Cirrus@Austlit

'It's often this editing process that makes all the difference between a good piece of work and a great one. The thirty pieces or shortlisted work that made it into the anthology, really came down to the elements of good writing working: powerful imagery, strong rhythms, original concepts, and something hard to pin down - a kind of beauty combined with honesty that kept us thinking about the work. These pieces were generally the more ambitious stories and poems that tried to tackle something that can't be said easily, which is why it's such good fodder for creative writing.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When seventy year-old knitter Joyce Campbell steps onto an alien spaceship for the first time, her lifelong dream is fulfilled. But when the ship launches and she zooms away from her husband and all she knows, Joyce is cast off into an adventure she could never have imagined.

'Before long Joyce is tangled up in intragalactic intrigue as she finds herself with surprising new allies and abilities which put her at the centre of a conflict that could determine the future of the galaxy — not to mention Earth.

'If Joyce and her new-found crew are to save the day, one thing’s for sure: she can’t just stick to her knitting anymore.

'Hilarious and heartwarming, this is a coming-of-age story unlike any you’ve ever read … it’s time for an old new hero.' (Publication summary)

'The destiny of my life was cast on seeing for the first time an 'Apollo' in the handsome Captain Cowin of the 73rd Regiment. Even at this long period I blush to make this romantic confession, nevertheless the age of 12 may offer an excuse. (from the memoir of Harriet Dowling)

'Capricious and captivating, Lady Dowling came to Australia in 1806 as the eldest child of John Blaxland, gentleman settler, Her tales of early colonial times in New South Wales and India are filled with romance, riches and just a few regrets.'

Source: Back-cover blurb.