A full-time scriptwriter, Catran has over 100 writing credits in New Zealand film and television drama. He has published about 20 Young Adult novels, has been a finalist four times in the NZ 'Best Teenage Fiction' awards, and his books have been published in Australia (by Lothian), the US and the UK. He is a popular speaker and writer-in-residence in schools, tertiary colleges and literary festivals in New Zealand and Australia.