Thea Astley was born in Brisbane in 1925. Her first novel, Girl with a Monkey, was published in 1958 and her third, The Well Dressed Explorer (1962), won the Miles Franklin Literary Award. Many notable books followed, among them the groundbreaking A Kindness Cup (1974), which addressed frontier massacres of Indigenous Australians, and It’s Raining in Mango (1987). Her last novel was Drylands (1999), her fourth Miles Franklin winner. Her fiction is distinguished by vivid imagery and metaphor; a complex, ironic style; and a desire to highlight oppression and social injustice. One of the most distinctive and influential Australian novelists of the twentieth century, Astley died in 2004.
Emily Maguire, PGDip, RCDP, is a level 7 registered career development professional with over two decades of experience in the creative industries. She is the founder of Reflections Career Coaching and Reflections Talent Agency, representing actors in high profile TV, film, and theatre. A CDI regional representative and passionate advocate for emerging talent, Emily is the author of the forthcoming book Creative Careers Unlocked, helping creatives explore their options and feel confident about their next steps.
Thea Astley was born in Brisbane in 1925. Her first novel, Girl with a Monkey, was published in 1958 and her third, The Well Dressed Explorer (1962), won the Miles Franklin Literary Award. Many notable books followed, among them the groundbreaking A Kindness Cup (1974), which addressed frontier m...