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Once We Were Wildlife
A tender, luminous collection of interconnected tales that explore love, longing and the wilderness - both within and around us.
In this compulsive compilation of eleven stories and one poem - set against scorched landscapes, wild oceans, and rocky terrain - Simpson follows people on the edge of desire, heartbreak and change.
In 'Poached', an ex-soldier finds himself between a poacher and a Bengal tiger. In 'The Wash', a woman's reckless ocean swim reveals the instinct to survive and the end of a passionate love.
From the aching intensity of romantic love to the quiet devastations of motherhood and ageing, Simpson's literary prowess keeps us riveted by the power of nature to shape human relationships and worlds. Melancholic and joyful, masterful and inspiring, this is contemporary fiction at its finest by Australia's foremost writer of the natural world, Inga Simpson.
Praise for Simpson's award-nominated
'Beguiling and entertaining' Weekend Australian
'Storytelling at its best. I was enthralled' SARAH WINMAN, author of Still Life
'I loved this - gorgeous, heartbreaking . . .' ROBBIE ARNOTT, author of Dusk
In this compulsive compilation of eleven stories and one poem - set against scorched landscapes, wild oceans, and rocky terrain - Simpson follows people on the edge of desire, heartbreak and change.
In 'Poached', an ex-soldier finds himself between a poacher and a Bengal tiger. In 'The Wash', a woman's reckless ocean swim reveals the instinct to survive and the end of a passionate love.
From the aching intensity of romantic love to the quiet devastations of motherhood and ageing, Simpson's literary prowess keeps us riveted by the power of nature to shape human relationships and worlds. Melancholic and joyful, masterful and inspiring, this is contemporary fiction at its finest by Australia's foremost writer of the natural world, Inga Simpson.
Praise for Simpson's award-nominated
'Beguiling and entertaining' Weekend Australian
'Storytelling at its best. I was enthralled' SARAH WINMAN, author of Still Life
'I loved this - gorgeous, heartbreaking . . .' ROBBIE ARNOTT, author of Dusk
- GenresShort StoriesNature
253 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Inga Simpson
18 books288 followersInga is the award-winning author of ONCE WE WERE WILDLIFE, THE THINNING, WILLOWMAN, THE LAST WOMAN IN THE WORLD, THE BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN TREES, UNDERSTORY: a life with trees, WHERE THE TREES WERE, NEST and MR WIGG.
A novelist and nature writer, her work explores our relationship with the natural world.
Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. She is now based on the far south coast of NSW.
WILLOWMAN was shortlisted for the Bookpeople adult fiction Book of the Year 2023.
UNDERSTORY: a life with trees (2017), Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction.
WHERE THE TREES WERE (2016) was shortlisted for an Indie Award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, ABIA book awards and Green Carnation Prize.
NEST (2014) was shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize.
Her debut novel, MR WIGG, was selected for the 2011 QWC/Hachette manuscript developemnt program and, as a result, published by Hachette in 2013. MR WIGG was shortlisted for an Indie Award and longlisted for the Dobbie Award.
In 2012, Inga was the winner of the final Eric Rolls nature essay prize.
She has a PhDs in creative writing and English literature, and her short work has been published in Griffith Review, Wonderground, the Review of Australian Fiction, Clues, WQ, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
A novelist and nature writer, her work explores our relationship with the natural world.
Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. She is now based on the far south coast of NSW.
WILLOWMAN was shortlisted for the Bookpeople adult fiction Book of the Year 2023.
UNDERSTORY: a life with trees (2017), Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction.
WHERE THE TREES WERE (2016) was shortlisted for an Indie Award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, ABIA book awards and Green Carnation Prize.
NEST (2014) was shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize.
Her debut novel, MR WIGG, was selected for the 2011 QWC/Hachette manuscript developemnt program and, as a result, published by Hachette in 2013. MR WIGG was shortlisted for an Indie Award and longlisted for the Dobbie Award.
In 2012, Inga was the winner of the final Eric Rolls nature essay prize.
She has a PhDs in creative writing and English literature, and her short work has been published in Griffith Review, Wonderground, the Review of Australian Fiction, Clues, WQ, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 31, 2026
“Time has slowed so much she found she could understand the trees’ way of thinking. When the sun was on their trunks they whispered in long song-like sentences, to each other, their fungal networks and the creatures around them. Not a remark on the weather, as she had expected, but to try to convey the subtleties of their feelings. They addressed her in encouraging tones, as if trying to nudge her towards something.”
Once We Were Wildlife is a collection of twelve short stories by award-winning Australian author, Inga Simpson. These pieces of varying length, filled with gorgeous descriptive prose, all showcase Simpson’s remarkable literary talent and her enduring investment in nature, wildlife, preservation and climate
In The Wash, a near drowning in rough seas puts extra strain on what had once been a strong, loving relationship. 5/5
In Blue Crane, a divorcee returns from interstate to a favourite summer vacation spot on the bay. She favours the beach and its birds over interaction with people, and her focus on a heron has a surprising outcome. 5/5
In Quartz, technology like drones is making covert missions much more challenging for eco-warriors trying to sabotage the mining operations that have contaminated creeks and groundwater. As they break camp and flee from security guards into the mountains, the tunnel of an abandoned mine leads to a surprise valley and cave. In formerly bushranger country, they find an opportunity. 5/5
In Tanglefoot, what nature photographer Toni captures with her large-format still camera earns her a living, but also, when she can smuggle the negatives out to the right people, helps the campaign against the dams. When a bushfire takes her studio, and with it, her most prized possessions, prints and negatives, perhaps the only consolation is that Gab is safe and she still has her camera. Gab urges care as she’s soon out there, doing what she loves. 5/5
In Poached, having exited the Army injured, Damian indulges his childhood fascination with tigers by going on a three-week Assam expedition. It’s not enough; he manages to secure a “volunteer” position making the ranger service more effective in protecting these wonderful beasts, always a target for poachers, as can be rangers in the wrong (or maybe right?) spot. 5/5
In The Great Walk, Andi is meeting Chris for the last two stages of his South Island Great Walk, but he’s not where she expects, so she unloads and heads to the next hut. He hasn’t been seen; she stupidly left her mobile at home. Back at the first hut, things aren’t right – she’s disoriented, has a fall, spends the night in the open. When she finally finds Chris, nothing is how she thought… 5/5 So moving!
In Once, We Were Wildlife, Marie is a guide on Frankie’s sixteen-day walk in Central Australia, “tall and broad and smiley, sings in the morning, like the desert birds.” She proves attentive; there’s comfort and ease in the time spent together. Each is recovering from stress and sadness, and whatever this is has energy, happiness and falling, the start of something? It seems so, but over the course of months, despite sharing nature walks and food they both love, Marie runs hot and cold - will Frankie’s heart be broken again? Her friends keep a caring eye on her. 5/5
Tarn is a beautiful free verse description of what an Aussie marsupial experiences in a tarn. 5/5
In Sea Wolf, Marlen is on an island off British Columbia’s Great Bear Park, documenting the last apex predators, in particular, the sea wolves. Wholly captivated, she becomes irrevocably one with nature. 5/5
Colony takes the reader into the life of a seabird, from hatching through maturing to adulthood, including encounters with outsiders and disease. 4/5
The Melt describes the effect of civilisation, including eventual global warming, extinction, and sea level rise, from the perspective of the polar ice caps. 5/5
Out Of The Forest is a hopeful little tale that sees the trees of the alpine forests acting to overcome the receding tree-line forced upon them by global warming. 5/5
All highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Hachette Australia
Once We Were Wildlife is a collection of twelve short stories by award-winning Australian author, Inga Simpson. These pieces of varying length, filled with gorgeous descriptive prose, all showcase Simpson’s remarkable literary talent and her enduring investment in nature, wildlife, preservation and climate
In The Wash, a near drowning in rough seas puts extra strain on what had once been a strong, loving relationship. 5/5
In Blue Crane, a divorcee returns from interstate to a favourite summer vacation spot on the bay. She favours the beach and its birds over interaction with people, and her focus on a heron has a surprising outcome. 5/5
In Quartz, technology like drones is making covert missions much more challenging for eco-warriors trying to sabotage the mining operations that have contaminated creeks and groundwater. As they break camp and flee from security guards into the mountains, the tunnel of an abandoned mine leads to a surprise valley and cave. In formerly bushranger country, they find an opportunity. 5/5
In Tanglefoot, what nature photographer Toni captures with her large-format still camera earns her a living, but also, when she can smuggle the negatives out to the right people, helps the campaign against the dams. When a bushfire takes her studio, and with it, her most prized possessions, prints and negatives, perhaps the only consolation is that Gab is safe and she still has her camera. Gab urges care as she’s soon out there, doing what she loves. 5/5
In Poached, having exited the Army injured, Damian indulges his childhood fascination with tigers by going on a three-week Assam expedition. It’s not enough; he manages to secure a “volunteer” position making the ranger service more effective in protecting these wonderful beasts, always a target for poachers, as can be rangers in the wrong (or maybe right?) spot. 5/5
In The Great Walk, Andi is meeting Chris for the last two stages of his South Island Great Walk, but he’s not where she expects, so she unloads and heads to the next hut. He hasn’t been seen; she stupidly left her mobile at home. Back at the first hut, things aren’t right – she’s disoriented, has a fall, spends the night in the open. When she finally finds Chris, nothing is how she thought… 5/5 So moving!
In Once, We Were Wildlife, Marie is a guide on Frankie’s sixteen-day walk in Central Australia, “tall and broad and smiley, sings in the morning, like the desert birds.” She proves attentive; there’s comfort and ease in the time spent together. Each is recovering from stress and sadness, and whatever this is has energy, happiness and falling, the start of something? It seems so, but over the course of months, despite sharing nature walks and food they both love, Marie runs hot and cold - will Frankie’s heart be broken again? Her friends keep a caring eye on her. 5/5
Tarn is a beautiful free verse description of what an Aussie marsupial experiences in a tarn. 5/5
In Sea Wolf, Marlen is on an island off British Columbia’s Great Bear Park, documenting the last apex predators, in particular, the sea wolves. Wholly captivated, she becomes irrevocably one with nature. 5/5
Colony takes the reader into the life of a seabird, from hatching through maturing to adulthood, including encounters with outsiders and disease. 4/5
The Melt describes the effect of civilisation, including eventual global warming, extinction, and sea level rise, from the perspective of the polar ice caps. 5/5
Out Of The Forest is a hopeful little tale that sees the trees of the alpine forests acting to overcome the receding tree-line forced upon them by global warming. 5/5
All highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Hachette Australia
March 30, 2026
I love - the cover art work and the first story really impacted me - the location, the action, the surf… the rip…. A fantastic read. Read just for this story - it packs a punch.
The rest… intriguing voices, narratives and so varied.
I think short stories might just be Inga Simpson’s strength.
The rest… intriguing voices, narratives and so varied.
I think short stories might just be Inga Simpson’s strength.
May 12, 2026
A beautiful collection of short stories from an award winning nature writer. I especially loved the stories set by the sea, the call to the ocean and the wild is a theme throughout the book. I'll read anything Inga writes!
April 21, 2026
Out of a the Forest was my favourite. ❤️
May 6, 2026
Beautiful short stories about nature and animals and life
May 17, 2026
Beautifully written stories of people at points of transformation, inextricably linked with the landscape and wildlife.
May 21, 2026
Heartfelt and thought provoking read. My favourite story is Blue Crane.
April 28, 2026
Indisputably one of the top wildlife and environmental writers in Australia, Inga Simpson (also an accomplished photographer) captures Country, land, climate issues, species extinction, habitat and the sheer wonder of individual animals, birds, fish, insects, plants, fungi and all the elements of the natural world with a focussed, pitch-perfect writing lens entangled with stories of humans and their relationship with the earth, always encouraging thoughtful and challenging questions and debate about the world and our place in it. Her collection of short stories ONCE WE WERE WILDLIFE (Hachette 2026) is a sublime example of her stunning literary prose, her keen eye for detail and her extraordinary descriptive ability.
The stories are varied, including a verse poem, some with human protagonists and some with wild creatures at the centre, a few with a touch of magical realism, poignancy or whimsy. As always with a collection of writing, some stories will resonate more strongly with some people than others. My favourites are BLUE CRANE (with its unexpected ending), POACHED (with its incredibly tense and devastating ending) and especially THE GREAT WALK (a poignant, haunting, tender and moving tale). But other readers will find their own favourites.
Protagonists are young or old, wise or naïve, courageous or sly, furry or winged, predator or prey, alert or dispassionate, ambitious or content, restless or settled. The dialogue is authentic, expressive and meaningful, and the settings are atmospheric, evocative and haunting. A beautiful collection from one of our wisest, deliberate and most beguiling authors.
The stories are varied, including a verse poem, some with human protagonists and some with wild creatures at the centre, a few with a touch of magical realism, poignancy or whimsy. As always with a collection of writing, some stories will resonate more strongly with some people than others. My favourites are BLUE CRANE (with its unexpected ending), POACHED (with its incredibly tense and devastating ending) and especially THE GREAT WALK (a poignant, haunting, tender and moving tale). But other readers will find their own favourites.
Protagonists are young or old, wise or naïve, courageous or sly, furry or winged, predator or prey, alert or dispassionate, ambitious or content, restless or settled. The dialogue is authentic, expressive and meaningful, and the settings are atmospheric, evocative and haunting. A beautiful collection from one of our wisest, deliberate and most beguiling authors.
April 30, 2026
I should have enjoyed this more than I did. A lot of time immersed in the Australian bush, and the Larapinta, one of my favourite places on the planet, the setting for the beginning of the story that gives the collection it's title. The stories felt predictable and clichéd, despite their worthy themes.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
May 7, 2026
The stories were fine but the editing was not. Nothing memorable here.
May 27, 2026
3.4 stars
Rather delightful little tales of humans and nature.
Rather delightful little tales of humans and nature.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews