Michael Winkler, author of Griefdogg, shared his background growing up in Mildura and his long journey to becoming a novelist.
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Novelists Michael Winkler and Wayne Marshall will host a library talk in Benalla about their books Griefdogg and Henry Goes Bush at the end of July.
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“I was born over in Mildura and lived in Merbein, then moved up the Murray to Cobram, and did most of my growing up further up the Murray in Tallangatta,” Griefdogg author Mr Winkler said.
“We are in Benalla on Monday, July 27, and if I were going to mention anything but Benalla, I’d mention that my mum lives there, and my brother lives there.
“Benalla will be great, because hopefully my mum will come along, and she can drag everyone from U3A along.”
Mr Winkler described a long road to publication.
“I have been writing different things for pretty much all my life, and it’s how I’ve made my living,” he said.
“But what I always wanted to do was write novels, and so I had decades of trying to write novels and failing miserably.”
Griefdogg centres on a Mildura water scientist who chooses to live within his family but without rights or responsibilities.
“He decides that he no longer wants to be part of the community; he wants to live in his family, but with no rights or responsibilities, as if he were the family pet,” Mr Winkler said.
“He develops this ability to detect grief in other people, but grief that other people aren’t talking about, like secret grief, and has that as a new burden.”
Wayne Marshall is the author of Henry Goes Bush, a debut novel blending speculative fiction with Henry Lawson's historic outback visit.
Henry Goes Bush is grounded in the true story of Henry Lawson being sent to the bush at age 25 by The Bulletin magazine, under editor JF Archibald, with a five-pound allowance and a one-way railway ticket.
The novel follows the historical record until Lawson encounters a mysterious underground tunnel and finds himself inside one of his own stories.
“It’s dangerous, but if he wants to have a second chance, he wants to find a way to the best version of himself; he kind of has to take the quest,” Mr Marshall said.
Henry Goes Bush author Wayne Marshall blends speculative fiction with Henry Lawson’s outback visit.
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For more on authors Michael Winkler and Wayne Marshall, including how they became writers and developed the ideas behind their books, you can find their full chats with the Benalla Ensign on MMG podcasts.
Benalla library, Monday, July 27, 2pm to 3pm. RSVP not necessary but would be appreciated 03 5762 2069 or email library@benalla.vic.gov.au
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