of bedtime stories to his two eldest children, the grand adventures of Gerald and his ill-fated inheritance have taken the young adult genre by storm.

Although the book was not scheduled for release until early August 2009, leaked copies returned rave reviews across North America and Europe leading to a promise of two more instalments.

It wasn’t always a straight road for the ex-international strategy consultant, who deferred his first year of university to work for a local newspaper.

Six years and several million words later, the now seasoned journalist finally made it back to the University to complete an honours degree in economics.

When asked about his wide range of career choices, Mr Newsome reflected on changing career paths and the current economic climate.

“I learnt many things in my degree but the greatest lesson was that you don’t have to stick to one path in life,” he said.

“I think the current global financial crisis will change the way people think about their careers. People will be reassessing their objectives and what they want to achieve in life.”

Mr Newsome describes writing the book as his own personal Everest, saying that a childhood love of writing had now become the ultimate goal for the father-of-three.

Book one of The Billionaire’s Curse was released in Australia and New Zealand in August and will be published in the US, Canada, Germany, Poland and Italy this year.

Mr Newsome also appeared at the Graceville School Fete on August 29 to auction off one character’s name for the upcoming instalment, raising funds for the school.

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