Steve Toltz was born in Sydney in 1972. His first novel, A Fraction of the Whole, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. His second novel, Quicksand, won the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour, while his third, Here Goes Nothing, was longlisted for the 2022 Nib Literary Award. His fourth novel, A Rising of the Lights, was published in 2026. Prior to his literary career, he lived in Montreal, Vancouver, New York City, Barcelona, and Paris, variously working as a cameraman, telemarketer, security guard, private investigator, English teacher, and screenwriter.
