Hello! I am alive! I’ve been embarrassingly awful at updating myself here, so let’s just move on from that and start to list awesome things!

I have new author profile photos! I was going to write a whole thing on this process but then I didn’t. I did make a YouTube video about it though, which you can view here. Also here’s one of the photos:

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2. I spoke on a number of panels at Byron Bay Writers Festival. It was a dream come true, truly. It’s such an odd feeling to respect other authors from afar for so long, and then have actual conversations with them. I met Tom Keneally, I had a honest-to-goodness conversation with Michelle De Kretser (who is super-wonderful), and so many more. I was on a panel with Mellisa Lucashenko, Stephen Carrol, Tim Rogers, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Tristan Bancks, not to mention the fantastic people I was on tour with. I’m still struggling to comprehend that this is a thing I did. But here are some photos.

3. (and this is the biggest one)

I HAVE A NEW BOOK COMING OUT NEXT YEAR!

Buried the lede hey (thanks Lia!) I’m so excited about this one. The wonderful folk at Allen & Unwin will be publishing Snake Island in the new year. It’s a fair shift from To Become a Whale – there’s blood and drugs and revenge and black comedy. Family. Big themes. Modern day western. It’s pretty much the exact type of book I love love love reading, so I’m so chuffed I’ve written it!

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I’d tell you all to keep checking back for more information, but I’m not sure I trust myself. Either way you’ll hear from me soon.

Hey comment or something! Would love to start chats! The best bit about going on the road trip and Byron Bay was meeting people, and hearing their stories. Tell me yours!

Ben