Podcast: Melanie Saward on Exploring the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma

Podcast: Melanie Saward on Exploring the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma

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Melanie Saward talks to Cheryl about her journey to publication and how her debut novel, Burn, explores the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

About the author:

Melanie Saward is a proud descendant of the Bigambul and Wakka Wakka peoples. She is a Tulmur (Ipswich) based writer, an associate lecturer in creative writing at QUT, and a PhD student. Melanie’s writing has been published in Flock – First Nations Stories; Kill Your DarlingsOverlandScum Mag, and Verity La. She has been shortlisted for the Kuracca Prize and the David Unaipon Award and received highly commended mentions in the Boundless Indigenous Mentorship, the Harlequin First Nations Fellowship, and the Calibre Essay Prize.

Reviews

Lighting the Way: Read an Extract from Burn by Melanie Saward

Review | Extract

15 September 2023

Lighting the Way: Read an Extract from Burn by Melanie Saward

    Affecting and Powerful: Read Our Review of Burn by Melanie Saward

    Review | Our Review

    29 August 2023

    Affecting and Powerful: Read Our Review of Burn by Melanie Saward

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      Publisher details

      Burn
      Author
      Melanie Saward
      Publisher
      Affirm Press
      Genre
      Fiction
      Released
      29 August, 2023
      ISBN
      9781922848482

      Synopsis

      When a tragic bushfire puts two kids in hospital, Indigenous teenager Andrew knows the police will come after him first. But Andrew almost wants to be caught, because at least it might make his dad come and rescue him from suburban Brisbane and his neglectful mother.

      Growing up in small-town Tasmania, Andrew struggled at home, at school, at everything. The only thing that distracted or excited him was starting little fires. Flames boosted his morale and purified his thoughts, and they were the only thing in his life he could control. Until one day things got out of hand, and Andrew was forced to leave everything behind.

      Now as the police close in and Andrew runs out of people to turn to, he must decide whether he can put his faith in himself to find a way forward.

      Burn is an affecting, powerful novel about prejudice and growing up on the margins from exciting new Australian voice Melanie Saward.

      Melanie Saward
      About the author

      Melanie Saward

      Melanie Saward is a proud descendant of the Bigambul and Wakka Wakka peoples. She is a Tulmur (Ipswich) based writer, an associate lecturer in creative writing at QUT, and a PhD student.Melanie's writing has been published in Flock – First Nations Stories; Kill Your Darlings, Overland, Scum Mag, and Verity La. She has been shortlisted for the Kuracca Prize and the David Unaipon Award and received highly commended mentions in the Boundless Indigenous Mentorship, the Harlequin First Nations Fellowship, and the Calibre Essay Prize.

      Books by Melanie Saward

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