Michael Chalk

Michael Chalk’s novels explore the enduring struggles of human resilience, identity, and moral choice — whether against the backdrop of historical upheaval or the quiet battles of everyday life.

Born in Durban, South Africa, in 1955 and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Michael experienced firsthand the complex social and political forces that shaped his earlier works. After studying law in Scotland, he returned to Rhodesia, working as a prosecutor and serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Rhodesian African Rifles. These experiences inspired his first two novels, The Unravelling and A Moment of Madness, which examine Rhodesia’s fall and Zimbabwe’s turbulent early years through deeply personal stories.

In Zachary’s Cry, Michael turns his lens to contemporary Australia. Set in rural South Australia, this powerful novel explores the quiet heroism of a foster family, the lasting effects of trauma, and the pursuit of justice for a child born into silence and secrecy. It marks a new chapter in Michael’s storytelling — one that reflects the same emotional honesty, compassion, and depth that have become his hallmark.

Since emigrating to Australia in 1990 with his wife and two sons, Michael has lived in Adelaide, working in senior roles in the private health sector before retiring to focus on writing.

Today, he continues to craft stories that reveal the hidden battles people fight — and the extraordinary courage often found in ordinary lives.