Novelist Robert Barclay

UNICEF tells us that 30 children die every day from being trafficked into the sex industry. They die from neglect, drug overdoses, disease, HIV, violence and torture.

Telling stories matters – though I don’t think that should really be such a surprise. We live in a world where the distractions of technology dominate and diminish our lives. Storytelling does the opposite; it enriches the world and our humanity.

Next time you pick up one of those romance novels, or any book, ask yourself, why do I want to read it? The biggest hits of all time have almost always been “wonder” literature

Cixi ruled more than a quarter of the world’s population for fifty years, through tumultuous times. She lived a life surrounded by myths, intrigue, betrayal, murder, love, and survival.

Two women ruled over half the world’s people for more than fifty years. At the end of their lives, their two empires were soon gone, brought down by their own hands.

Why? About ninety-five per cent of romance novels that get published are written by established white authors about white heterosexual people.

When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment. Calm down, take a breath, and let your mind be quiet. Then go and buy a book. A murder mystery. Mine preferably.

A new Australian author brilliantly evokes another time and place, laying bare its drama and beauty in haunting landscapes and vivid portraits of unforgettable women that resonate long after the final page is turned.

The novelist, Robert Barclay is proud to represent the amazingly talented authors of Australia to be nominated for the Miles Franklin, the country’s most cherished Australian literature award.