AustLit

'The soft pastel-pink cover of Allee Richards’ debut novel features a helmetless young woman in a short green dress riding a pushbike, her dark hair blowing in the breeze. From her carefree demeanour and the title, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a self-help book full of hokey affirmations about finding beauty in ephemeral moments. Small Joys of Real Life is, however, more nuanced and complex than this first impression might suggest.' (Introduction)

'Heyman’s novels explore male power, control and violence. Now, she turns her sharp storytelling skills and lyrical prose on her own life.'

'Susan Johnson has written eight novels, a memoir and a nonfiction work. Her latest effort is a contemporary version of the epistolary book once popular in the 18th century. From Where I Fell is a narrative conducted entirely through online conversations as these strangers inadvertently connect and fall into friendship “mid-air”.' (Introduction)

'Comprising more than thirty works of poetry, fiction, memoir, and criticism, John Kinsella’s prolific output is impressive, and this figure doesn’t include his collaborations with other artists. Here is a writer who swims between boundaries, experiments with form and content, and eludes easy categorisation. His most recent novel, Hollow Earth (2019), was a foray into science fiction and fantasy, and his most recent poetry volume The Weave (2020), was co-written with Thurston Moore, founder of NYC rock group Sonic Youth.' (Introduction)

'The title of Irma Gold’s debut novel, The Breaking, is as ominous as it sounds. It refers to the systematic and torturous process by which the spirits of elephant calves are broken to the point where they are deemed malleable enough to start work within the tourism industry in whatever capacity, from circus fodder to passenger carriers.' (Introduction)

'Based on his blog of the same name, Nick Gadd’s latest book, Melbourne Circle, is ostensibly about circumnavigating 50-odd Melburnian suburbs in a series of connected walks. But this book is also a tender tribute to Gadd’s late wife, Lynne, his partner in these perambulations. Their first date saw them traipsing around the ruins of Pompeii and, until cancer took her away, walking together was a marked feature of their relationship. They shared a love of globetrotting adventures before deciding to settle down and look more closely around their home town.' (Introduction)