Dorothy Johnston

Dorothy Johnston (born 1948) is an Australian author of both crime and literary fiction. She has published novels, short stories and essays.

Born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Johnston trained as a teacher at the University of Melbourne and later worked as a researcher in the education field. She lived in Canberra from 1979 to 2008, and currently lives in Ocean Grove, Victoria (Australia). She is a former President of Canberra PEN. She was a founding member of the Seven Writers Group, also known as Seven Writers or the Canberra Seven, established in March 1980. Five of the original members ceased with the group, but Johnston and Margaret Barbalet continued with new writers.

She was a member of Writers Against Nuclear Arms, with her novel Maralinga, My Love, focusing on the impacts of nuclear testing in Australia.

Awards and grants

1987 - shortlisted Miles Franklin Award for Ruth 1988 - highly commended ABC / ABA Bicentennial Literary Award for Maralinga, My Love 1988 - Australia Council fellowship 1991 - ACT Literary Award (grant) to complete a book of stories about life in Canberra 1998 - shortlisted Miles Franklin Award for One for the Master 2001 - joint winner ACT Book of the Year for The Trojan Dog 2001 - highly commended Davitt Award for The Trojan Dog