* Richard Newsome won the 2008 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing. His award-winning book, The Billionaire's Curse , was a major hit with younger readers in 2009, and was followed by The Emerald Casket in 2010, and The Mask of Destiny in 2011. The novels have sold close to 25,000 copies in ANZ. * This charming series of novels was inspired by stories told his children as he put them to bed at night--stories of a boy billionaire and his adventures. They are ideal reading for 9-12 year olds. * The Crystal Code is the thrilling beginning to a new set of adventures in the highly-acclaimed Billionaire series. Join Gerald, Ruby and Sam for a wild and fun adventure that takes them to California, Czech Republic and Sweden. * Life is easy when you're the world's youngest billionaire.

Isn't it? When Australian schoolboy Gerald Wilkins arrives in California for a ski trip the holiday quickly turns to chaos with a sudden attack. Is this Gerald's nemesis Sir Mason Green? Or has someone else put a price on the head of Gerald Wilkins? * The Billionaire series is a delightful adventure for boys and girls, featuring all the fun of Enid Blyton's The Famous Five combined with the thrills and danger of Indiana Jones. * Rights to the first three novels have been sold in the US, Canada, Poland, Italy and Germany. * 'If your aim is to foster a love of reading, there are a billion good reasons to stock your library with Richard Newsome's novels.' Primary Fiction Focus * The Billionaire's Curse won the Esther Glen Medal for children's literature in 2009. * Richard Newsome will be the focus of a multi-city tour in 2012. * Richard Newsome was born in Wanganui, New Zealand, and now lives in Brisbane.