‘Fables Queer and Familiar’ & ‘To Love a Sunburnt Country’ on Arts Monday with Dr Margaux Dombkins

Today’s guests: Renowned authors, Margaret (Mag) Merrilees and Jackie French.

My first guest: Mag Merrilees discusses her book ‘Fables Queer and Familiar’ which started life as the online serial Adelaide Days. Fables Queer and Familiar is a collection of wry, witty fictional anecdotes drawn from the real life experiences of two lesbian grannies, their friends and their family. Any ageing activist will recognise the combination of good intentions and aching joints. And anyone young will recognise how mystifying the adult world can be.

Mag, a long-time feminist and social activist, won the Unpublished Manuscript Award at Adelaide Writers’ Week with her debut novel, The First Week and was also shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award.

Fables Queer and Familiar is Published by Wakefield Press

Wakefieldpress.com.au

My next guest: Jackie French discusses her book ‘To Love a Sunburnt Country’ – about what it means to truly love your country, when loving your country meant you had to fight for it – and for survival. It follows the journey of Nancy, the granddaughter of the infamous Clancy of the Overflow as she fights to keep her family together when Australia was at war from 1941-1946. This novel about ultimate survival and the deepest kinds of love is based on true events and little-known people. Jackie’s writing career spans 25 years and she has received over 60 awards in Australia and overseas. Jackie whose Diary of a Wombat with Bruce Whatley is one of Australia’s best-loved picture books, is the Australian National Children’s Laureate for 2014/2015. Jackie is also the NSW finalist for Senior Australian of the Year for 2015.

To Love a Sunburnt Country is Published by HarperCollins.     Harpercollins.com.au

I look forward to your company 10.30am – 12.00pm

Margaux