AustLit

'In this episode, a conversation with Alex and Stephanie Miller, discussing Miller’s most recent book, A Kind of Confession. The book is a secret look into Alex Miller's writing life, spanning sixty years of creativity and inspiration.

'As a young man in 1961 Miller left his work as a ringer in Queensland and set out to achieve his dream of becoming a serious novelist. It was not until 1988 that his first novel, Watching the Climbers on the Mountain, was published. Twelve more novels would follow, all bestsellers, many published internationally. This selection from his notebooks and letters makes it exhilaratingly evident that Miller has been devoted to finding and telling stories that are profound, substantial and entertaining, stories that capture both intellect and emotion.

'Miller's fascinating life is told in a personal, behind-the-scenes exploration of his struggle to become a published writer, his determination, his methods of creative thought and the sources of his inspiration. His writing, sometimes in anger and despair, sometimes with humour and joy, whether created for publication or for private meditation, is alive with ideas, moral choices, commentary, encouragement, criticism and love.' (Production summary)

'Reading other people’s mail is one of the pleasures of being a biographer, the toil of deciphering illegible handwriting in archives rewarded by glimpses into the private worlds of the writers. The correspondence may be inspiring or prosaic; it may simply provide a scrap of biographical information. My bookshelves bulge with another form of archive, too: collections of letters by writers who have turned correspondence into an art, usually edited by academics and most often featuring writers who are no longer with us.' (Introduction)