Sunshine Coast writer Greg Bourke has made an explosive entry into Australia’s literary scene, with his debut psychological thriller ‘Under Silkwood’ selling out its first three print runs within weeks and securing national distribution – a milestone achieved by only a fraction of first-time authors.
Set in the steamy, unpredictable world of Far North Queensland’s cane fields in the 1980s, ‘Under Silkwood’ has captured readers across Australia and abroad, with demand now outpacing supply.
Bourke’s journey into fiction writing marks a late-career pivot that reflects a growing national trend of Australians pursuing creative pursuits later in life. Yet, commercial success at this level remains exceedingly rare for debut writers. Industry estimates suggest that fewer than 1–3% of unsolicited manuscripts secure a deal with Australian publishers. In a publishing landscape where many emerging writers choose to self-publish, Bourke’s acceptance by Hawkeye Publishing stands as a significant endorsement of his work.
“The Australian literary landscape is dominated by some long time heavy weights and with only a minority of new writers securing trade publishing or distribution deals, I am thrilled that ‘Under Silkwood’ has struck a chord with readers,” Bourke said.
“Trade publishing provides authors with professional editing, national distribution, and bookstore placement – advantages rarely accessible to self-published authors.”
For Bourke, who grew up around Sunshine Coast cane farms and later worked as a graduate high-school teacher in Queensland’s northern frontier, this story has deep personal roots.
“My experiences of the Sunshine Coast cane industry, and my time teaching in Far North Queensland, gave me a well of memories to draw from,” he said.
“The brooding environment, the isolation, the tight-knit communities – they are the perfect ingredients for a thriller.”
‘Under Silkwood’ follows a young teacher seeking purpose in Far North Queensland, only to be pulled into a dangerous world of attraction, family loyalties and generational vendettas. The novel’s atmospheric tension and authenticity have resonated strongly with readers, prompting retailers from Cairns to Melbourne – and even readers in the UK – to track down copies.
“When I nervously handed in my English essays at St John’s College, Nambour, I never imagined landing a contract with a trade publisher,” Bourke said. “My publisher is now under pressure to keep up with demand – which she assures me is a good problem to have.”
The novel is published by Hawkeye Publishing and available in print and e-book formats. Copies can be ordered through any bookstore and are currently stocked at Rosetta Books (Maleny) and Annie’s Books (Peregian).
Readers can meet Greg and have books signed ahead of Christmas at Rosetta Books, Maleny, at 10.00am on Saturday, 13 December.
