AustLit

'In 1914, Tom Stott falls in love with Gracie O’Donnell, but their love is thwarted by circumstance and war. Tom finds himself part of the blood-soaked landings at Gallipoli, while Gracie marries another. A deception, born in a place and time on the brink of war, traverses the world as successive generations seek freedom in a century of change. It isn’t until American teen Noah Clifford joins his mother Deborah, his grandfather Will and his great-grandmother Gracie in Australia that the secrets of the past are revealed, secrets that will take them back to the beaches of Gallipoli… From multi-award winning author, Richard Yaxley, comes a story of connectedness, family and the power of truth.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'After their father’s reckless death, the Gallagher family must find new directions. Dinny’s mum finds a new form of freedom, but the paths the boys are choosing are pointing them in dangerous directions. Fourteen-year-old Dinny is in danger of repeating his father’s behaviour, and his older brother Carl sees an opportunity for independence. But when Carl becomes involved in the aggressive agenda of an anti-immigration group, a different crisis develops—leading the family to tragedy, insight, and rebirth.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tillie Bassett is sad, and she doesn’t understand why. Her parents and friends suggest very different, allegedly helpful, remedies. But it is the suggestion of her counsellor, Gilbert the Goldfish, that the answer may lie in finding the nature of happiness.

'As Tillie embarks upon her project she discovers that, when it comes to family and friends, nothing is quite as it seems. Secrets are uncovered, old tensions resurface, relationships tangle and untangle, and Tillie realises that everyone struggles balancing sadness and happiness, and living truthfully.'  (Publication summary)

'This is my blood, this is my song. In the early 1940s in Czechoslovakia, Rafael Ullmann and his family are sent to Terezin, the so-called model ghetto for Jewish artists. In the 1970s in Canada, Annie Ullmann lives a predictable, lonely life on a prairie with her reclusive father and deaf-dumb mother. Thirty years later, in Australia, Joe Hawker is uncertain about himself and his future. Told across three continents and time-lines, This Is My Song is a symphony encouraging us to find our own music.' (Publication summary)

'After the departure of her best friend Gabriel ‘Gator’ Robinson to Europe twenty years ago, and with him the loss of her romantic vision of the future, Miranda has been living an ordinary, respectable, urban life as wife to Pete, teacher at a Catholic school and, most importantly, self-appointed keeper of her circle of old friends. But now, unexpectedly, Gator is coming home and she is unsure how this might affect the status quo of her settled life, not to mention the lives of the others.

'Whilst Miranda looks forward to the return, her husband Pete is wary; despite her claims to the contrary, didn’t Miranda love Gator once? While Pete worries about a possible threat to his marriage, their corporate, go-getter friend Steve is very clear on his own stance; Gator was supposed to be his best mate before ditching the relationship and leaving for reasons that never became clear. No need for loyalty there … neither is hanger-on Monty, already battling an absence of love in his life after the walk-out of his partner Grace, keen on the return of this mythic figure who was always so much better than he, so infuriatingly competent at everything that he did.

'But the Gator who does come back to Brisbane is physically and spiritually bereft, a broken man who is unwilling to share the story of his long absence or outline any future intentions. Rather, his presence leads Miranda to the difficult realisation that many of the apparent truths of her past, pillars upon which she has continued to build and rely throughout her adult life, have either been distorted or are blanket lies.

'As Miranda’s world unravels, the horrors of Gator’s story begin to intervene – and his terrible reason for returning home closes in upon them all.' (Publication summary)

'Tom lives in Hervey Bay, Zooey in Kingaroy. When separate tragedies bring them together, they are forced to leave their childhood lives behind in order to develop new understandings about how to cope with grief, love, friendship and, most importantly, family. Written with grace and wisdom, Drink The Air is a verse novel which provides an affirmation of the need to give and accept love in order to better understand the truths of our lives.' (Publication summary)

'Vince isn't perfect, but his love for Kaz reveals the best of him. Their coastal farm is an idyllic place to raise their two children, and Kaz ensures that life is easy and full of fun. Here, Vince can indulge both his passions - for words and for his wife.But when an unexpected event shatters their contentment, Vince isn't ready for the responsibilities he must face.In creating the fable of the Rose Leopard - the most beautiful creature in the world - he tries to explain to his children a universe that doesn't always make sense."The Rose Leopard" is a compelling debut novel, a poignant and often funny tale of love, grief and the transformative power of story-telling. ' (Publication summary)

A wood-turner retires when his arthritis becomes too bad to keep working, selling off all of his goods and tools. No longer able to do his beloved work, he wishes for death, detesting Mrs O'Neill from the Home Nursing Association's assistance. Unwilling to surrender to retirement, he fixes a carving blade to his hand and carves one last time, even as the blade cuts into his numb hand.