Cirrus@Austlit

'A surprise inheritance. A hidden past.

'Brisbane, 2024 Barista and budding artist Mia Curtis is shocked to receive a package all the way from England informing her she's the heir to her late grandmother's cottage. Feeling lost in her own life, Mia travels across the world to claim her inheritance, where she begins to unravel the secrets passed down through the generations of women in her family.

'Sussex, 1821 Philadelphia Boadle wakes to find her husband, the tailor Jasper Boadle, dead. As the daughter of the local cunning woman, Philadelphia is soon accused of murder by witchcraft. Her future and that of her own daughter is at stake, unless she can convince the village she's done no wrong...'  (Publication summary)

'Marianne Moore said that the poet's job was to depict 'imaginary gardens with real toads in them'. In truth, gardens are always imaginary because they are always the garden that you are aiming for rather than the garden you have, but the toads are real and immediate.' So says Germaine Greer in this wonderful anthology.

'This collection of poems, culled from classical antiquity to the twenty-first century, includes perennial favourites such as Marvell's 'The Garden' and Frost's 'After Apple-picking' and Roethke's famous greenhouse lyrics, as well as surprises like Tennyson's anti-botanical 'Amphion' and Fleur Adcock's 'Emblem' on the mating of slugs, not to mention small masterpieces like Philip Larkin's 'Cut Grass' and Phoebe Hesketh's 'Death of a Gardener'.

'Poems for Gardeners can be read along with the seed catalogues in the dead of winter, or in the gaps between tasks on a busy day in spring, or between snoozes in the hammock in the deep midsummer.' (Publication summary) 

'A captivating and compulsive crime thriller about guns, drugs and a young woman dead on the money

'Riverina 1974:

'When nineteen-year-old farmgirl Adelaide Hoffman applies for a cadetship at the Gunnawah Gazette, she sees it as her ticket out of a life too small for her. Its owner, Valdene Bullark, sees something of the girl she once was in young Adelaide.

'Val puts Adelaide straight to work. What starts as a routine assignment covering an irrigation project soon puts Adelaide on the trail of a much bigger story. Water is money in farming communities, and when Adelaide starts asking questions, it's as if she's poked a stick in a bull ant's nest. Violence follows. Someone will do whatever it takes to stop Adelaide and Val finding out how far the river of corruption and crime runs.

'Shady deals. Vested interests. A labyrinth of lies. It seems everyone in Gunnawah has a secret to keep. But how many want to stop Adelaide dead?

'Set deep in the heart of rural Australia during the era of Gough Whitlam, pub brawls and flared jeans, Gunnawah is a compulsive crime thriller of corruption, guns and drugs from Australian Noir's most arresting new voice.' (Publication summary)

'From one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy comes the satisfying conclusion to Davinia Evans's wickedly entertaining debut trilogy full of monsters, mayhem, dangerous society ladies, and a dragon who holds the fate of the most famous alchemist of all in her claws.

'Siyon Velo has given magic back to the Mundane. But with it, monsters of myth have awoken to cause chaos in Bezim and--of course--everyone's blaming him. Hunted high and low, Siyon struggles against the rising tide of mystery, magic and mayhem threatening the city that's turned its back on him.

'In the Flower District, Lady Sable has unleashed chaos. But in the Avenues, Anahid is desperate to keep her slippery secrets just a little longer, until Zagiri can join the froth and frippery of high society. With scandal stalking the sisters and revolution rumbling anew, the best--and the worst--they can do may not be enough to save their city...

'The Alchemist must rise, or Bezim will burn.' (Publication summary) 

'The Fighter is the compelling life story of Australian Muay Thai legend 'John' Wayne Parr - a fighter's odyssey full of twists, turns, world titles, personal challenges and triumphs.

'Hailed as a legend in the fighting world, ten-time Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion 'John' Wayne Parr knew ever since The Karate Kid came out that he wanted to learn a martial art.

'From then, Wayne trained in diverse styles including taekwondo and kickboxing as his family moved around Australia. He eventually settled on Muay Thai, seduced by its paradox of violence balanced against the romance of tradition and culture.

'Muay Thai took Wayne around the world in a career that spanned almost 150 fights. And there were triumphs beyond his multiple wins too, like meeting his wife and starting a family. But amid the thrills of achieving championship status, Wayne also faced challenges brought on by taking his body to the very edge, as well as a series of personal struggles.

'This is the story of a man who knows what it is to test himself, physically and mentally, and the life lessons he learnt along the way, all told with Wayne's characteristic sense of humour.' (Publication summary)

'A powerful literary page-turner about two young people in a race against time to reach a monumental solar eclipse, from famed Australian novelist Inga Simpson'

'We haven't always lived like this . . .'

'Fin grew up by an observatory, learning about telescopes and planets, inspired by the passions of her mother and father, then leaders in their fields of astrophotography and astronomy. Those days are long over. Now Fin, her mother, Dianella, and a band of outliers live deep off the grid, always on amber alert and always ready to run.

'In the outside world, things are not good: extinctions and a loss of diversity threaten what's left of the environment. With a new disaster looming, Fin finds herself thrust into an unlikely partnership with a stranger who has appeared in their camp. Terry is one of a new breed of evolved humans, the Incompletes, who are widely distrusted. But the pair will need to work together during a dangerous journey if they are to play their part in a plan to help restore the natural world - and humankind.

'The Thinning is both an exquisitely written novel of nature and urgent psychological suspense by the bestselling and acclaimed author of Willowman, The Last Woman in the World and Mr Wigg.'  (Publication summary)

'Our heroes can come from the most ordinary of places. As a shy young lad growing up in country Victoria, no one in the district had any idea the man Albert Jacka would become.

'Albert 'Bert' Jacka was 21 when Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914. A month and a half later, Bert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the young private was assigned to 14 Battalion D company. By the time they shipped out to Egypt he'd been made a Lance-Corporal.

'On 26 April 1915, 14 Battalion landed at Gallipoli under the command of Brigadier-General Monash's 4th Infantry Brigade. And it was here, in the early hours of 20 May, that Lance-Corporal Albert Jacka proved he was 'the bravest of the brave'. The Turks were gaining ground with a full-scale frontal attack. As his comrades lay dead or dying around him, Jacka single-handedly held off the enemy onslaught. The Turks retreated.

'Word spread of Jacka's lone efforts to recapture the trench and his extraordinary efforts saw him awarded the Victoria Cross, the first for a soldier in World War I. He was a national hero, but Jacka's wartime exploits had only just begun. Moving on to France he battled the Germans at Pozieres, earning a Military Cross for what historian Charles Bean called 'the most dramatic and effective act of individual audacity in the history of the AIF'. Then at Bullecourt, his efforts would again turn the tide against the enemy. There would be more accolades before a sniper's bullet and then gassing at Villers-Bretonneux would send Bert home.

'THE LEGEND OF ALBERT JACKA is an unforgettable story of the bravery and sacrifice of one extraordinary soldier that takes us from the shores of Gallipoli to the battlefields of France, all brought to vivid life by Australia's greatest storyteller, Peter FitzSimons.'  (Publication summary)

'The drama continues for the residents of Eastby End - the gripping and heartwarming new saga series from multi-million-copy bestselling author Anna Jacobs.

'Rachel and Joss are married and keen to continue the hard work to rebuild Eastby End. But as new arrivals bring fresh challenges and heartache, their future together becomes far from certain ...'  (Publication summary)

'The unflinching and unforgettable memoir of music and life from the much-loved Australian legend.

'From a childhood in London and Melbourne through to pop stardom in the 1960s, the critical success enjoyed with the release of the highest-selling Australian album of all time, Whispering Jack, and a decades-long touring career, the John Farnham story is, at first glance, one filled with remarkable highlights.

'It is, however, so much more than that. It is the story of the resilience John found as his stellar career stalled, record companies turned their backs, and he faced financial ruin. It is the story of triumph over adversity after a devastating diagnosis of mouth cancer in 2022, only months after the death of his long-time friend and manager, Glenn Wheatley.

'Throughout a lifetime filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, John has remained steadfast, never losing his unique musical talent, creative strength nor his powerful ability to make human connections through his music.

'The Voice Inside is like sitting down with an old friend sharing stories that are both deeply personal and wildly entertaining. Written alongside award-winning filmmaker Poppy Stockell, this is a captivating and powerfully honest insight into the man whose music is the soundtrack to so many of our lives.'  (Publication summary)

'Mothers are experts at overflow . . . You may forget the words or kisses or gifts they give but that doesn't mean they didn't happen . . . We don't need to remember all the love poured into us. We need to be thankful that it makes us. When it comes to love, it's all about being. Not remembering so much.

'Ginny Dilboong is a young poet, fierce and deadly. She's making sense of the world and her place in it, grappling with love, family and the spaces in which to create her art. Like powerful women before her, Ginny hugs the edges of waterways, and though she is a daughter of Country, the place that shapes her is not hers. Determined and brave, Ginny seeks to protect the truth of others while learning her own. The question is how?

'And, all the while, others are watching. Some old, some new. They are the sound of the belburd as it echoes through the world; the sound of cars and trucks and trains. They are in trees and paper and the shape of ideas. They are the builder and the built. Everything, even Ginny, is because of them.

'The Belburd is a powerful story that shows us we are all connected from before we began to long after we begin again.' (Publication summary)

'Sixteen Australians tell their stories of surviving suicide and finding the way back to a better life.

'Every day, nine Australians take their own lives. Eighteen years ago, John Brogden came very close to adding his name to these statistics. But John survived and, since his recovery, he has become a passionate voice for mental health and suicide prevention. He is now the President of Lifeline International.

'Personally and professionally, John knows how urgent it is to talk openly about suicide, and to provide those in despair with a way back when they are at their lowest point. Giving hope to those who think there is no other way out is critical. John is living proof there is a way to survive and thrive.

'Now, in Profiles in Hope, John is shattering the wall of silence and shame around suicide. And, to help him, he has gathered together some incredible Australians to tell their stories. With contributions from well-known people, such as Jacquie Lambie, Layne Beachley, Preston Campbell and Ian Thorpe, alongside powerful stories of ordinary Aussies who came through to the other side, these deeply personal accounts of survival, recovery and lives of purpose are a balm to vulnerability, and a beacon of light to those struggling. This book is for those at risk and the people who love them and don't know how to help.

'Searingly honest and ultimately life-affirming, these are stories of solace and hope and a lifeline for dark times.' (Publication summary)

'When you know that you need help but conventional means have failed you, what is left is the unexpected.

'MDMA is a drug made from the oil of the root of the sassafras tree. It is known as a party drug, taken by people who want to have a good time, to dance, to shed their inhibitions.

'It has also, since early 2023, been authorised in Australia for use in treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder that has not responded to treatment. For those with PTSD, the goal is not to have a good time and dance: it is to come back to themselves. To the person they were before they were traumatised.

'Around the same time, renowned author and social researcher Rebecca Huntley experienced her first of three illegal MDMA sessions, delivered by an underground healer from the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales. Rebecca wanted to stop the crushing cycle of intergenerational trauma not just for herself but for her children.

'This treatment would do nothing less than change her life, impacting her personal and professional views of the world, the way she saw the past, present and future. It helped Rebecca see herself and the world around her with greater wisdom, compassion and awareness of the connections between humans and the natural world.

'Sassafras is the story of a woman determined to confront her traumatic past head on. In doing so she discovered something that could be of great benefit to us all.' (Publication summary)

'KLIM, the moving autobiography from Michael Klim, delves into the life of the legendary swimmer, exploring his triumphs, challenges and extraordinary resilience in and beyond the swimming lanes.

'As one of Australia's most celebrated athletes, Michael Klim's impact extends far beyond the pool. Klim's journey to greatness began with his early years in Poland before his family immigrated to Australia. From a young age, Klim displayed an extraordinary talent for swimming, honing his skills through rigorous training and competition. He burst onto the international scene in the late 1990s, becoming a dominant force in butterfly and freestyle events.

'His crowning moment came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he captured the hearts of millions with his gold medal performances and world record-breaking swims. Klim's success continued on the world stage, earning numerous medals at World Championships and Commonwealth Games, solidifying his status as one of the greatest swimmers of his generation.

'Beyond his athletic achievements, Klim's personal life has been equally compelling. His transition to entrepreneurship and family life provides insight into the challenges and rewards of life beyond the pool. In recent years, he has faced significant health struggles, including battles with injury and a life-altering autoimmune disorder. Yet, through determination and perseverance, Klim has emerged stronger, embracing his experiences as opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

'KLIM offers readers an eye-opening account of Michael Klim's extraordinary life, highlighting the enduring legacy of a true sporting icon. From the heights of Olympic glory to the depths of personal adversity, Klim's story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the human spirit.' (Publication summary)

'Summer, Adelaide, 1917. The impeccably dressed Miss Kate Cocks might look more like a schoolmistress than a policewoman, but don't let that fool you. She's a household name, wrangling wayward husbands into repentance, seeing through deceptive clairvoyants, and rescuing young women (whether they like it or not) with the help of a five-foot cane and her sassy junior constable, Ethel Bromley.

When shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on a city beach, Miss Cocks and Ethel are ordered to stay out of the investigation and leave it to the men. But when Dora's workmate goes missing soon after, the women suspect something sinister, and determine to take matters into their own hands. After all, who knows Adelaide better than the indomitable Miss Cocks?

'*In 1915, Fanny Kate Boadicea Cocks became the first policewoman in the British Empire employed on the same salary as men. This novel is a rich exploration of that little-known chapter of Australian history.*' (Publication summary)

''You walk and the harvest moon casts the clearest of shadows. You are nervous. With a moon like that, it is not a night for escaping. It is a night made better for hunting runaway girls.'

'Himalayas: Unknown Year

''Ten thousand strands of trouble,' is what Bird's father says, watching as Bird's sister braids her hair. On the eve of her fourteenth year, that trouble finds Bird. Fleeing her home to escape an arranged marriage, she attempts to vanish into a crowd of pilgrims - not knowing that violence is circling, and that it already has its eyes on her. In search of her own life and her own truth, she could never imagine how long and how far it would take her.

'Darwin: Present Day

'Waking in a hospital bed, Bird tries to remember what brought her here. A man whose gaze she knew to fear, a stolen car, a plastic gun, and a real bullet in her shoulder. Kindness is being offered here, so why is her instinct always to run? Strand by strand, she begins to remember . . .

'A masterful and profoundly moving novel about a girl determined to live on her own terms, no matter the cost. Bird is an unforgettable story of hope, resilience, the power of connection and the most elemental bonds.' (Publication summary)

'Sophie Green, Top Ten bestselling author of The Bellbird River Country Choir and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society, returns with a warm-hearted new novel about friendships, fresh starts and finding yourself.

'Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrily is feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay.

'With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives.

'When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms.' (Publication summary)

'The violent slaughter of the Primrose family while they slept shocked the nation.

'Their young live-in chef, Bill Kareama, was swiftly charged with murder and brought to justice. But the brutal crime scarred the idyllic town of Cambridge forever.

'Seventeen years later, true-crime podcaster Sloane Abbott tracks down prison psychologist TK Phillips. Once a fierce campaigner for an appeal, TK now lives a quiet life with Bill's case firmly in his past. As Sloane lures a reluctant TK back into the fight, evidence emerges that casts new light on the Primroses - and who might have wanted them dead.

'While the list of suspects grows, Bill's innocence is still far from assured. What will it cost Sloane and TK to uncover the truth?' (Publication summary)

'Whether it's cancer, a car accident, grief, a natural disaster or a family tragedy, we all experience trauma, and simply surviving takes everything we have. But what happens after that, when you realise that surviving survival might be harder still? With its combination of personal stories and expert information, Life Goes On shows us how to go on.

'In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.' These words - attributed to American poet Robert Frost in 1954 - were hidden in the recesses of journalist and author Megan Maurice's mind after she read them as a teenager. Since she endured and survived treatment for cancer, such a life-changing and traumatic event, they became the only way for her to make sense of what came after.

'After facing her mortality, and all the fear that brought not just for her but for her young daughter, Maurice discovered that once the momentum of pure survival was gone, she had to deal with its aftermath - and there were no tools for that. No guidelines, no rulebooks. Survival seemed easier by comparison. What she wanted to know was: If she was meant to go on, how did she go on? The world around her had not changed, even if she had. There just didn't seem to be a place for her. So she made one.

'Through delving into research on trauma and recovery and discussions with a range of people with lived experiences of trauma and recovery - people who shared their darkest days and greatest worries with her - Maurice has created the very manual she needed but couldn't find, and in the process created a moving and illuminating portrait of not only the hardship of survival but the beauty too. For, when life goes on, there is so much to live for.' (Publication summary)

'The most painful of Evie Cormac's memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child - a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.

'Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven's mission is to guide her to something near normality. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them. There is only one survivor, with two women still missing. And Evie's nightmares come roaring back . . .Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out, dragging her back into the storm.

'Evie must now call upon Cyrus's unique skills, and her own, in their search for the missing pieces of this complex and haunting puzzle. But will that be enough to save them? And who will pay for the past?' (Publication summary)