Nick Earls is the author of more than twenty books, including five for children and five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was a CBCA Book of the Year, and his other four young adult novels were Notable Books.

After January was also shortlisted for the National Children's Literature Award, won a 3M Talking Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted in the Fairlight Talking Book Awards.

The International Youth Library, Munich, included it in its White Ravens selection of international notable new books. It was the first of five of Nick Earls's novels to become plays. Two have also been adapted into feature films.