AustLit

'Always alert to the familiar tones and cues of a good story, as a child my eyes would widen and my ears would attune to another world, time and place. Sometimes there'd be one voice and other times, multiple voices as different ones chipped in, as we'd all hear the yarn unfold. Worlds of old time dances; travels to faraway places by horse and cart; family and ancestors since passed; escaping the flood after the river broke its banks in the middle of the night, baby in arms; a near drowning and heroic rescue; flood waters and floating in an upturned car bonnet; a saw mill as a playground; turning over pieces of tin looking for snakes, funny nicknames of relatives and the presence of unanswered voids. If you came in late to the story, wanting to get in on the yarn and wondering who was at the centre of the story, you'd be asking "Who? Who?' and everyone would have a giggle and someone would respond, "listen to the owl over ere" before telling you what you needed to know and continuing on.' (Publication abstract)