Holden Sheppard is an award-winning Australian novelist once described as "the lovechild of Rambo and Rimbaud".

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A country boy, a weightlifter and a self-proclaimed “bromosexual”, Holden has won acclaim for the raw, blokey honesty of his emotional novels about the modern experiences of Aussie men. 

 

Holden's bestselling debut Invisible Boys (Fremantle Press, 2019) - a confessional novel about young gay men growing up in rural Australia - picked up major accolades including the WA Premier's Prize, the Kathleen Mitchell Award and the Hungerford Award. In 2025, Invisible Boys was adapted as a critically acclaimed ten-episode television series for Stan Australia, which was the #1 most watched series on that platform nationally upon release. 

 

Holden's second book The Brink (Text Publishing, 2022) – a suspenseful thriller about young adults grappling with life after high school against the backdrop of a shocking murder – won the 2024 Ena Noel Award and the 2023 Indie Book Award. The Brink was also shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs), the Queensland Writers Centre's Adaptable Program, and both the NSW and SA Premiers' Awards.​

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Holden's latest novel King of Dirt (Pantera Press, 2025) is a gay bogan love story combined with a powerful coming-of-age novel set in the rough world of tradies and construction workers. Gritty and heartfelt, King of Dirt won early praise for its unflinching authenticity and has been compared to a modern-day Brokeback Mountain. Reviewers have called it 'a standout work of Australian fiction' and Holden's 'best book yet: frank, fast, funny and fearless'.  

 

Holden has worked as a screenwriter, writing two episodes of the Invisible Boys series. His writing has been widely published in books, journals and the media. He served as Deputy Chair of Writing WA from 2019-2023.

 

Holden is an outspoken advocate for artists' rights, gay rights and mental health initiatives, especially for men, for which he was recognised in the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards as a WA finalist in the Australia's Local Hero Award.

 

Known for a trademark larrikin humour that balances the heavier content of his books, Holden appeared in the 2022 "Bogans" episode of hit ABC TV series You Can't Ask That, was once featured in a bourbon advertisement, and barracks for the Collingwood Football Club.

 

Born and bred in Geraldton, Western Australia, Holden now lives in Perth's north with his husband and his V8 ute.