STUFF HAPPENS: ETHAN

Stuff happens sometimes. Everyday stuff. At school, at home, with sport, with mates. For Ethan it happened when he thought his best friend didn't like him anymore.

Ethan is not just bookish - he's book-obsessed, possibly the only boy with a mother begging him to put a book down so he can make friends. Ethan doesn't make friends so easily so he when he does make friends with Trent (they bond over a dinosaur book), Ethan is chuffed and his mum is thrilled. But then Trent discovers downball and Ethan thinks he's lost his best friend, his only friend . . .

Oliver is a young Thai-Australian writer for children. In 2008 Oliver was published in the Growing Up Asian in Australia anthology and has featured on panels at the Sydney Writers' Festival among many other appearances and blogs. He is a primary school teacher who shares his writing passion with kids and engages them with humour. He's also a stand-up comedian and has appeared on national TV and radio as well as a number of well-known comedy venues such as the Comedy Store in Sydney. His first book, Thai-riffic!, was published in June 2010 to critical acclaim, followed by Con-nerd in 2011.