‘Literary giant’ and celebrated Aussie author John Marsden dies, age 74

Celebrated Australian writer John Marsden, whose literary career spanned decades and touched the lives of countless readers, has sadly passed away at the age of 74.

The acclaimed author penned over 40 books during his remarkable career, with his most iconic work being the Tomorrow series. The series, which sold millions of copies worldwide, was later adapted into both a feature film and a television series, cementing its status as a global phenomenon.

Born September 27, 1950, Marsden’s writing journey began during his time as an English teacher at Geelong Grammar School’s Timbertop campus, where he became determined to engage teenagers in reading after noticing their growing lack of interest. This drive led to the creation of So Much to Tell You, written in just three weeks and published in 1987. The book became a massive success, winning multiple awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Book of the Year.

In the years following, Marsden published a string of successful books, including Out of Time, Letters From the Inside, and Take My Word For It, which earned critical acclaim and recognition from the CBCA. However, it was his 1993 novel Tomorrow, When the War Began that solidified his place in Australian literary history. The first book in the Tomorrow series, it became Marsden’s most famous and best-selling work. The series grew to include seven books, as well as the Ellie Chronicles, a follow-up trilogy.

Beyond the Tomorrow series, Marsden was a versatile writer, producing picture books such as The Rabbits, poetry, and non-fiction works, while also editing This I Believe. He also wrote Everything I Know About Writing and Secret Men’s Business, further cementing his broad literary influence.

In 2006, Marsden shifted his focus to education, founding the Candlebark School, which served students from Kindergarten to Year 12. He later opened Alice Miller School in 2016, an arts-focused secondary school.

As news of Marsden’s passing broke, fans across the nation came together to honour the “fabulous” writer and reflect on his remarkable legacy.

John Marsden wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen.

Vivid, funny, quintessentially Australian, he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character.

His was a great Australian voice that spoke to all ages, here and…

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 18, 2024

Very sad to hear that John Marsden has died. I read and reread the Tomorrow series as a kid. I met John at various writing events and festivals over the years—he was always humble and kind. pic.twitter.com/OUjS6G5jfB

— Dr Kate Cantrell (@DrKateCantrell) December 18, 2024

John Marsden was a literary giant. His works have touched the hearts of generations of Australians.

My thoughts are with his family, friends, and the broader literary community during this time of loss.

— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) December 18, 2024

Vale John Marsden, an all time great of children’s and young adult literature.

— Adrian Zandberg (@ABZand) December 18, 2024

RIP John Marsden.
A wonderful writer .
Your books will always be treasured by my daughters .

— Pamela Spence (@starppael) December 18, 2024

That’s so sad. He was a gifted human being and a gift to students and readers.

— Saffron Candide @misshellite.bsky.social (@MBottroff) December 18, 2024

A fabulous author of many great books, I am very sad to hear he has passed away.

— Sea Sparkles (@armageddinout) December 18, 2024

Marsden is survived by his wife Kristin and six stepsons.