Biography of Venero Armanno Venero Armanno (“Veny”) is a novelist, screenwriter and Associate Professor and Director, Higher Degrees by Research at The University of Queensland. He is the author of eleven critically acclaimed novels, including the recently released supernatural mystery, The Crying Forest.  His other well-known books include Burning Down (2017), Black Mountain (2012), The Dirty Beat (2007) and Candle Life (2006). Veny’s novel Firehead was shortlisted in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award; his epic The Volcano won the award with Best Fiction Book of the Year. His work has gone on to be published in the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Israel and South Korea. His other books include The Lonely Hunter (1993), Romeo of the Underworld (1994), My Beautiful Friend (1995), and Strange Rain (1997), as well as two short story collections: Jumping at the Moon (1992) and Travel Under Any Star (2016). Veny is a trained screenwriter (Australian Film, Television & Radio School) and has worked with producers at Liberty Films, TM Films (Strictly Ballroom, Looking For Alibrandi, The Black Balloon), and many others. Several of his books have been optioned for feature film adaptations.