Outspoken presents Tony Birch

Tony is the acclaimed author of four novels, including The White Girl and Ghost River. He has previously been awarded the Patrick White Literary Award for his contribution to Australian literature.

His new novel is Women & Children. It is a story about love and courage between two sisters, and a sudden loss of childhood innocence. It is 1965 and Joe Cluny is living in a working-class suburb with his mum, Marion, and sister, Ruby. One evening his Aunty Oona appears on the doorstep, distressed and needing somewhere to stay.

As his mum and aunty work out what to do, Joe comes to understand the secrets that the women in his family carry, including on their bodies.

Tony will be in conversation with Steven Lang at Maleny Community Centre, Wednesday November 15, 6 for 6.30pm, tickets via the website: outspokenmaleny.com

Author Melissa Ashley will start the evening speaking about her new novel, The Artisan of Amsterdam, where she turns her focus to Europe and Suriname at the turn of the 18th Century.