Holden Sheppard is an award-winning author born in Geraldton, Western Australia. His debut novel, Invisible Boys (Fremantle Press, 2019), was published to both critical and commercial success. It won the WA Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer, was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards and was named a Notable Book by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Invisible Boys is currently in production as a television series.
'A ride you'll never forget. I loved, loved, loved The Brink.' * Scot Gardner * 'Raw, exhilarating and emotionally charged, an absolute must read!' * Gary Lonesborough * 'The Brink is an explosive story about friendship, love, grief, and trauma. Holden Sheppard brings his uniquely gritty voice to a novel that is part coming-of-age, part thriller, and part social commentary. The result is dark, gripping, and utterly compelling, moving at breakneck speed from the very first page. And beneath its hormone-fuelled exterior, the book is a nuanced deep-dive into sexuality and masculinity, and the sometimes perilous intersection between the two. Sheppard is a fearless writer, and The Brink is testament to that. I absolutely tore through this book. I could not put it down.' * Tobias Madden, author of Anything but Fine * 'The characters leap off the page, warts and all, and Sheppard writes with complexity and realism about sexual discovery, family and social rejection, coming of age (and coming out). A galvanising read for adolescents, and frank about the issues raised by queer teens in a way they'll appreciate.' * Sydney Morning Herald on Invisible Boys * 'Sheppard writes with unflinching honesty and an eye for authentic detail. It all makes for an impressive debut that's thoroughly deserving of the accolades it has received.' * Weekend West on Invisible Boys *