It’s not difficult to understand why the Southern Highlands is home to a large and diverse, artistic community. Our close proximity to the city; the clean, country air; a plethora of inspirational scenery; and the opportunity to disconnect from the rat-race within the comfort of one of our many idyllic villages, are all conducive to a creative frame of mind.
Our tradition of housing artistic, specifically literary talent, dates back to the mid 19th century when Sutton Forest resident, Louisa Atkinson, penned Gertrude the Emigrant and became the first published, Australian-born, female author in history – you go, girl! Louisa is also credited with being both a female pioneer in the field of journalism as well as a renowned botanical artist. Not a bad resume for a woman of any era, let alone 1860’s Australia! Interestingly, Louisa’s mother, Charlotte Barton originally of the United Kingdom, was the author of Australia’s first children’s book, A Mother’s Offering to her Children.
Authors of the Southern Highlands cover a broad range of genre and areas of interest. From cookbooks to crime, debutants to seasoned professionals, here are just some of the Southern Highland’s own writing elite.
CHILDRENS. YOUNG ADULT AND FICTION WRITERS
Lee Richie :: Novelist, Young Adult Literature
Alexander Bottom & The Dreamweaver’s Daughter is the debut novel of Southern Highlands author, Lee Richie, an emerging talent in the world of Young Adult fantasy-fiction. The multi-dimensional, Alexander Bottom Series, promises fantastical adventures filled with twist and turns for readers of all ages but particularly those with a penchant for sci-fi and young adult, literary-fiction. Think teen-sensations, Hunger Games and Divergent’series. Alexander Bottom and the Dreamweaver’s Daughter is available to purchase on Amazon Australia.
Hill Top resident Lee has also written a stunning book called Black Bones Red Earth. We had a read and wrote up a review – you can check it out here.
Pam Slattery :: Children’s Author, Artist and Illustrator
The wonderful Pam Slattery has created a gorgeous children’s book – ideal for young kids – and illustrated it too. Super talented! Inspired by her time living on the edge of the North Queensland rainforest, Cobber is the story of a cassowary trying to find his way in the world and understand what his purpose is. Pam now lives in Burrawang and a story idea that was originally just going to be for her grandchildren is now a beautifully illustrated children’s book. We caught up with Pam when she launched the book in 2020 – you can read up on our chat here.
https://www.facebook.com/pamslatteryartist/
R. A. Spratt :: Children’s Novelist and Television Writer
Bowral author, R.A. Spratt is the creator of best-selling children’s series’ Friday Barnes and Nanny Piggins. In Friday Barnes – Girl Detective’and subsequent books, 11-year-old Friday delights young readers with her quick thinking, street smarts and top-notch detective skills. The Adventures of Nanny Piggins (Book 1), is the delightfully silly tale of a nanny with a tail. Not your ordinary pig, Nanny Piggins is a giggle-fest for readers of all ages. All of R.A. Spratts’ books are available at The Bookshop Bowral.
Michelle Morgan – Author, Young Adult Fiction and Playwright
Michelle Morgan’s two books, Flying Thorough Clouds and Racing the Moon are both coming-of-age stories set in 1930’s Sydney, suited to children 12+. Flying Through Clouds was Michelle’s first self-published work. In addition, four of Michelle Morgan’s plays have been performed at festivals in Sydney, Newcastle and Armidale. Ms Morgan lives in the Southern Highlands with her family.
David Foster – Novelist and Non-Fiction writer
Bundanoon resident (and one-time Bundy postman), David Foster is a multi-award-winning novelist, poet and non-fiction writer. Foster’s many works include the Dog Rock series, a comical telling of life in a small rural town (Bundanoon) through the lens of postman D’Arcy D’Oliveres. David Foster’s (arguably) best-known work, Miles Franklin award-winning, The Glade Within the Grove also features D’Oliveres as a retired postman and centres around the establishment of a hippie commune circa 1968/69. David Foster is the father of Zoë Foster Blake, novelist, columnist and children’s book author. Zoë Foster Blake was born in Bowral, raised in Bundanoon, and after spending many years in Melbourne is now living in Sydney with her adorable young family.
Sarah Clutton
The Daughter’s Promise is Sarah’s second novel, following on from her debut novel, Good Little Liars. Sarah draws on her legal background and colourful upbringing to create books of intrigue, suspense, family secrets and a smattering of humour. Sarah lives with her family in Bowral.
Kylie Needham:: Novelist and Screenwriter
After 20 years of working as a screenwriter, Kylie released her first novel in 2023 and it’s a smash! Girl in a Pink Dress is the story of a young artist and her lover, who also happens to be her teacher. Kylie was inspired by her desire to tell the story of women in the art world and the unique challenges and frustrations they face.
Publishing a novel was a lifelong dream for Kylie and we were lucky enough to sit down with her and chat all about her book, her amazing career and life in The Southern Highlands. Read our interview here.
Stan Murray :: Author and Illustrator
Stan R. Murray is a local storyteller with a passion for gardening, writing, and illustrating. His books, loved by readers of all ages, spark the imagination. He has a collection of 50-page stories, each featuring an illustration to spark the reader’s imagination. Enjoyed by anyone who holds onto a bit of their childhood wonder, these stories are especially popular with mums and grandmothers choosing books for their children.
Matt Strempel:: Author
Local author Matt Strempel’s newest book is called The Derailing of Douglas Jones. Set in the mid-80s in a remote regional town, the story centres on Douglas Jones, a conservative stationmaster facing a midlife crisis. With his job threatened by automation and his love life in shambles, he must decide between a safe, quiet life or taking risks to make his mark.
LIFESTYLE AND NON-FICTION
Lucy Palmer :: Author
Lucy Palmer’s memoir, A Bird On My Shoulder is the story of a family devastated by the loss of a husband and father. A Bird On My Shoulder conveys the toll of grief and the journey of mourning a loved one – including the unexpected gifts and moments of joy such a tragedy can inspire. An award-winning journalist, documentary maker, author and editor, Lucy Palmer resides in the Southern Highlands.
Desmond Freeman :: Artist, Author
Paris – Impressions In Ink is a stunning collection of Paris inspired artworks, bound beautifully in hardcover. Bowral resident Desmond Freeman is a leading visual artist. Desmond has also published a collection of images inspired by Venice and another by Rome. Simply beautiful….
Louise Keats :: Food and Nutrition Writer
Wholefood Child is the latest fab cookbook from Kangaloon resident and Food and Nutrition guru, Louise Keats. While mostly family and kid-focused – we loved her Sweet Nourish book – there are also some fab books for Thermomix fans and Louise has also published two books in collaboration with her much-loved grandmother, cooking sensation and pioneer food-journalist, Margaret Fulton OAM.
Janet Epps & Dr. Gabriella Lang :: Co-Authors
The Forgotten Tutor – John Epps and the Romanovs is the captivating true story of John Epps whom, from 1905-1914, was an English tutor to the children of the last Russian Tsar, Emperor Nicholas II.The Forgotten Tutor is a collection of carefully preserved letters, photographs and illustrations sent to the tutor by his beloved and ill-fated, pupils. Co-author, Janet Epps is a Southern Highlands local. ‘
Katie Hammond :: Novelist
Katie’s debut book The Gratitude Cloak tells the story of every parent’s worst nightmare. When her 5-year-old son is unexpectedly diagnosed with leukaemia, Katie and her family’s worlds are turned upside down.
Her book is a funny, witty and touching story of love, sadness and the importance of gratitude in even the darkest of times. We had the pleasure of meeting up with Katie to chat all about her brilliant book as well as her life with her family in The Southern Highlands. You can grab your copy of the book from The Bowral Bookshop or Amazon.
Alison Bashford :: Historian and Writer
Alison’s writing is excellent at explaining how the world became what it is today by looking at how it was. She’s well known for her work on past population debates, eugenics, infectious disease control, and quarantine. Her latest book is a history of the Huxley dynasty from Britain and is based on the Wiles Lectures, she delivered at the Queen’s University Belfast in 2018.
Honorary Mentions
Arthur Upfield :: Novelist (1890-1964)
Crime and mystery writer and former Bowral resident, Arthur Upfield was the creator of Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte (Boney) and the Boney series of books which went on to inspire a number of television series and telemovie productions. The film, Three Acts of Murder is a true-life telling of how Mr Upfield inadvertently inspired a murderer to commit his crimes by providing explicit detail of “the perfect murder” in his best known book, The Sands of Windee. Arthur Upfield’s final work, The Lake Frome Monster was published posthumously in 1966.
James Kemsley :: Cartoonist and Playwright (1948-2007)
James Kemsley was the creator of the popular character and comic strips Ginger Meggs’ He also wrote several successful children’s plays. Mr Kemsley continued to create his comics right up until he passed away at his home in Bowral in 2007.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to the staff at Bowral Central Library for their interest and willingness to assist in the research of this article. In particular, the staff of the Local Studies and Archive Collection which is open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm-4pm. Your expertise and support are greatly appreciated. We thoroughly recommend a visit, particularly if you love a bit of local history, like we do!
Thanks also to the staff of The Bookshop Bowral for introducing us to the non-fiction / lifestyle books that appear in this article.
Happy reading, Highlanders!
UPDATED: July 2024
