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 groundbreaking new novel King of Dirt (Pantera Press, 2025) is a powerful and unfiltered exploration of the rough and rugged world of gay tradies and construction workers. Gritty and heartfelt, King of Dirt has won early praise for its unflinching authenticity and has been compared to a modern-day Brokeback Mountain. 

 

Holden has worked as a screenwriter, writing two episodes of the Invisible Boys series, has had numerous short stories published in books, and has had multiple articles published in the media.

He has worked a wide range of day jobs - from storeman, labourer and excavator operator through to call-centre operator, banker and salesman. Holden is an outspoken advocate for artists' rights, gay rights and mental health initiatives, especially for men. He served as Deputy Chair of Writing WA for four years from 2019-2023.

 

Known for a trademark larrikin humour that counterbalances 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 far north with his husband and his V8 ute.