Gary Linnell

A very early white resident of Mangowak (Aireys Inlet), William Buckley had fought Napoleon’s army and survived, been sent to the gallows and escaped the noose. Transported to Australia, he absconded and embarked on one of the most remarkable survival stories in history. Thirty years later, he spoke only Wadawurrung, carried a spear and wore a possum-skin cloak. What were the chances?

One of Australia’s most experienced journalists, Garry Linnell was born and raised in Geelong and has won several awards for his writing, including a Walkley for best feature writing. He has been editor-in-chief of The Bulletin, editor of The Daily Telegraph, director of news and current affairs for the Nine Network and editorial director of Fairfax. He also spent four years as co-host of the Breakfast Show on 2UE. Gary has written three other books – Football Ltd: The inside story of the AFL, Raelene: sometimes beaten, never conquered, and Playing God: The rise and fall of Gary Ablett.

Buckley's Chance, 2019

Michael Veitch

Perhaps the most calamitous voyage in Australian history was that of the plague-stricken sailing ship Ticonderoga, which left England for Victoria with 800 doomed emigrants on board. This grim but riveting story has been passed down through Michael Veitch's family for more than a century and a half, because the surgeon on that ill-fated voyage was James Veitch, Michael’s great-great grandfather.

Michael Veitch is an Australian author, broadcaster and comedian. His books include Flak, Fly, The Forgotten Islands, and 44 Days.

Hell Ship, 2018

Michael Robotham

Good Girl, Bad Girl is an unnerving psychological thriller from one of the greatest crime writers of today.

As a journalist, Michael Robotham worked with clinical and forensic psychologists and police investigating complex, psychologically driven crimes. As a novelist, Michael's debut thriller, The Suspect, sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and introduced clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin and his battle with debilitating disease. In 2015 he won the UK's prestigious Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award with Life or Death, one of four standalone thrillers. He lives in Sydney.

Good Girl, Bad Girl, 2019

Emma Viskic

And Fire Came Down, the thrilling second novel in the award-winning Caleb Zelic series, won Best Novel at the 2018 Davitt Awards. Deaf since childhood, Caleb Zelic meets life head-on. Now, he's struggling with nightmares, the death of his best mate and the loss of his wife, Kat. Then a young woman is killed, after pleading for help in sign language. Caleb is determined to investigate.

As a clarinettist, Emma Viskic has performed with Jose Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. As a novelist, her debut novel won the 2016 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction, as well as an unprecedented three Davitt Awards: Best Adult Novel, Best Debut, and Readers' Choice. Resurrection Bay was iBooks Australia's Crime Novel of 2015. Emma learned Auslan to write Caleb Zelic. She lives in Melbourne.

And Fire Came Down, 2018

Monica Tan

Stranger Country is a riveting account of Monica’s six months driving and camping in some of Australia's most beautiful and remote landscapes. She shared meals, beers and conversations with a host of people, some Aboriginal, some white, some Asian, and even a few who managed to be all three. The result is an enthralling and entertaining celebration of the spirit of adventure, a thoughtful quest for understanding, and a unique portrait of Australia and all it means to those who live here.

Stranger Country, 2019

Tony Birch

Odette Brown lives on the fringes of a small country town, and is raising her granddaughter Sissy after her daughter disappeared. Odette has managed to stay under the radar of the welfare authorities who are removing fair-skinned Aboriginal children from their families, but when a new policeman arrives in town, Odette must risk everything to save Sissy and protect everything she loves. Miles-Franklin-shortlisted author Tony Birch exposes the devastating government policy of taking Indigenous children from their families.

The White Girl, 2019

Maryrose Cuskelly

The story of a grisly triple murder in Central Victoria in October 2014 – contemporary Australian true crime at its best, a true story told with the excitement and vividness of fiction. A freelance writer and editor, Maryrose has won the Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing (Non-fiction) for her essay ‘Well Before Dark’, and the Iremonger Award. She is the author of two other books, and her essays and articles have been published in a range of magazines, journals, and newspapers.

The Whole Bright Year, 2018

Chris Hammer

Set in a fictional Riverina town at the height of a devastating drought, Scrublands is one of the most powerful, compelling and original crime novels to be written in Australia. Chris is the author of two successful non-fiction books, one of which was shortlisted for the 2010 Walkley Book Award and won the ACT Book of the Year in 2011. Chris has worked as journalist for more than thirty years, covering federal politics and international affairs. He was Senior Writer for The Age, Chief Political Correspondent for The Bulletin and Online Political Editor for Fairfax. As a roving international correspondent for SBS TV's Dateline program, he reported from more than thirty countries across six continents.

Scrublands, 2019

Debra Oswald

Two-time winner of the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, playwright, novelist and creator/head writer of the TV series Offspring, Debra Oswald has written Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour and Bananas in Pyjamas for TV, as well as children’s and adult novels and stage plays.

The Whole Bright Year, 2018

Richard Glover

Richard Glover’s bestselling books include Flesh Wounds and The Mud House, praised as ‘warm, wise, hilarious, optimistic, and a breathtaking accomplishment in style and empathy. Richard’s weekly humour column has been published in the Sydney Morning Herald for over twenty years. He writes regularly for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Washington Post, as well as presenting the comedy program Thank God It's Friday on ABC Local Radio.

The Land Before Avocado, 2018