October: Honey Bees ๐๐ Cactus Pears ๐ต๐ตand forging new paths ๐ฃ๏ธ๐ฃ๏ธ
Well hello!
And welcome to the October edition of New Voices Down Underโour second last edition of the year! I have three very different titles to share with you this month. In Books to Love, I review the memoir/biography of Samah Sabawiโs father, a renowned Palestinian poet, forced to flee his homeland after the 1967 Six-Day War. Given current events, A Cactus Pear For My Beloved is a timely story but it is also an insight into the lives of one family, the tragedies and the love that binds them. Diving, Falling is the debut novel of Kylie Mirmohamadi. It tells the story of Leila Whittaker, recently bereaved after the death of her husband, the famous Australian artist, Ken Black. Itโs a wonderful novel that explores a womanโs life after she is a wife and no longer needs to mother her grown children. The choices we face, the paths we forge, the mistakes we make.
This month in Meet the Author, I chat with psychologist and now novelist, Lauren Keegan, about her debut historical novel, All the Bees in the Hollows. Set in the Baltic forest, it imagines the life of the ancient Lithuanian bee goddess, Austeja. It is a beautifully rendered story, rich with atmospheric detail with a touch of fairy tale. Itโs a fascinating interview.
And what would be a newsletter without Freebies? This month, there are copies of both Diving, Falling and All the Bees in the Hollows for you to win. Read the interview and review then answer the questions to be in the running.
Books to Love
Cactus Pear For My Beloved by Samah Sabawi
(Published 17 September 2024 ANZ)
In 2018, in a shopping centre in suburban Queensland, Samah Sabawi asked her father if she could write his story. This 82 year-old man who she describes as:
โThe wounded fighter who drank the sorrow of loss and bled his pain into captivating verses. The wanderer who traversed every corner of the world searching for a home. The hungry Palestinian refugee who swallowed the Arabian desert and landed on Australian shores. I see him โ poet, revolutionary, entrepreneur, Aussie sheep farmer, and now, aged pensioner.โ
She wants him to be the research subject of her PhD thesis. He agrees, saying, โone never needs to work hard to convince a storyteller to tell his story.โ But he has one caveat. โMy story is part of a tapestry of stories, it is not mine alone. If you pull it out of that tapestry it will unravel and lose its meaning.โ
And so, Sabawi, the youngest of Abdul Karim and Souhailahโs four children, tells the story of her familyโs life in Palestine. Beginning in 1918, and writing in an episodic style, Sabawi shares stories from her great-grandmother Motifyaโs life to her paternal grandfather Sheik Husseinโs school in the Tuffah district of Gaza where the men gathered each day to drink tea and discuss local and national events.
She shares the love story of her parents, who grew up as next-door neighbours, and the love story of her grandparents. A story unfolds of a family bound by love who are resilient and resourceful people. Who care deeply for each other but also for their community and for Palestine.
Sabawi blends historical research throughout the personal stories. It gives context but also deepens the sense of tragedy that resonates so loudly with the events and tragedies of today. Yet, Sabawi is not sermonising on the subject. Rather, she lets the characters speak for themselves, for their times, embracing misplaced optimism or pessimism, as the case may be. It is a reminder that historical events have, at their centre, real human lives, beyond the political machinations of the day.
During the Nakba of 1948, Karimโs family finds itself fleeing Tuffah for the refugee camps. The United Nations website defines Nakba, the Arabic word for catastrophe, as, โthe mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli warโ which saw the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians. His father, Sheik Hussein, remains optimistic after Britain leaves Palestine and the State of Israel is declared. Claiming that it canโt be worse than it was under the Ottomans and the British.
The story ends with Karimโs exile from his homeland after the Six-Day War in 1967. By now, Sabawiโs father is a renowned poet, teacher and journalist. Forced to leave the country of his birth, Karim is forbidden to ever return to the land of his memories, his poetry, his story.
A Cactus Pear for My Beloved is as much a tribute to Sabawiโs father and her heritage as it is a harsh reminder of that French expression, โplus รงa change, plus c'est la mรชme choseโ โ the more things change, the more they stay the same. Yet it is also tender, full of love and gently funny. The titular cactus pear is a fruit covered in fine sharp needles. Karim used to peel these for Souhaliah who loved the tender delicious flesh within. It is a powerful symbol for this memoir that contains joy, pain and sorrow in equal measure.
A little bit about the author โฆ
Samah Sabawi is an author, playwright and poet and a recipient of multiple awards both nationally and internationally. Her theatre credits include the critically acclaimed and award-winning plays Tales of a City by the Sea and THEM. In 2020 Samah received the prestigious Green Room Award for Best Writing in the independent theatre category, and was shortlisted for both the NSW and Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. With Stephen Orlo Samah she edited the anthology Double Exposure: Plays of the Jewish and Palestinian Diasporas, winner of the Patrick OโNeill Award, and she co-authored I Remember My Name: Poetry by Samah Sabawi, Ramzy Baroud and Jehan Bseiso, edited by Vacy Vlazna, winner of the Palestine Book Award. Samah received a Doctor of Philosophy from Victoria University for her thesis titled Inheriting Exile, transgenerational trauma and the Palestinian Australian Identity.
Connect with Samah Sabawi
Instagram @samah_sabawi
Find out more about Samah on her website here
Australia: Read an extract, listen to a sample or buy a copy of the book here
Diving, Falling by Kylie Mirmohamadi
(Published ANZ 3 September 2024)
Leila Whittaker is the recently widowed wife of the famous Australian artist, Ken Black. As a novelist, and as a wife, it has fallen to her to write his obituary. There is no one else who has shared such an intimate existence with the man or his work. Except for their two sons, Sebastian and Otis and perhaps the legion of long and short-term lovers.
The truth of the matter is that Ken Black was an arsehole of the first order. Philandering, drunken rages, arrogance and violence have framed his life and his marriage. What is there to say about a man you are mostly glad is gone? And in amongst sorting through his financial affairs and his considerable artistic legacy, Leila has to find out who she now is, now she is not her husbandโs muse and long-suffering wife. The boys are adults , their requirements of her as a mother are not so hands on as they once were. Could it, finally, be her time?
Diving, Falling is a confident, funny and dramatic debut from Kylie Mirmohamadi. Leila, a woman facing the final third of her life, is confronted with a new reality. She no longer has to pander to her husband or live in his shadow. His death has granted her wealth and freedom. The question is, what does she do with it? And this is the central question of the novel.
Leila does many things. She meets a man at a friendโs book launch and they become lovers. She reignites friendships that suffered because not very many people liked Ken or could tolerate his company. She tries to guide her sons who have been left with the unenviable task of dealing with Kenโs artistic legacy. But most of all, she tries to please herself. Including, finishing a novel that has been stuck for too long.
Leilaโs frequently self-deprecating, sometimes outrageously selfish and sheโs complex. Her missteps are often staggering. She has an ability to be casually cruel to those she loves. Yet, she is trying to find a path, to forge a path, that serves her needs and desires. That reacquaints her with the essence of who she is. Mirmohamadi delights with this creation of a multi-faceted woman who ignites curiosity and, mostly, empathy. The writing is assured and it is wonderful to read a novel about womenโs lives separate to their identity as mother and wife. Diving, Falling is a delight. Intelligent fiction, entertaining and entirely relatable.
To WIN a copy of Diving, Falling, scroll down to Freebies
A little bit about the author โฆ
Kylie Mirmohamadi is a writer and academic whose work and research spans domestic Australian landscapes, online fan fiction, and 19th-century English literature. She has a PhD in History and is currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in English and Creative Writing at La Trobe University.
Kylie lives with her family in Melbourne where she often finds ideas for writing when walking among the tree-lined creeks of her inner suburb with her poodle.
Kylie has published widely in the academic sector, most recently on the long afterlives of Jane Austen and the Brontรซ sisters. She was the recipient of a Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowship in 2022 and her unpublished manuscripts have been highly commended in the Victorian Premierโs Literary Awards and shortlisted for the Dorothy Hewett Award (2020). Diving, Falling is her first novel.
Connect with Kylie Mirmohamadi
Find her on Instagram here @kyliemirmohamadi
Read more about Kylie on her website here
Subscribe to her Substack newsletter
Australia: Buy a copy of the book here
Lauren Keegan is a psychologist, writer and mother who lives in the Wollondilly Shire; the land of the Dharawal and Gundungurra people. She has worked in public mental health for twelve years, has two young girls and drinks more tea than is sensible. This is her first published novel.
A little bit about the book โฆ
Marytรจ is a devoted beekeeper. She lives by the old rules: work with fellow beekeepers, be a good Christian and a good harvest will follow. These rules help her cope with her grief when she inherits her husband's tree hollows. But as harsh conditions and tax increases threaten the harvest, Marytรจ begins to question her faith, her community and her own sanity.
There is little help to be had from her eldest daughter. Austฤja is no worker bee. She takes risks, speaks her mind and dreams of escaping their isolated community. As her mother works, she finds refuge in the ancient forest and the old beliefs instilled in her by her defiant grandmother.
When Austฤja discovers the mutilated body of the Hollow Watcher and uncovers a honeycomb of lies and betrayal, she is intent on finding the truth and protecting her family. Will mother and daughter overcome their differences, learn the truth behind the murder and complete the honey harvest?
Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind this story?
The initial idea for All the Bees in the Hollows came from a kidโs podcast! My friend recommended an episode on bees (for my kids), and we listened to it in the car one day and it touched on the role of bees and honey in Lithuanian culture โ now and in the past. It also talked about some of the Lithuanian folklore and mythology, including the Goddess of Bees, known as Austฤja. I was so intrigued I immediately began researching ancient tree beekeeping practices and Lithuanian folklore. So, the story began with the setting, and the characters and plot emerged from that.
This is such an atmospheric novel. I really felt like I was there in those Baltic forests. Were you lucky enough to travel to the region in your research? And what research did you have to do make this story so alive on the page?
I wrote the first draft of this novel during COVID lockdowns, so I could not leave my home, let alone the country! As much as I would have loved to traipse through the forests as my characters did, it was not possible. Fortunately, we have access to so many online resources! I reached out to a beekeeping museum in Musteika, Lithuania in the region which All the Bees in the Hollows is loosely set. The museum generously shared with me all their resources including photographs of their exhibits, descriptions of tools and practices, and their English-translated audio guides! This provided such richness to my story and grounded it in historical facts. I am immensely grateful for their support. I was also in contact with the Institute of Folklore in Lithuania who kindly answered my queries about the bee goddess Austฤja and sent me several translated discussion papers about the folklore and beekeeping practices in ancient times. Aside from that, I accessed a lot of research papers via Google Scholar to learn about Lithuanian customs and rituals, ancient beekeeping practices, conservation and the ancient forest, 16th century diet and nutrition (from archaeological records!), paganism, Christianisation, politics and more! I went down many research rabbit holes.
Can you tell us a little more about the character of Austฤja. I believe she was based on a bee goddess worshipped by the ancient Lithuanian beekeepers.
Yes, Austฤja is the bee goddess who was believed to be the protector of bees, the forest, fertility, and families. Her name comes from the word โausti,โ which means โto weaveโ, referring to the way bees weave honeycomb.ย In ancient times, Lithuanian people worshipped many gods (deities) which were rooted deeply in the natural world. I explore some of these beliefs in All the Bees in the Hollows as well as the tension between old โpaganโ beliefs and Christian beliefs. Lithuania was the last European state to become Christianised, in part due to the treacherous landscape: swamps, dark forests and deep lakes, that made it near impossible to travel through. There was much resistance by the people. It wasnโt until the 14th Century that the work of conversion advanced and then many of the traditional beliefs, celebrations and practices were either outlawed or โrebrandedโ to fit with the church. We can imagine that some of these old customs and beliefs were still passed down orally through the generations and my character Austฤja finds herself caught between the old and new ways.
There is some contention as to whether the bee goddess Austฤja was a deity worshipped prior to the 17th century or whether she was โinventedโ by scholars during the romantic revival of paganist beliefs in the 19th century. However, I donโt think itโs too far-fetched that a bee goddess was worshipped by dedicated beekeepers surrounded by bee hollows in a remote forest, do you?
You chose to tell this story from two points of viewโ Marytรฉ, the mother and Austฤja. What challenges did that present in the writing? Or did it make it easier?
I had a few false starts when writing the book, but I did know at the outset I wanted to tell womenโs stories and that we would meet this family of women as they mourn the loss of the husband father leaving the women to care for the bee hollows. I began writing Austฤjaโs point of view in first person, which I think is because first person narratives come quite naturally to me.
I soon discovered I needed another viewpoint, as this would allow the reader to have a multi-faceted view of the main characters but also the community. I deliberately wrote the mother Marytรฉ from third person point of view because Iโd planned a twist at the end that I did not want the reader privy too. While the characters came to me almost immediately, it took several drafts to form distinct voices.
Switching points of view helped the writing process as it kept me interested in the story and created this momentum, so that if I got stuck with one character in the plot, I could head hop to another and keep it moving forward.
Finally, I cannot let you go without mentioning something you said in your Author Note. โFor the aspiring writers out there, donโt give up! Fourteen years, nine manuscripts and over 200 rejections.โ Can I just say, kudos to you! Writers always talk about how itโs resilience and persistence that ultimately defines a successful career. How do you feel about the rollercoaster ride you have been on now you can hold your story in your hands?
It's an incredible feeling. Iโd become so used to rejection that I almost didnโt believe it when I received an offer for my book! I didnโt want to get my hopes up because I knew how uncertain this industry can be. It was exciting to think that my book would finally get in the hands of readers โ but at the same time that very thought was terrifying!
Now that my book has been out for a couple of weeks and the initial jitters have dissolved, I feel so proud of all the hard work that I put in and so thankful that I didnโt give up. If Iโd given up -and Iโd thought about it a lot โ I wouldnโt be published today. Those other manuscripts were not meant to be published, but I knew there was something special about this story. Fellow writers, it only takes one YES. Keep going!
To WIN a copy of All the Bees in the Hollows, scroll down to Freebies
Connect with Lauren Keegan
Instagram and Facebook @laurenkeeganauthor
Subscribe to Laurenโs Substack, Trust the Process, over here
Australia: Buy a copy of the book here
Freebies!!
If you enjoyed the interview with Lauren Keegan, then this is your chance to win a copy of All the Bees in the Hollows. Thanks to Affirm Press for providing us with **three** copies to giveaway. All you have to do is send a reply email with the answer to this very tricky question.
Which European country is the setting for All the Bees in the Hollow?
And if youโre itching to get your hands on Kylie Mirmohamadiโs Diving, Falling, then thanks to the team at Scribe Publications, you have the chance to win one of **three** copies. All you have to do is email me the answer to this question.
Who was Leila Whittaker married to?
The fine print: Giveaways are currently only open to subscribers and you must reside within Australia to be eligible to win (postage!) The winners will be picked at random and will be emailed on Tuesday 19 November 2024. Good luck!
** And remember, you can answer both questions on one email.
The End
And here we are at the end of another edition of the newsletter. I hope some of the books discussed have tickled your fancy. Please leave a comment, follow us on socials and come back again next month where there will be more bookish news, reviews, interviews and freebies. See you soon!
Donโt forget, you can always catch up with us on Instagram @newvoicesdownunder
And, if youโd like to subscribe to Meredithโs author newsletter, you can subscribe to A Cuppa With Meredith here The next edition is out Monday 5 December!
Thank you for having me on your newsletter, Meredith. It was lovely to meet you in Berry over the weekend!
Thanks for another great newsletter