About the Author

Mike Jelliffe has spent most of his working life in PNG. Arriving from Australia in 1971, he has worked mainly in aviation as a pilot, manager, trainer, and also in church work with a focus on teaching and training. He and his wife Kathy raised their three children in PNG. He has lived and worked in rural areas and urban centres across PNG, including Oro, Western, Sandaun, East Sepik, Southern and Western Highlands, Simbu and Morobe provinces as well as NCD. From this rich personal appreciation for the people and places of PNG, and an interest in culture, Mike has begun writing this series of fictional stories under the Nenge Series.

Having witnessed over four decades the destruction of both country, flora, fauna and culture by multi-national companies engaged in logging and various resource exploration and mining ventures in PNG, Mike has wanted to bring another perspective that might be a voice in a different direction. That is one that recognises the value and harmony of land and culture, of ancient wisdom and the created world, and questions the validity of wasting that in one generation. The Nenge series novels are his way of expressing that voice to his friends, the people of PNG, while raising awareness about every day scenarios that recognise God at work.

Mike divided his time between PNG and Australia until COVID restrictions prevented that early in 2020.

The experience of self-publishing his first novel has led on to Mike establishing NENGE BOOKS as a tool to assist others publishing books cost effectively. This has included reprinting several language publications in PNG as well as materials to assist the church generally, and small books including autobiographies for independent authors. See a full list under the Publications tab above.