Writer, editor etc
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CV

Career history and more

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Mic Looby

In a nutshell

I’m an award-winning Melbourne-based author/editor/ghostwriter with a journalistic background and a wide range of fiction and non-fiction book titles to my name. A creative, meticulous all-rounder, I have a passion for storytelling across all kinds of media.

Major stuff

  • Co-author/ghostwriter of Black Snake: The Real Story of Ned Kelly (Affirm Press)

  • Co-author/ghostwriter of A Father’s Plea (Affirm Press)

  • Digital producer at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2023 to present)

  • Online news editor and producer at The Age (2009 to 2017)

  • Writer and script editor for TV documentaries including The Great Australian Fly (360 Degrees)

  • Co-creator of various children’s books (Allen & Unwin)

  • Co-creator, writer and host of Australian history podcast The Wayback Week

  • Columnist for The Big Issue magazine (2006-2013)


Published stuff

Affirm Press

A Father’s Plea – co-author/ghostwriter

Black Snake: The Real Story of Ned Kelly – co-author/ghostwriter

Weekends with Matt, by Peter Coleman and Matt Fowles – editor

The Ballad of Abdul Wade, by Ryan Butta – editor

The Boy in the Dress, by Jonathan Butler – editor

Wild Place, by Christian White – editor

Don’t Call Us Carnies, by Norma Brophy – editor

The Guy Who Decides, by Jimmy Rees – editor

Funkytown, by Paul Kennedy – editor

When Jokers Were Kings, by John Tesarsch – editor

1001 Australian Nights: a Memoir, by Dave Graney – editor

Under Stones, short fiction by Bob Franklin – editor

Paradise Updated: a Novel – author

AUSTRALIAN SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING

The Boy from Brunswick: Leonard French, a biography – ghostwriter/editor

Work in ProGRESS

Collision, fiction manuscript by Kelvin Templeton – editor

Allen & Unwin

It’s True! Pirates Ate Rats! – illustrator

It’s True! Animals Are Electrifying! – illustrator

It’s True! Frogs Are Cannibals! – illustrator

June Factor’s Bumper Book of Jokes – illustrator

June Factor’s Juicy Jumping Joke Book – illustrator

June Factor’s Jumping Joke Book – illustrator

The Big Issue

The Big Issue magazine – contributing editor, writer, columnist

Screen stuff

ABC, SBS and 360 Degree Films

The Great Australian Fly – writer, script editor

Indian Wedding Race – writer, script editor

Honours & Awards

2023

  • The Boy in the Dress, winner of Sydney Crime Writers Festival Danger Award for Best True Crime book

2022

  • The Boy in the Dress shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year (non-fiction)

  • Weekends with Matt – finalist Australian Wine Communicator Awards, for best new wine book

  • The Ballad of Abdul Wade – shortlisted best non-fiction title, Australian Independent Bookseller Indie Book Awards

2016

  • Silver Prize China Dragon Awards for The Great Australian Fly

2015

  • Nominated Eureka Prizes Best Science Journalism Award for The Great Australia Fly

2010

  • Australian Shadows award for Long Fiction for Under Stones

  • Under Stones shortlisted Best Collection, Best Short Story, Aurealis Awards

2006

  • Shortlisted for Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature, for It’s True! Animals Are Electrifying!

  • Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book: It’s True! Animals Are Electrifying!

2003

  • Runner-up, HQ magazine short fiction competition

2000

  • Special Jury Prize, RMIT Animation & Interactive Media Centre awards, as writer/director/animator of short film Shopper


Academic stuff

  • Graduate Diploma in Animation & Interactive Media, RMIT

  • Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), English Literature major, RMIT