One of the Illawarra's most prolific writers, Jeff Apter has written more than 30 biographies and his work has been published across the globe. He's known for his deep dives, ghostwriting about the lives of sportsmen, diplomats and musical icons.
His latest is Lee Gordon Presents… (Echo Publishing), about the life of a trailblazing music producer and how he shaped Australia's entertainment industry. The Sydney Morning Herald has praised the book as a portrait of a "troubled dynamo who helped turn the black and white of our 1950s life into colour".
Jeff will share his insights at 2025's True Story Festival on Saturday, November 15, at 2:45pm, as part of the "True Locals" panel hosted by ABC Illawarra's Melinda James. Expect a wide-ranging discussion, with local takes on national stories as journalists Erin O’Dwyer and Jeremy Lasek, and Electrify Everything guru Saul Griffith come together to talk about their books.
True Story Festival's theme for 2025 is ‘But Seriously’. The festival will be held over Saturday, 15 November and Sunday, 16 November at Coledale Community Hall. Early bird single day and weekend passes are available via Humanitix.
What is your latest writing project?
My latest book is Lee Gordon Presents — How One Man Changed Australia Forever. I first stumbled upon Lee Gordon’s story about 10 years ago while writing a biography of Johnny O’Keefe. I was determined to tell Gordon’s wild life story, which no one has done before.
What do you love about writing? And what are the challenges?
Until this book my work has dealt in the world of celebrity, telling the stories of familiar figures, household names — relatively easy books to sell. I wanted to write about a little-known subject and enlighten people as to the role he played in shaping Australian life.
Which book made you want to be a writer?
A biography of the rock star Jim Morrison called No One Here Gets Out Alive. It was the first time I’d read a biography of a musician that took the subject seriously. It was a huge awakening for me.
What is the book that you re-read?
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. It’s essentially the story of two men (the main character and the author) experiencing a mid-life crisis/nervous breakdown. Yet somehow, it’s funny — or at least I find it funny.
What are you currently reading?
Cooler than Cool, a biography of the crime fiction author Elmore Leonard. It’s written by a colleague, Chad Kushins, and the more I read the more jealous I become of Chad. It’s a great book.
True Locals session at True Story Festival
Saturday, November 15: 2:45–3:45pm – full program here, book tickets here
Non-fiction authors walk among us! Four local writers tell ABC Illawarra host Melinda James about their exciting new titles. Biographer Jeff Apter reveals the life of trailblazing music producer Lee Gordon. Journalist Erin O’Dwyer has the inside story on the true crime memoir she co-wrote with a former beauty queen and convicted drug dealer. Electrify Everything guru Saul Griffith explains how to Plug In! to cut household costs and carbon emissions. And journalist Jeremy Lasek looks at the people who powered the Illawarra’s Yes23 referendum campaign. Plus, our True Locals share their 'must-read' non-fiction recommendations.