Norman was born in Broome in 1954, the eldest of four brothers, and lived in several country towns throughout Western Australia during his childhood. At the age of ten his family moved to Kalamunda, in the hills above Perth. Norman became an avid reader after being given The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton at age seven. His love affair with books has never ended and for the past twenty-five years Norman has worked in the book trade. He and his wife Jan, a school librarian, are currently restoring an old federation house near the city. They have five goldfish named Errol Fin, Elizabeth Taylor, David Blowie, Salmon Rushdie and Wanda and Norman spends his spare time reading and watching old movies and enjoys travelling, woodworking and photography.