Following the establishment of a career leading human services, Denise Picton retrained in business and established a management consulting firm that has worked across Australia and Asia for over thirty years. In her twenties she published short fiction in literary journals, and returned to writing to begin work on a series of novels in her fifties. This is her debut novel.

Published in 2022 by Ultimo Press, an imprint of Hardie Grant Publishing

Ultimo Press

Gadigal Country

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Ultimo, NSW 2007

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Copyright © Denise Picton 2022

The Family String

eISBN 978 1 76115 067 8 (paperback)

Cover design Christabella Designs

Cover images Dachshund by Asia Kravchuk / Shutterstock; girl by Maria Ion / Shutterstock; stripe pattern by CSA Images / Getty Images

Copyeditor Deonie Fiford

Proofreader Ronnie Scott

Ultimo Press acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.