John Marsden (writer)

John Marsden
Marsden in 2011
Born	(1950-09-27)27 September 1950 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	18 December 2024(2024-12-18) (aged 74) Romsey, Victoria, Australia
Pen name	James Hordern
Occupation	Writer teacher principal
Period	1987–2021
Genre	Young adult fiction
Notable works	Tomorrow series So Much to Tell You Checkers Letters from the Inside Winter
Notable awards	Lloyd O'Neil Award, 2006 Dromkeen Medal, 2018 Buxtehude Bull
Spouse	Kristin Marsden
Children	6 (step-children)
Website
johnmarsden.com.au

John Marsden (27 September 1950 – 18 December 2024) was an Australian writer and teacher. He wrote more than 40 books in his career including his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.

Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria.