You may have heard the name Trent Dalton in recent years. The Australian novelist and journalist has produced several popular works, but his debut fictional novel, Boy Swallows Universe, is the story that became an international best-seller.
At the start of 2024, this semi-autobiographical story was brought to life as a Netflix smash-hit, and has since been raking in the nominations and awards. In fact, Boy Swallows Universe earned 21 nominations at the 2025 AACTA Awards, and took home 12 wins last week.
Trent Dalton spoke to our journalist, Chloe Waddell, on the AACTA Awards Red Carpet about what advice he would give his younger-self, and where the inspiration for his characters’ names came from.
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For those who may not be aware, Boy Swallows Universe sees young brothers Eli and Gus navigating life in 1980s Queensland, amongst a world of drugs, loss, love, and learning who you are. Dalton’s works largely draw upon his life experiences for inspiration, and when reflecting on the story, Trent explained “that whole story is all about… it was me writing all the things I never got to do. Like, it was wishful thinking. [In the story] I got to do all the things I dreamed about, like busting into Boggo Road Women’s Prison. Which I never did, but I thought about it, you know? So I love that this kid Eli got to do all these things.”
Although parts of the story are based on his real life, the names used throughout are fictional. That said, the names are a very important part of the story, and hold a connection to Trent’s real life.
“The name Eli Bell actually figures – there’s a little Easter Egg in that story…yeah, it’s relating to the phone number that the kid rings on the red telephone that’s under the house. So Eli’s name is very significant. Gus, well, I’ve never ever said this. Gus is named after my grandad – Victor Augustus Dalton – so that name is in my family. And Lyle, there was this amazing guy in my little area that I grew up in called Redcliffe, he was just old salty, you know, amazing sort of Queensland guy named Lyle that I always thought ‘wow you are just like every other bloke that I remember from those days’. Ah man, Frankie – Francis is my dad’s middle name. So there’s just so many ties”.
Finally, Trent shared the advice he would give to his younger self, and frankly, it is advice we could all take on board: “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared of the thing. Trent, please do the thing that you’re most terrified of, which is showing the world who you really are, showing the world where you really come from. It’s such a powerful thing because that will be your voice, that’s your truth, you know? I’d love to tell myself that. Just get over yourself and go and be powerful, and be real and true, and it will be the making of you. The thing you’re scared of won’t be your destruction, it will be your creation.”
Trent Dalton’s books can be purchased at most good book stores, and you can stream the screen-adaptation on Netflix. For more information about this year’s AACTA Award Winners and Nominees, click here.
