As the project has evolved, so too have my characters, and while I have strived to meet my aunties’ expectations, my family has pointed out to me that I have inadvertently written about some family members. Thank you to my mother and sister for being okay with that. Having just lost my own grandfather, I was unable to write the grandfather in this story any other way. I have received permission from most of his children to write him into this work.

The creatures in this story are ones we believe exist and are not named for two very specific reasons: I don’t want them to be misappropriated, and I have deliberately fictionalised some of their characteristics so my representation of them is no longer accurate. People in my community will understand what I have stayed true to and what I have fictionalised.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank the Queensland Literary Awards, the State Library of Queensland, and the Copyright Agency Ltd for this entire experience. It has been a true adventure. And particularly to the judges of the David Unaipon, Melissa Lucashenko and Jared Thomas, who gave such valuable feedback. I would like to thank the Anne Edgeworth Trust and the ACT Writers Centre for helping me travel home to sit down with my elders. And thanks to Varuna the National Writers’ House and all the amazing staff there – the space and time to write that you provide is invaluable. I was only able to attend Varuna with the support of an artsACT grant. Thank you all so much!

I have a passion for feedback and there have been many people who’ve given generously of their time and offered their valuable thoughts. Thank you to Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Kim Johnston, Samantha Faulkner, Ross Hamilton, Donna Hanson and Carol Major. Also to Rhonda Black for her brilliant advice, and Grace Lucas-Pennington and Megan McGrath – if I hadn’t seen you ladies speak I wouldn’t have sent my manuscript in to the David Unaipon.

A special thank you to my supervisor, Tony Eaton. I have learnt so much about writing from you. Thank you so much for everything you do.

I wrote the first draft of this book at Capital Pancakes in Canberra. Thank you to the patient staff for letting me sit there for hours on end and fuelling me with delicious food and coffee.

I’m beyond grateful to the entire team at UQP for their time, patience and energy, especially Kristina Schulz, Vanessa Pellatt and Madonna Duffy. Thanks to Jody Lee and Margaret McDonell for editing and proofreading.

Thank you, Aunty Rosie, and all the other aunties who gave of their time, knowledge and energy. I wish you were all here to see this.