By Abbey Cannan
An award-winning, record-breaking, bestselling author will soon be paying a visit to Noosa for a conversation with local bookshop owner Annie Gaffney.
His number one bestselling debut novel, Boy Swallows Universe, broke records to become the fastest selling Australian debut novel ever and now he returns with his second love letter to Australia, All Our Shimmering Skies.
Set in the Northern Territory during World War II, it’s filled with Dalton’s typically acute observations, larger-than-life characters and moments of both
pure joy and heartbreaking sadness.
Trent Dalton said he was more than excited to be presenting his new novel with Annie Gaffney at The J in Noosa Heads on Thursday 13 October.
“Annie would send messages that would make a fragile glass heart like mine so warm. You don’t believe what those book sellers do to support a writer,“ he said.
“Annie was one of the people that said, ’Mate, don’t think that you don’t belong here,’ and I was so grateful for that.
“In times of Covid, we’re lucky in Queensland that we can still go to these events and feel that human connection. My family and I holidayed at Noosa just about a month ago and it’s just so important to me.“
Mr Dalton said it felt surreal to be releasing a second novel.
“It’s the deepest honour and terrifying at the same time,“ he said.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would get a shot at doing one book let alone two and this second one is absolutely the story I probably wanted to write the first time but Boys Swallows Universe was the story I had to get out of my system before I could do it.
“I’m just in this really beautiful place right now because the book is out and I’m really proud of the characters and I’m already hearing some beautiful things about it from people that have read it.“
While writing on his second novel, Mr Dalton was blown away by the talents of Queensland Theatre Company, who are working on the stage adaptation of his first novel Boy Swallows Universe.
“That was surreal as any moment ever got with that book,“ he said.
“There’s going to be moment when I can be in a theatre and I can turn to my mum and go, ’Hey, that’s why you’re my hero’, and that is something I’m really looking forward to.
“I’ve already seen the set designs and it is jaw-dropping what they’re putting together. I sit on these table reads and I watch these people bring these characters to life and I start weeping at the table and these actors are like ’Are you okay?’“
Ms Gaffney said Trent Dalton was arguably the most successful and interesting author in Australia today.
“His first novel Boy Swallows Universe was a literary triumph, and is seen as a modern Australian classic,“ she said.
“All Our Shimmering Skies is a completely different novel, but another masterpiece, set in Darwin and the Northern Territory at the time of the Second World War.
“Numbers are very limited for this event, so we encourage people to book immediately for four people or more. If the event sells out, we are very happy to organise signed and dedicated books, as Trent has kindly offered his time to do this for us.“
The event will take place on Thursday 13 October at 6pm with tickets costing $18. Book tickets at www.thej.com.au or 5329 6560.
