“DEVASTATED”. Fremantle’s literary community is reeling following the charging of author Craig Silvey with child exploitation charges.

When the Chook caught up with local bookshops shortly after Silvey’s appearance at the Fremantle Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, stacks of the award-winning author’s works Jasper Jones and Runt were still pride of place.

• Craig Silvey

They’ve since been removed, while education minister Sabine Winton has ordered public schools to pull his works from their curriculum while the case is before the courts and Subiaco council has taken his name off one of its writing awards.

Silvey grew up on an orchard farm in Dwellingup before packing his typewriter into a suitcase and relocating to Fremantle, where he wrote his debut novel Rhubarb.

He has been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material, with police alleging he was engaging with pedophiles online when detectives raided his home on Monday.

He was behind bars after failing to meet the surety for his bail, and is due to appear in court again on February 10.