John Bailey (b. 1944) is an Australian author with five books to his credit. Bailey's approach to writing has been to create a strong narrative against the background of exotic or remote locations. His first book, The Wire Classroom 1969 (Angus and Robertson), described colonial life in New Guinea. His second, The Moon Baby 1972 (Angus and Robertson), was set in the future in an unnamed metropolis. His third, The White Divers of Broome 2001 (Macmillan), concerns pearl shell diving in the coastal town of Broome in the north of Western Australia.The Lost German Slave Girl, 2003 (Macmillan) relates the true story of a slave woman in Louisiana who claimed to be a German immigrant who had been illegally taken into bondage when she was a child.His latest book, Mr Stuart's Track 2006 (Macmillan), reveals the forgotten life of John McDouall Stuart, the first explorer to cross Australia from coast to coast.