ROSS CROTHERS

Born in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, to a beef cattle grazing family, Ross Crothers early life might well be described as idyllic. The death of his father when he was only eight abruptly changed that, and a life on the land suddenly became an option no longer. After completing his schooling he went straight back into the rural industry, becoming a livestock auctioneer and agent. Initially he was based in Sydney, later moving to the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions.

In 1991 he changed gears, moving back to Sydney and into the world of commercial property, finance and occasionally, commodity broking. The booms and busts in each sector came and went; the deals were often fascinating, and the players colourful.  He didn’t know it then, but much later this period was to provide a wonderful source of material.

Becoming a writer was never really on his radar. He had always written what most people would call “well”, but it was only ever as required for his schooling or businesses.  Then in 2012, having  recently moved from Sydney to another idyllic rural setting, and finding himself at a loose end, he decided to write – and this time to take a serious tilt at it. The result is his first book, Running Dead, which was inspired by the characters and events from those 20-odd prior years.  

He and his wife of 35 years live on a small rural property in a 150-year-old converted pub and coach house, with acres of established garden, a dog, four sheep and various fowl.