Fearless, unfiltered, and proudly regional, acclaimed author Holden Sheppard writes with grit, heart, and a bold voice for queer Australia. Born and raised in Geraldton, WA, he made waves with his award-winning debut Invisible Boys, later adapted into a hit TV series.
His new novel, King of Dirt, dives even deeper. It’s a raw, uncompromising look at a closeted gay tradie navigating shame, desire, and toxic masculinity in rural Western Australia. Honest and emotionally charged, Sheppard’s work doesn’t flinch, and neither does he. He recently spoke with us about King of Dirt and his creative journey.
David Blanco: King of Dirt is the story of Jack Brolo, a rough-around-the-edges tradie returning to his hometown of Geraldton to settle some old scores. What inspired you to tell this story, and explore this character’s journey?
Holden Sheppard: I wanted to write a character who is unapologetically me on the page. Honestly, there’s no talking about Jack Brolo without admitting he’s cut from the same cloth as I am. We’re both into men, both Italian Australian and footy-mad. We’ve worked blue-collar jobs, we drink, smoke, gamble, and wrestle with some fucked-up mental health stuff. I even gave him my exact ute, a black V8 SS named Phantom.
I was also drawn to the idea of a man returning home after years in exile who is forced to confront the ghosts of his past and maybe rekindle something with the guy he once loved. Two blokes. Two kings. Seeing if there’s still a spark to build something real.
Jack is navigating a lot, particularly when it comes to mental health, family, and identity. Why is men’s mental health such a key theme in your writing?
I’m drawn to writing male characters with mental health struggles because it’s something I know firsthand. It’s part of my lived experience, something
I navigate, work on, and seek support for when I need it.
I’ve battled depression, anxiety, and other trauma, along with issues around anger and substance use. A lot of that found its way into Jack, fictionally speaking. I wanted to show what bad mental health can really look like in a bloke and in doing that, build some empathy for him and by extension myself, and the many men who are struggling too.
The truth is that a lot of blokes find it hard to ask for help. I know I did. For years, I tried to manage on my own and leaned heavily on alcohol to numb what I didn’t want to feel. It wasn’t until I reached out and got proper support that things really started to change. That’s the message I want to share - getting help doesn’t make you less tough or blokey to see a mental health professional. There’s fuck-all shame in seeing a counsellor and I walk taller because of it
King of Dirt marks your first full-length adult novel. Did stepping into this new space feel creatively freeing, or did it come with new challenges?
It was massively liberating to write an adult novel. For me, there were no downsides to the adult space at all. The Young Adult space has some gatekeeping going on, especially around writing authentically about what it’s like to be a young gay man. I’m much happier being in the adult fiction space now.
I can write much more freely. I can write hot man-sex, it can be as graphic as I like, and I can dive deeper into trauma and psychological darkness. I love being a writer for adults now.
'An emotionally charged novel that boldly explores the complexities of masculinity and internalised homophobia. King of Dirt is a standout work of Australian fiction that will resonate deeply.' - DNA Magazine
Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote that made you feel like, “Yep, I want to do this forever”?
I’ve been writing since I was seven, scribbling stories in exercise books, not finishing many, but loving every minute. When I was thirteen, I started a Pokémon fan fictions stories and switched to typing on our home computer instead.
The keyboard could finally keep up with my brain, and I was obsessed with the story. I was a massive Pokémon geek. I ended up spending my teen years writing four full books of totally unpublishable fanfiction, but I had the best fun sharing it online with fellow geeks. It became my training ground for writing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.
What’s your writing kryptonite—the one thing that totally derails your productivity?
Doing promo or public events is a totally different muscle to the creative writing muscle, so if I’m doing an event or interviews, I typically can’t write on the same day. I love doing those things, but they don’t mix well with the quiet vibes I need for creativity. I’m more creative when I’m at home and chill, so when I go on tour, I know in advance I won’t be writing until I’m back home.
There’s a lot to love about King Of Dirt. Its raw, unapologetic authenticity draws you into Jack Brolo’s world and struggles to let you out.' - Star Observer
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
In King of Dirt, Jack is a map geek, and that comes directly from me. I was obsessed with maps as a kid, and for a long time couldn’t choose between being a town planner or being an author.
Like Jack, I wrote to a planning and surveying company when I was ten years old to apply for an actual town planner job that was vacant. They sent me a very nice letter and invited me to do work experience with them when I turned fourteen – but by that age, I’d become convinced writing was the career path for me. I reckon I made the right call! But I am still a massive map geek, and to this day, I love playing city builder video games like Cities: Skylines.
Sheppard describes The King of Dirt as “a gay bogan love story” but was initially reluctant to embrace the bogan tag. “The funny thing is I never thought of myself as a bogan when I was in Geraldton at all. I just thought I was a normal Aussie person.”
What do you hope readers take away from King of Dirt?
I hope King of Dirt challenges a few assumptions. For example, the idea that tough tradies and FIFO workers can’t be gay. They can, and it doesn’t make them any less strong or masculine. I want readers to know that even if you feel burnt out and lost, like Jack does initially, it’s still possible to pull yourself out of the mess and start again. There’s always hope for change.
And at its heart, King of Dirt is about human connection. We all deserve the kind of love Brick offers, the kind of friendship Elena brings, and a father figure like Bob — someone solid, steady, and kind. Not the damage that comes with a dad like Giovanni.
King of Dirt, published by Pantera Press, is available online and in bookstores.
