Book Launch: Anatomy of A Secret by Gerard McCann
Event description
Gerard McCann invites you to celebrate the release of his new book, Anatomy of a Secret. Taking place in Kidogo Arthouse, Caroline Wood will officially launch Gerard's debut memoir, which has already been described as ‘a profoundly important and moving testimony'.
Light refreshments will be provided. Book sales and signings will be presented by New Edition Bookshop.
This event is free to attend, however bookings are essential.
We hope to see you there!
About the book
Raw and compelling, Anatomy of a Secret bravely shares long-silenced, unspoken truths.
As a boy, Gerard was sexually abused by a Catholic priest at his local church. As a grown man, he confronts the trauma of what he suffered and the psychological aftermath of his experience, grappling with shame, guilt and the devastating impact it had on his family, relationships and sense of self.
Despite what he endured, Gerard’s story is one of hope and healing, of acknowledging pain and seeking support, of honesty and justice.
About the author
Gerard McCann was born in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Goomalling, and grew up in the Perth suburb of Cottesloe, the second of five boys in a staunch Catholic family. After school with the Jesuits, he studied Architecture at the Perth Technical College and the University of WA. He began writing poetry as an adolescent, but discovered the joy of writing when, at twenty-one, he backpacked around Europe on $5 a day. He has a long-held interest in heritage architecture and developed a practice based around this in Fremantle. He completed an Arts degree at UWA in the 1990s, majoring in Australian and American literature. On sabbatical in 2012, he re-immersed himself in non-fiction writing. On his return, he was compelled to write the story of his childhood, a memoir that developed into a major exploration of clerical sexual abuse and its lifelong consequences. He is currently writing short stories and continues to draw inspiration from his writing group. He lives with his life partner in Fremantle. They have two children and three grandchildren.
