Celebrating books and reading, Books on Bywong is a new regular book club hosted by Sally Wilson. Each month a guest author will take readers behind the scenes of their book, discussing their inspiration, writing process and publishing journey, as well as their top reading recommendations.

There is no obligation to have read the book, simply come along to enjoy the bookish conversation, pick up some new book recommendations and enjoy a relaxed evening at the West Toowong Bowls Club. Books will be available for purchase and the bar will be open!

The guest author in October is Martine Kropkowski.

Martine Kropkowski has worked as a solider, journalist and academic. Her short fiction and essays on literature and culture have appeared in Griffith Review, Overland and The Conversation. She is a sessional academic at The University of Queensland where she is completing a PhD. Everywhere We Look is Martine’s first novel.

About Everywhere We Look

A year after a tragic incident splintered their friendship, three women travel to Marcoy, a regional town, in attempt to reconnect.

Melissa has slept much of the past twelve months away, and she hopes this weekend will help her re-emerge from the depression she’s been living with.

Bridie worries that she is not a good enough mother. She worries about most things, really, but she’s dealing with things just fine. At least that’s what she tells herself.

What Cassandra really needs is a break, so she’s come away to forget it all, to enjoy a cab sav and an open fire and the company of her long-lost friends.

This weekend is about being together, about enjoying their friendship the way they used to, while not—at any cost—having to address the reason for the distance between them. But when they witness a young girl being coerced into a car by a man she fears, they are forced to reckon with the chasm of grief and trauma that’s kept them apart.

Everywhere We Look explores domestic abuse, the dynamics of female friendship, and the danger that can hide in plain sight.

About Sally Wilson

Sally Wilson has worked in books and magazine publishing for more than 20 years as a writer, editor, book publicist and marketer. She's passionate about storytelling in all forms and has worked with publishers and literary organisations such as the Brisbane Writers Festival, University of Queensland Press, Griffith Review, Stella Prize and the Australian Book Industry Awards.

For more of Sally's book recommendations, sign up to her newsletter The Booklister: https://thebooklister.substack...